Later Abortions: Rising Demand, Declining Access | US Abortion News
Teh closure of a Colorado abortion clinic, a key provider of later abortions, underscores the growing challenges in accessing this critical healthcare service. This unexpected event, affecting a facility that served patients from across the U.S., highlights the increasing demand for later abortions at a time when access is shrinking. Staff scrambled to relocate patients,many relying on financial aid,revealing the complex logistical and emotional burdens surrounding this type of care. News Directory 3 dives into the implications of this clinic’s closure, examining the rising demand for abortion care later in pregnancy and the dwindling resources available. What does the future hold for those seeking these services? Discover what’s next.
Colorado Abortion Clinic Closure Leaves Gap in Late-term Care
Updated June 09, 2025
The sudden closure of Boulder abortion clinic in Colorado, one of the few U.S. facilities providing abortions past the second trimester, has created a important void in later abortion access. In April,staff learned that Dr. Warren Hern, the clinic’s owner, would shutter the doors within days. Alicia Moreno, chief operations officer, and her colleagues instantly began the complex task of relocating patients.
the team worked urgently to find alternative clinics nationwide for about a dozen patients scheduled for abortions that week. Using secure lines, they contacted clinics across the country. Boulder abortion clinic typically managed travel logistics, so the staff also had to reschedule flights and accommodations, keeping costs down as over 90% of patients depended on financial assistance.
“It was hardest on the patients that were already scheduled,” Moreno said. “They’re already in a really shitty circumstance, and we’re just like: ‘Haha, just kidding. You’re not coming to Colorado now. You’re going to DC in four days.'”
Later abortions remain rare; about 1% occur at or after 21 weeks of pregnancy, according to the CDC’s latest data from 2022, the year Roe v. Wade was overturned. Though,data suggests their demand is rising. Before Roe, about 8% of abortion patients in states that now ban the procedure had second-trimester abortions. After Roe, that number rose to 17%, according to unpublished research led by Diana Greene Foster of the turnaway Study.
While demand for abortion care later in pregnancy increases, the supply has not kept pace. The closure of Boulder abortion clinic will likely exacerbate this issue.
What’s next
Moreno and other former Boulder abortion clinic staffers plan to establish a new clinic to provide later abortion services. They face two major hurdles: securing real estate and navigating a challenging funding landscape due to concerns among donors. Moreno hopes to open the new clinic within 60 to 90 days, aided by fundraising efforts from the Brigid alliance.