Pregnancy Termination in New Jersey: All You Need to Know

The Legality of Pregnancy Termination in New Jersey

New Jersey is one of the few states in the United States where pregnancy termination remains legal throughout the entire pregnancy. This right is protected by the state's Reproductive Freedom Act, which was signed into law in 2022.

The Reproductive Freedom Act explicitly states that "every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive autonomy, which includes the right to choose to have an abortion." This means that no one can be forced to have an abortion against their will, and that the government cannot interfere with a person's decision to have an abortion.

Pregnancy Termination Statistics in New Jersey

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, there were 31,000 pregnancy terminations performed in the state in 2021. This number has remained relatively stable over the past decade.

Of the pregnancy terminations performed in New Jersey in 2021, 92% were performed at or before 13 weeks gestation. The remaining 8% were performed at or after 13 weeks gestation.

Reasons for Pregnancy Termination

There are many reasons why people choose to have an abortion. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Unplanned pregnancy
• Financial instability
• Relationship problems
• Health concerns
• Fetal abnormalities

The Process of Pregnancy Termination

The process of pregnancy termination can vary depending on the stage of pregnancy and the individual's medical history. However, there are two general types of pregnancy termination procedures:

Medication Abortion

Medication abortion is a non-surgical procedure that uses two medications to terminate a pregnancy. The first medication, mifepristone, blocks the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for a pregnancy to continue. The second medication, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue.

Medication abortion is available up to 10 weeks gestation. It is a safe and effective procedure, and it is more than 95% effective in terminating a pregnancy.

Surgical Abortion

Surgical abortion is a procedure that uses suction or surgical instruments to remove the pregnancy tissue from the uterus. It is a more invasive procedure than medication abortion, but it is also more than 99% effective in terminating a pregnancy.

Surgical abortion is available up to 24 weeks gestation. However, most surgical abortions are performed at or before 13 weeks gestation.

The Cost of Pregnancy Termination

The cost of pregnancy termination can vary depending on the type of procedure and the location of the clinic. However, the average cost of a medication abortion is $500, and the average cost of a surgical abortion is $1,000.

Where to Get Pregnancy Termination Services in New Jersey

There are many clinics in New Jersey that provide pregnancy termination services. You can find a list of these clinics on the website of the New Jersey Department of Health.

Conclusion

Pregnancy termination is a safe and legal medical procedure. It is a personal decision that should be made by the individual in consultation with their healthcare provider.

Additional Resources

• New Jersey Department of Health: https://www.nj.gov/health/
• Planned Parenthood of Northern New Jersey: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-northern-new-jersey
• American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey: https://www.aclu-nj.org/

Tables

Table 1: Number of Pregnancy Terminations in New Jersey

Table 2: Reasons for Pregnancy Termination

Table 3: Type of Pregnancy Termination Procedures

Table 4: Cost of Pregnancy Termination