Your Rights
This decision belongs to you
This is your health, your pregnancy, and your future — and you deserve to feel steady, cared for, and fully informed as you consider the road ahead.
Whether you are a teenager or an adult, you have a voice in your care and important protections to understand…
The Right to Accurate Medical Information
You should have clear, honest answers about your pregnancy and your health before making any pregnancy decision.
This may include:
- Learning whether there is a detectable heartbeat
- Understanding possible signs of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy
- Understanding how far along you are, how gestational age is measured, and fetal development at this stage of your pregnancy. For example:
About 4 weeks after conception, or 6 weeks of pregnancy, the developing baby:
- Measures about ¼ inch long (5–7 mm), roughly the size of a lentil.
- Has a beating heart that is already pumping blood through the tiny body.
- Is developing a rapidly growing brain and nervous system.
- Has a developing spinal cord that is beginning to close and form.
- Has tiny arm and leg buds that will eventually become arms, hands, legs, and feet.
- Has early facial features beginning to form, including areas that will become the eyes, ears, nose, and jaw.
- Has the beginnings of the digestive system, lungs, liver, kidneys, and other major organs.
- Is developing tiny blood vessels that circulate blood throughout the body.
- Has a distinct head that appears large because the brain is growing so rapidly.
- Is enclosed within the amniotic sac and connected through structures that will continue developing into the placenta and umbilical cord.
The Right to Clear, Reliable Ultrasound Results
Not all ultrasounds provide the same information.
A basic or “confirmation” ultrasound may show signs of pregnancy, such as whether a gestational sac can be seen and where the pregnancy appears to be located.
A medical or diagnostic ultrasound may provide important information such as gestational age, pregnancy location, viability, fetal heartbeat, signs of miscarriage, and possible concerns requiring medical follow-up.
Before receiving an ultrasound or relying on the results, it is important to ask:
- Is this ultrasound diagnostic or only for confirmation?
- What are the technician’s qualifications?
- Is the ultrasound reviewed by a physician or radiologist?
- Will I receive a written ultrasound report?
- If a concern is identified, who will explain the findings and provide follow-up care?
The Right to Accurate Information About Abortion Procedures and Providers
Before making a decision about abortion, it is important to understand how the abortion pill works, what a surgical abortion may include, who will provide the care, and where the procedure or medication will be offered.
As you consider your options, it is important to have clear answers to these questions:
Ultrasound & Pregnancy Information
- Is an ultrasound performed before the abortion?
- Will I have the choice to see the ultrasound images?
- Is the ultrasound reviewed by a physician or radiologist?
- Can I receive a copy of my ultrasound images or report?
- How was my gestational age determined?
- Am I at risk for an ectopic pregnancy?
Medication & Surgical Abortion
- How do abortion medications work?
- What symptoms may be expected after taking abortion medication?
- What does a surgical abortion involve?
- Why is a surgical abortion being recommended instead of medication?
- What possible risks, side effects, and complications can occur with a medication or surgical abortion?
Safety, Follow-Up & Emergency Care
- How will I know if I am experiencing a complication?
- What symptoms require immediate medical attention?
- What follow-up care is provided after the abortion?
- Who do I contact after hours if I have questions or concerns?
- If complications occur, who will be responsible for my follow-up care?
Provider & Facility Information
- Who will be performing the procedure or prescribing the medication?
- Is the provider a licensed physician?
- What training and experience does the provider have?
- Have emergency medical services or an ambulance ever been called to the facility?
- Have any lawsuits, malpractice claims, disciplinary actions, license restrictions, formal complaints, or safety concerns been filed against the provider or facility?
While serious or life-threatening complications are uncommon, some women experience symptoms such as heavy bleeding, severe cramping, fever, dizziness, fainting, severe abdominal pain, or ongoing pain that require medical attention.
Understanding these details ahead of time can help you feel more prepared, know what to expect, and know where to turn if questions or concerns arise.
The Right to Understand What STI Testing Includes
Not all STI screenings check for the same things. Some organizations test for only a few infections, while others, like Circle of Hope, offer broader screening. Before you rely on your results, make sure you know:
- What specific tests were performed
- What conditions were not tested
- If blood tests are available
- If laboratory-confirmed tests were used
- If you can receive a copy of your results
- The availability of treatment if you test positive
Your Rights as a Student
If you are pregnant or parenting and attending school, you likely have protections under federal law. This may include the right to stay in school, continue your education, participate in classes and activities, receive medically necessary leave, make up missed work, and be free from pregnancy-related discrimination.
Your school should not tell you that you must drop out, switch programs, stop participating in activities, or change your educational plans because you are pregnant or parenting.
Depending on your situation, you may have the right to:
- Have pregnancy-related absences excused when medically necessary
- Return to the same academic status after medical leave
- Make up missed assignments, tests, participation points, or attendance credits
- Continue participating in school activities, clubs, sports, or programs when medically safe
- Request reasonable adjustments related to pregnancy, childbirth, recovery, or parenting needs
- Speak with the school’s Title IX Coordinator about your rights and available support
- Be treated the same as other students with temporary medical conditions
If you are unsure what your school is required to provide, ask to speak with the Title IX Coordinator, school counselor, academic advisor, or student services office.
Your Rights in the Workplace
If you are employed during your pregnancy, you may have important protections under federal and state law. These likely include the right to be free from pregnancy discrimination, request reasonable workplace accommodations, and continue working as long as you are able to perform your job.
Depending on your situation, you may have the right to:
- Request reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or recovery
- Take additional restroom, water, or rest breaks when needed
- Receive temporary adjustments to lifting requirements or other physical job duties
- Have a place to sit if your job normally requires standing for long periods
- Attend prenatal medical appointments
- Take medically necessary leave related to pregnancy or childbirth
- Express breast milk in a private location as required by law
- Be free from harassment, retaliation, or unfair treatment because of pregnancy
In many situations, an employer may not refuse to hire you, fire you, reduce your hours, force you to take leave, or treat you differently simply because you are pregnant.
If you believe your rights are being violated, consider speaking with your employer’s human resources department, a supervisor, or an employment attorney to better understand the protections that may apply to your situation.
