The closure of Colorado’s Boulder Abortion Clinic—one of the last U.S. providers of late-term abortions—has left patients like Hannah Brehm navigating a shrinking and increasingly hostile reproductive landscape.
At a Glance
- The Boulder Abortion Clinic, a long-standing provider of late-term abortions, has closed due to financial challenges
- Only 1% of abortions occur after 21 weeks, making such procedures rare and increasingly difficult to access
- States with strict abortion bans have forced many to travel out of state for the procedure, affecting emotional well-being
- The Supreme Court upheld access to medication abortion for those in states with bans, adding another layer to the abortion debate
A Lifeline Lost
For over 50 years, the Boulder Abortion Clinic served as a critical resource for patients seeking abortions later in pregnancy, often due to severe fetal anomalies or maternal health risks. Founded by Dr. Warren Hern in 1973, the clinic was among the few in the U.S. offering abortions beyond 28 weeks. Dr. Hern, who faced persistent threats throughout his career, cited financial strain and the lack of a successor as reasons for the closure. He expressed deep regret over the decision, stating, “It became impossible to continue, but closing is one of the most painful decisions of my life.”
Rising Demand Amid Legal Barriers
As states implement stricter abortion bans and set gestational limits, the demand for later terminations is rising. In 2023, over 171,000 patients traveled out of state due to these bans, with Illinois alone seeing 16,000 out-of-state patients seeking abortions. These constraints render the legal barriers painfully challenging for those already in distress.
The Human Toll
Patients like Hannah Brehm, who faced devastating fetal diagnoses, have shared their experiences to highlight the emotional and financial burdens of seeking care. Brehm stated, “Chances are it’s not gonna happen to you. And I hope it doesn’t happen to someone else that you love, but it is happening.” The necessity to travel long distances, often across multiple states, adds layers of stress, anxiety, and shame, especially as patients navigate unfamiliar settings and disclose procedures to others.
Legal Structures and Emotional Stigma
Legal restrictions and service unavailability lay the foundation for the emotional burdens associated with abortion travel. Studies reveal the stigma surrounding abortion, impacting individuals on both interpersonal and personal levels. As restrictions tighten, more people may endure these complexities. Amy Hagstrom Miller, a reproductive rights advocate, emphasized, “Abortion is one of the most common procedures in medicine. We’re having people travel hundreds or thousands of miles for a procedure that typically takes less than 10 minutes and can be done in a doctor’s office setting. Nobody does that for any other medical procedure.”
A Shrinking Network
With the closure of the Boulder Abortion Clinic, fewer than 20 clinics nationwide now offer abortions beyond 28 weeks. This reduction intensifies the strain on remaining providers and underscores the challenges patients face in accessing necessary care. The resilience demonstrated by patients like Hannah Brehm encapsulates a silent defiance—a pursuit of freedom and self-determination amidst limiting societal frameworks. Their stories bring attention to the multifaceted challenges in abortion access, underscoring the need for changes that respect autonomy and hope.
