Abortion Care

Medication Abortion

Medication abortion – also called the abortion pill – is a safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy. Two different medicines are used:

• Mifepristone: Temporarily stops the body from producing the hormone, progesterone, which prevents the pregnancy from growing
• Misoprostol: Causes cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus

Medication abortion requires a prescription, available from:

• Your healthcare provider
• Planned Parenthood or other community providers
• Online telehealth services, including some that provide medication by mail – see the Resources section

Contra Costa Health patients can contact their primary care providers about prescriptions, or schedule appointments at our family planning services clinic by calling 925-370-5926, up to 11 weeks into a pregnancy.

In-Clinic Abortion

An in-clinic abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. These procedures are done at health centers or other medical facilities, with nurses, doctors, and trained support staff.

In clinic-abortion procedures are safe and effective. The procedures normally take a few minutes, with counseling and an exam beforehand, and medicine to help with any pain.

People seeking in-clinic abortions should talk to their healthcare providers about their options, or contact Planned Parenthood or other community providers.

Contra Costa Health patients can talk to their primary care providers about this option, or contact the family planning services clinic at 925-370-5926.

Women's Health Services Clinics

Contra Costa Public Health provides pap smears, breast exams, contraception, pregnancy testing STD/HIV testing, options counseling, and referrals for other services at clinics across the county.

Some women may qualify for no-cost or reduced-cost services. Visit our Women's Health Services page for details and contact information.

How to Get Help

Reproductive healthcare services are widely available in Contra Costa. Some resources available to all county residents include:

Planned Parenthood Northern California – 1-800-230-7526
Planned Parenthood offers a full range of reproductive health services at several locations in Contra Costa. Click the Get Care button to learn more, search for a local health center, or make an appointment.

Plan C – plancpills.org
A national nonprofit campaign sponsored by the National Women's Health Network, Plan C is an educational resource that helps people locate services in their community.

I need an abortion – ineedana.com
An abortion services locator by zip code that provides, simple, safe and up-to-date information for people seeking abortions.

My Abortion Network – myanetwork.org
A network of primary care clinicians providing safe and supportive telehealth abortion services.

All-Options Toll-Free Talk Line – 1-888-493-0092
Supportive, free counseling to discuss pregnancy, abortion, adoption, infertility, parenting, or pregnancy loss.

Exhale Provoice – 617-749-2948
A talk/text line that provides emotional support after an abortion experience.

Euki Reproductive Health App – eukiapp.com
Available at both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, Euki is a sexual health app that provides reliable, evidence-based sexual and reproductive health information, including about contraception, abortion and sexually transmitted infections, to assist and inform the user's decision making. The app is available in English and Spanish and adapts to fit the needs of its users.

Resources for Providers

Contra Costa Health has issued a health advisory urging community health providers to:

• Provide confidential, compassionate assistance to all women seeking abortion services to understand and navigate their options
• Ensure the provision of current, accurate health information regarding abortion services
• Familiarize themselves with community reproductive healthcare resources so they can better assist women who choose to access them

We also encourage all medical providers who work in Contra Costa or serve county residents to subscribe to our email list for receiving provider alerts and health advisories for our community.

Reproductive Health Access Project
An organization that trains, supports, and mobilizes primary care clinicians to ensure equitable access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, including abortion.

Abortion Pill CME
Online training for providers about medication abortion.

No federal funding is used to fund abortion services at Contra Costa Health facilities, in compliance with the Hyde Amendment.