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Pregnancy Options

If you find yourself unexpectedly pregnant, you have options.

This page provides information about options for

  • terminating a pregnancy,
  • continuing a pregnancy and finding adoptive parent(s),
  • and continuing a pregnancy and parenting at Tufts.

This information includes on- and off-campus resources for students living on or near the Medford/Somerville campus. We encourage all students to do their own research to find the best resources for their situation.

Nothing printed here should be relied upon as legal or medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only. Click through the tabs below to learn more.

Pregnancy Options for Tufts Students

Information for anyone considering abortion... 

A Note on Terminology:

An abortion terminates (ends) an existing pregnancy. 

Plan B (emergency contraception) does not terminate an existing pregnancy but rather prevents a pregnancy from occurring, if taken properly within 72 hours after unprotected sex.  

Plan B is available at the Sex Health Vending Machine in the lower level of the Tufts Campus Center for $18.76, or by contacting Health Services. The vending machine also provides free internal condoms, external condoms, latex-free condoms, dental dams, and lube. 

Abortion Chatbot

Click here to access a private and secure chatbot that can guide you through abortion options (in English or Spanish). After you tell it your zip code, it will offer you "personalized abortion options, including information about different abortion care methods, nearby clinics, accessing abortion pills, and referrals to support services. It's a user-friendly, judgment-free, and confidential tool designed by abortion experts for abortion seekers."

 

Abortion Support Hotlines

National Abortion Hotline

Planned Parenthood Chat Line (scroll down)

Abortion Legal Hotline

Exhale 

 

 

Types of Abortions  

A medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill or chemical abortion, is a pregnancy termination process that involves taking two different drugs: Mifepristone and Misoprostol. The FDA has approved its use for up to the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. 

Surgical abortions are also called in-clinic abortions. There are 2 types of surgical abortions: 

  • Aspiration abortion: It is performed up to 14 weeks after their last period. 
  • Dilation & Evacuation (D&E) Abortion: It is typically performed at 14 or 16 weeks or after. 

 

Law and Regulations 

Nothing printed here should be relied upon as legal or medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only. 

Laws regarding abortion are changing quickly and constantly in the United States. There are several resources trying to track state-by-state guidance as it evolves in real time, such as the Guttmacher Institute: https://www.guttmacher.org/united-states/abortion/state-policies-abortion. We encourage you to check your home state laws and the laws where you are seeking services if you are considering an abortion. There is also a State-by-State Guide on abortionfinder.org to get information about what to expect and where to locate abortion support resources and assistance. 

Right now (March 2023), American abortion laws vary state to state. Some states outlaw abortion medication, surgical abortions, and/or Plan B (emergency contraception). So, the first thing to do is check your state laws. Currently, under Massachusetts law, abortion and Plan B are legal and your health information is protected by law. 

Even if you go to school in Massachusetts, you still need to pay attention to local laws in your home state and any other state in which you may want to access reproductive healthcare. 

For example, if you had a telehealth appt with Tufts Health Services while in a different state over break, their ability to answer your questions could depend on the laws where you live. 

Pay attention to the communication platforms you use to seek services. For example, Facebook and Instagram can be subpoenaed. (That means your state could legally ask them for your communications with a court order.) Some resources encourage phone calls versus DMs and no physical/paper copies of materials. 

 

Legal Hotline: 

Massachusetts officially launched an Abortion Legal Hotline.  

☎️ What is it? The hotline, provides free and confidential legal advice to patients and providers seeking abortion care in the commonwealth.  

☎️ Who’s behind it? The hotline was created in a collaboration between the Reproductive Equity Now Foundation, the Attorney General’s Office, the Women’s Bar Foundation, the ACLU of Massachusetts, and five law firms that will offer pro bono services. 

☎️ Why create it? The overturning of Roe v. Wade obliterated abortion access in states across the country. But Mass. lawmakers have been working to increase abortion access for pregnant people both in- and out-of-state, especially as some have tried to make crossing state lines for an abortion illegal.  

Last summer, Mass. passed a law protecting providers and people seeking abortions from legal action taken by states with more restrictive laws. This hotline is meant to build off that legislation, offering those seeking or providing an abortion with a clear understanding of how they are protected under the law.  

☎️ Who can use it? Anyone. You don’t have to be a Mass. resident.  

☎️ How do you use it? Just call or message the hotline at (833)309-6301 and leave specific call-back instructions. They recommend using an encrypted communications platform like Signal, if you can. Someone will contact you within two to three business days to gather your legal questions and info and pass it along to their pro bono attorneys.  

Note: The people answering the hotline can’t immediately provide legal (or medical) advice. They’re just in charge of gathering your questions and information. 

 

What to Expect - Medical Abortion/Pill 

An abortion pill is used during the ten weeks after the first day of someone's most recent menstrual period. 

There are 2 pills — one to take at the clinic, and the other to take at home. 

Information on how to prepare and what to expect when taking the second pill will be provided at the time of the appointment, but you should plan to be resting in a comfortable place.   

Most people experience some cramping and bleeding. Some also experience breast soreness, vaginal discharge, and/or fatigue. 

After an abortion is finished, it is recommended you avoid heavy work or exercise for several days, but most people are able to resume normal activities by the next day.   

The aftercare information will be provided at the appointment as well and the provider can answer any questions. 

 

What to expect – Surgical/In-Clinic: 

In Massachusetts, someone can have an in-clinic (aka "surgical abortion") up to twenty weeks and six days after the first day of their most recent menstrual period. 

There are usually two visits: one for counseling and physical exams, and one for the procedure.  

Before the abortion, the provider will walk you through what to expect, and you will have to sign some forms.  

Most abortions take between 5-20 minutes depending on how many weeks it's been since your period. 

Afterwards, you will wait in a recovery room until you feel better — this can take up to an hour.   

Most people experience some cramping or bleeding after a surgical abortion, but many are able to resume normal activities as soon as the next day.   

You will be given aftercare information at the appointment as well and will be able to ask the provider any questions you may have. 

 

Tufts Health Services: 

Tufts Health Services provides medication abortions. They do not provide surgical abortions. Health Services staff can educate you about your options, provide you with abortion medication, refer you to a local clinic, and provide other sexual health services (like STI testing).  

If you need a physical exam (eg. STI testing, pregnancy test, etc.) or want to discuss pregnancy options or get a referral call 617-627-3350 or use the student portal to make an appointment with Health Services.

 

Providers near the Tufts Medford/Somerville campus that provide abortions. 

Planned Parenthood (6 miles from Tufts) * In network provider for Tufts student health insurance 

1055 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 295-7235 

Women's Health Services (7 miles from Tufts) *In network provider for Tufts student health insurance 

111 Harvard St
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 277-0009
*note on their name: this clinic provides abortion services for trans + NB people as well 

Tufts Medical Center (8 miles from Tufts) 

800 Washington Street 
North Mezzanine, Main Entrance
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 636-2229 

 

Booking An Appointment 

Calling clinics to book appointments in advance is important, because availability at your nearest clinic might be limited, and there may be a wait.  

Don't put a request for an abortion in a DM or through any third party platform. Your confidentiality is most protected over the phone or in person. 

 

Paying With Tufts Student Health Insurance: 

If you have Tufts student health insurance, abortion is covered by providers that accept Tufts student health insurance. The providers that accept your insurance are considered “in-network.” If you go to an in-network provider (noted in the list of clinics above), there is a $20 copay, meaning that you’ll need to pay $20 when you arrive at your appointment. After the provider completes the abortion, they will bill your Tufts student health insurance for the full cost of the abortion. You will need to pay the first $100 of this cost, plus 20% of the total cost. Your insurance will pay the rest. For questions about Tufts student health insurance, you can contact Health Services at 617-627-3350 or via the student portal. 

Tufts Student Health Insurance can be used in Massachusetts and elsewhere. The insurance coverage of abortion is not limited based on geography although laws may limit a person’s ability to access services in certain states/areas. 

 

Paying With Non-Tufts Insurance: 

To figure out if your insurance covers abortions, you can call the number on your insurance card to talk to your insurance provider.  

If your insurance does cover abortion, there may be privacy protection policies for dependents. (You’re a “dependent” if you're on your parent’s/guardian’s insurance.) This means that it may be possible for you to get an abortion without your parent or guardian finding out about it via their insurance statement. This is something you can ask your insurance agency about by calling the number on the back of your health insurance card. 

Guttmacher Institute and Bedsider both have great resources for decoding your insurance plan too. 

 

Paying Without Using Insurance: 

If you can't afford to pay for the procedure, travel, or other costs, or you do not want to use your parent’s/guardian’s insurance, there are organizations who can help. 

The Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund helps cover people who live in or are travelling to the Boston area for their abortions.  

To contact them for funding, call (617) 354-3839 and follow their instructions. They return calls within 48hrs. When they call back it'll be from a blocked number.   

  

Something to look out for: 

Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are organizations that offer pregnancy-related services such as counseling and support, but whose goal is to dissuade people from having abortions. Here are a few tips for determining if an organization is a CPC: 

  • Check their website. Many CPCs have websites that share their anti-abortion agenda. 
  • Ask questions. When contacting a pregnancy-related organization, ask them directly if they are a CPC and what their stance is on abortion. If they don’t really answer, or their answers make you uncomfortable, you can choose to seek services somewhere else. 
  • Know your rights. You have the right to medically accurate and unbiased information about your pregnancy and your options. If you feel at any point like a provider is refusing to give you information or trying to persuade you to make a specific choice, you have the right to leave without explanation and find somewhere else to receive care. 

The providers listed above are reliable healthcare providers and not CPCs. 

 

FAQs: 

Can I bring a friend? 

Yes, absolutely. You may actually be encouraged to bring someone with you if you're being given medication during the procedure.  

Will it hurt? 

Pain during an abortion varies from person to person. For some, it's just a little discomfort — others find it painful. Most people find abortion pain similar to strong period cramps. 

When will I get my next period after an abortion? 

Most people get their period between 4-8 weeks after the abortion, depending on if they're using birth control (and which method.) The abortion provider can discuss yours specific birth control situation with you. 

How soon can I have sex after an abortion? 

Sex (penetrative or otherwise) is on the same timeline as resuming other normal activity after an abortion — that means whenever someone feels ready after that first day. If you have specific concerns or questions, you should ask your healthcare provider.   

A Closing Note: 

This is a lot of information! However you are feeling right now is okay.  

If you want to talk through your options and/or have someone walk through this information with you in person, you can make a confidential appointment with any CARE staff member.