This guide to abortion in New Mexico aims to help you make the right decision during what may be a nerve-wracking and challenging time for you. Whether you are a current resident of Texas looking for options outside the state, or currently live in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, or Rio Rancho – this guide will cover the bases and answer all the questions you have.
A quick disclaimer before we get started: We will present all the data and facts to you in this post. We do not represent a crisis pregnancy center, Planned Parenthood, or a national non-profit. We are an independent voice and we do not make any money from this website. We also have scoured the web (Reddit, Twitter, etc) to find the highest quality content for you. It’s our job to present the information, and it’s up to you to make a decision.
Finally, post was written after Roe vs. Wade was overturned.With all that out of the way, let’s jump in.
Is abortion legal in New Mexico right now?
In 1969, a law was passed that made abortion illegal, however, In 2021, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 10, which made abortion legal in New Mexico. After the repeal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, this state law signed by the governor kicked in. They have codified the right to an abortion in state law at the time of writing.
“This is about women who deserve the right, particularly when there are untenable circumstances, to have a relationship with their provider and control over their own bodies and we know when that occurs, frankly, we are saving lives”.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
In conclusion, abortion is currently legal in New Mexico, although some are trying to repeal it.
How much does an abortion cost?
Now let’s discuss the cost. Some providers do not list the cost publicly on their website, but here’s what we found.
- Ultrasound Cost: free at a local pregnancy center (see entire NM list) or certain women’s healthcare centers. The cost is $100 at Planned Parenthood
- Abortion Pill Cost: $560 at Planned Parenthood (potentially more if you have lab/blood work done)
- Medical Abortion Cost: National estimates put this at $2500 or more. The exact cost depends on your situation.
I’m pregnant right now, what are my options?
If you just found out you are pregnant (planned or unplanned) in New Mexico, you have three options to consider:
- You can keep the baby and raise it yourself or with your partner
- You can keep the baby and place it for adoption after birth (learn more)
- You can have an abortion (which this article addresses)
How late can a woman get an abortion in New Mexico?
New Mexico is one of six states in the US that allow late-term abortions. Each center has their own specific policies, but generally speaking, the further along you are, the fewer options you will have. Most centers in New Mexico offer abortions during the first trimester.
Based on our research, Southwestern Women’s Options in Albuquerque is the only center in New Mexico that provides procedural abortions up to 32 weeks, with even later-term abortions offered on a case-by-case basis. Medication-based abortions earlier during pregnancy are much more available.
How many abortion clinics exist in New Mexico? Where are they located?
According to this article, there are 7 abortion clinics in New Mexico. We will be providing a city-by-city breakdown shortly, but most of them are located in Albuquerque.
Is there a waiting period before I can have an abortion?
No. You do not need to go through mandatory counseling or any type of waiting period before you can have an abortion.
I’m under the age of 18, do I need to let my parents know I’m getting an abortion?
No. As a minor, you can consent to an abortion in New Mexico without alerting your parents. Parental involvement is not required.
I’m thinking about taking the abortion pill, are there any side effects I should know about?
You should expect cramping and vaginal bleeding to occur (which means the pill is serving its intended purpose). You may also experience the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Fever or chills
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
The physical impacts depend on you and your situation. We found a few stories on the Abortion subreddit that outline the physical and psychological impacts of having an abortion:
I dont regret having an abortion, it wasnt the right time for me to add to my family. My only problem with anything is that i feel deceived by the lack of honesty from my doctor.
The doctor who prescribed the pills told me it would be like a heavy period. That was bullshit. At one point, i went to pee and i looked and saw something hanging out from my vagina. I pulled it out and put it in toilet paper to look at it and sure enough, it was a small embryo attached to a tiny placenta.
It was incredibly shocking. I was only 6 weeks so it didnt look like a baby at all but it was clear that it was a little amniotic sack attached to the placenta. It looked very similar to a picture of an embryo at the 6 week mark. My doctor never told me i would be able to see the embryo and i really wish i had that warning in advance.”
Source: Reddit
6/27 I just took the first pill. I’m hoping at least I start feeling less sick all the time. 6/28 Waiting for the pills to start working. Just dissolved them under my tongue. I’m so sick. Round 2 is going better than the first 3 hours. I’m almost 7 hours into it. I passed the pregnancy at hour 3. I’m ok actually. I don’t feel sad just sore. It reminds me of how you can’t really get away from the discomfort while in labor. Which I don’t really like much. I’ve smoked and now having a glass of wine and pizza. I’m feeling really sad right now 6/30 My vagina hurts like after delivery. So freaking weird. I didn’t expect this. I keep having contractions. 7/2 Today has been hard. I am lactating. Feeling dizzy and still bleeding. I slept most of the day. I’m so fucking tired to my core. I didn’t expect to feel like this. 7/3 I’m broken. Going back to sleep. I’m taking this really hard. Missing my baby. 7/4 I’m back in bed today. Not feeling good. Another day in hell. 7/5 We are both feeling much better about our decision. 7/6 It’s just really hard going through postpartum without the baby. I’m struggling today. Wanting to go back in time and just overall not feeling good. Idk how to move on. It’s been a week and I still feel like I’m almost not alive. Had sex tonight and couldn’t continue. I’m scared of getting pregnant. 7/7 Still touching my stomach. Kids and I went creeking today. It was nice. I’m at peace today. I want to have sex tonight with condoms.
Source: Reddit
I am 18 now but it still weighs on me to this day. When i was pregnant i couldn’t even keep water down, i didn’t even have to consume anything to throw up i just constantly would. Im not sure if anyone else has dealt with constant vomiting but in my opinion its like torture, feeling hungry and dehydrated but knowing i couldn’t really do anything about it cause it would just come back up, it was awful. Not only was it exhausting mentally but there was a real physical toll on my body and i’m sure the babies. I really don’t think i had a choice i cant imagine how my baby would have made it with out receiving any nutrients. There were some other reasons i didn’t think i could keep my baby but those were all things i could over come, this was not. I had a dream so realistic the one day, me my baby and the babies dad were all there having a wonderful time, when i woke up i went to look for my baby and quickly realized that it never really existed. That fucked me up and i really think i needed to just get it out.
Source: Reddit
I live in Texas, can I get an abortion in New Mexico?
Yes. You will need to schedule an appointment with a specific center. We encourage you to do your own research here as the overturning of Roe v. Wade has created extended waiting times for procedures.
Are there any clinics near the border of Texas?
Based on our research, the closest clinic to the border is the Women’s Reproductive Clinic in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. You can learn more about this clinic here. Additionally, Whole Women’s Health is planning on relocating from Texas to New Mexico.
What should I do next?
We encourage you to talk to supportive friends and family if possible. If you are undecided about an abortion, consider taking smaller steps and collecting more data, so you can think clearly.
For example, you could get a free ultrasound from a nearby clinic and use the conversation and the data from this appointment to help you make the right decision. We know this is an emotional time, but we always recommend gathering all available information facts. The more educated you are about this decision, the more confident you can be!
What else can you tell me about New Mexico?
New Mexico is bordered by Colorado to the north, Oklahoma to the northeast, Texas to the east, and Mexico to the south. With an estimated population of 2,117,522 as of 2020, U.S. Census Bureau result, New Mexico is the 36th most populous state. It is the third-least populous state in the US after Wyoming and Vermont. The state’s capital and largest city is Santa Fe. Other important cities in New Mexico include Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Roswell. New Mexico is often referred to as the “Land of Enchantment” due to its natural beauty and rich cultural history.
In conclusion
We hope this guide presents everything you need to know about abortions in New Mexico.