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Overview of Arkansas Abortion Laws

ABORTION IS LEGAL (ALLOWED) IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS

72-hour waiting period

The State of Arkansas has a 72-hour waiting period that requires 2 visits to our office.

Arkansas requires a person seeking an abortion to wait 72 hours, between when they receive counseling and the procedure is performed. This state law requires a patient to make two separate trips to the clinic to obtain an abortion.

The “weeks gestation” is determined by ultrasound examination. Pregnancy is dated from the date of the last menstrual period (“LMP”). It is known that the time of conception is normally two weeks after the beginning of the menstrual period. One week after conception (3 weeks by the LMP) the pregnancy test becomes positive and the pregnancy can be safely terminated.

If you are interested in knowing the appearance of the fetus at various stages of pregnancy click here:

>> Abortion Decision Book - English

>> Abortion Decision Book - En Español

How does this affect me?

If you are under 17 weeks pregnant, you will need to plan for 2 clinic visits. Your first visit will require you to sit with one of our doctors to go over the abortion procedure, side effects and the state mandated information.

After your first visit, we will schedule 72 hours out for you to come back and have the abortion performed.

If you are over 17 weeks pregnant, you will need to plan for 3 clinic visits. Your first visit will require you to sit with one of our doctors to go over the abortion procedure, side effects and the state mandated information as mentioned above.

After your first visit, we will schedule 72 hours out for you to return to the clinic to "prepare" for your abortion procedure.

On your 3rd visit, your abortion procedure will be completed.

Physician Requirement

Arkansas state requires an abortion to be performed by a licensed physician.

Abortion for Minors

Minors (under the age of 18 years old) seeking an abortion have an option to petition before a judge to be given permission for an abortion without parental notification.

If you are unable to obtain parental consent, you are able to request a court order ("Judicial bypass") from your local courthouse.

Judicial bypass is not complicated. We assist minors who choose this option, providing detailed information and instructions to make this process as easy as possible. Call us for more information.

Want to know more about Abortion State Laws and Policies go to Guttmacher Institute.

Quick
Links

Abortion Pill at Little Rock Family Planning Services in Little Rock, Arkansas

Abortion Pill

First trimester abortion in Little Rock, Arkansas at Little Rock Family Planning Services

1st Trimester

2nd Trimester

Special Needs for abortion care at Little Rock Family Planning Services in Little Rock, AR

Special Needs

Why Choose LRFPS

Legal

Abortion is legal (allowed) in the State of Arkansas. Patients must receive state-directed counseling and wait 72 hours before having an abortion.

Experienced abortion doctors at Little Rock Family Planning Services in Little Rock, AR

Experienced

In addition, we have a team of very experienced physicians that are all medical doctors, and licensed by the state of Arkansas. Willie Parker, MD, our Medical Director has been providing abortion care for years.

Legal - abortion is legal in Arkansas. LRFPS offers abortion care.

Licensed

Little Rock Family Planning Services is a modern, free standing, out-patient surgical center. We provide abortion care to a wide geographical area including, Texas and Louisiana. Currently, we are the only licensed abortion clinic in the state of Arkansas.

Excellence in abortion services and care at LRFPS

Excellence

Medical excellence, confidentiality and state-of-the-art women’s health care provided in a SAFE setting with a compassionate and non-judgmental staff. We meet and exceed Clinical Policy Guidelines established by the National Abortion Federation.

Pregnancy Calculator

To estimate the length of your pregnancy, enter the first day of your last period in the field below, and then press ‘calculate’ to the right of it.

Patient Comments

“Uplifting. Encouraging. Professional. Non-Judgmental. Excellent.”

“Thank you so much for getting me through this procedure. You all are awesome.”

“Very helpful, courageous people doing a great service for the community”

“I am very appreciative of the politeness and the accepting atmosphere”

“Love all the employees and doctors. You all made my experience as good as it can be.”