Accessing Abortion Services

Read the OCRCC’s Statement on the Overturning of Roe v. Wade

OCRCC-Roe-v-Wade-2022Download

Options in Durham Region

Surgical Abortion is ending a pregnancy through a surgical procedure done at a hospital or abortion clinic.

Hospital

  • It can be done at local hospital if under 12 weeks pregnant
  • It must be referred by a healthcare provider
  • The procedure is done under anesthetic (you are put to sleep)
  • A referral can be done at Durham’s sexual health clinics
  • Someone must take you to the hospital for your procedure

Clinics

  • The clinics are in Toronto and other areas – they are not in Durham Region
  • You can call and make your own appointment without seeing a healthcare provider
  • It is a procedure done with pain medication
  • The medication is used to help relax and calm you
  • You need someone to take you to your appointment

For more information, visit the Morgentaler clinic website. For other clinic contact information, you can call and speak to a public health nurse in the sexual health clinic.

More information about pregnancy options in Durham Region: https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/pregnancy-options.aspx

Durham Women’s Care Clinic

Durham Women’s Care Clinic’s friendly team of family doctors strive to provide women with a safe and supportive environment to have all of their reproductive health concerns addressed. The clinic conveniently has an on-site pharmacy, lab and ultrasound facilities, and offers quick appointments. 

DWCC provides contraception and medical abortions (with pills) up to 9 weeks.

Call 905-721-2547 or visit https://www.durhamwomenscareclinic.com/

Canadian Resources

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada

The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC) is the only nation-wide political pro-choice group devoted to ensuring abortion rights and access. ARCC formed in October 2005 to carry out political and educational work to support reproductive rights and health.


ARCC is Canada’s “voice for choice”. Their diverse coalition consists of pro-choice groups and individuals across Canada working to represent all Canadian women and transgender people who support reproductive rights and justice.

ARCC’s Website: https://www.arcc-cdac.ca/

Abortion Clinics and Services in Canada: https://www.arcc-cdac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/list-abortion-clinics-canada.pdf

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights

Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights is a progressive, pro-choice charitable organization committed to advancing and upholding sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada and globally.

Action Canada is building on the 50-year legacy of their predecessor organizations. They are: The Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada, Canadians for Choice, the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, and Action Canada for Population and Development.

For information about sexual and reproductive health, including pregnancy options, and for referrals to clinics and hospitals that provide reproductive health services, including abortion, anywhere in Canada, please call the confidential toll-free information and referral line between 9:00AM and 9:00PM EST:
1-888-642-2725 and/or text the Access Line at 289-212-0868 (9AM-5PM Eastern/M-F)

Action Canada’s Website: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/

Action Canada’s Statement on the Overturning of Roe v. Wade: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/news/2022-06-24-statement-overturning-roe-v-wade

Canada’s Current Abortion Rights: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/news/2022-06-24-why-we-dont-need-new-abortion-law-canada

Take Action to Protect Abortion: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/news/2022-06-24-how-you-can-take-action-protect-abortion

Abortion Access Tracker (in partnership with the Women’s Legal Education & Action Fund – LEAF): https://www.abortionaccesstracker.ca/

Birth Mark

As you navigate your reproductive journey, questions and uncertainties may arise. Birth Mark guides you with the information needed to help you feel supported and informed, providing one-on-one, non-judgmental and unbiased support.

Birth Mark’s Website: https://birthmarksupport.com/

Choice Connect

Choice Connect helps you find your nearest abortion provider based on your needs. The app features detailed referral information for more than 120 abortion providers and clinics across Canada. The web app is anonymous and free to use.

Choice Connect’s Website: https://choiceconnect.ca/

Canadian Association of Midwives

Since 2001, the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) and the National Aboriginal Council of Midwives (NACM) have promoted the vital role of midwives in sexual, reproductive, and newborn health. They work across all levels, driving change in legislation and funding, strengthening regional associations, and supporting midwives directly with tools and learning opportunities.

Canadian Association of Midwives’ Website: https://canadianmidwives.org/

CAM’s Statement on the Overturning of Roe v. Wade: https://canadianmidwives.org/sites/canadianmidwives.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CAM_PSMidwivesAbortionProvision_ENG_VF_20220224.pdf

H.E.A.L.T.H.

H.E.A.L.T.H stands for Health Care, Education, Advocacy, Linkage for Trauma Informed Healing. Based in Ottawa, H.E.A.L.T.H is a clinic designed specifically to promote trauma-informed health care through a patient-centered framework and provide you with opportunities for health promotion. The clinic handles your day-to-day wellness needs, including opportunities for health prevention. Professionals are familiar with and acknowledge how trauma such as sexual violence, exploitation and childhood adversity can impact your life. With the client’s permission, the clinic partners with local and regional social service providers to assist those affected by violence in rebuilding their lives.

H.E.A.L.T.H.’s Website: https://www.healthclinicottawa.ca/

National Aboriginal Council of Midwives

Indigenous midwives were once a cornerstone of every Indigenous community. It has only been in the last hundred years that this practice has been taken away from communities. Indigenous midwives were silenced and ordered to stop their important work. The silencing of Indigenous midwifery occurs as a result of colonization and the ongoing medicalization and systemic racism in the Canadian health care system.

Since 2002, Indigenous midwives from across Canada have come together almost every year to share and plan for the future of Indigenous midwifery in our communities. Recognizing the need to establish a collective voice as Indigenous women working in communities, NACM was officially established on November 11, 2008 at the third annual Gathering in Quebec City. This was a critical step in the restoration and renewal of midwifery in Indigenous communities across Canada.

National Aboriginal Council of Midwives’ Website: https://indigenousmidwifery.ca/

NACM’s Statement on the Overturning of Roe v. Wade: https://indigenousmidwifery.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PS-ForcedSter.pdf

Native Youth Sexual Health Network

NYSHN works with Indigenous peoples across Canada and the United States to advocate for and build strong, comprehensive, and culturally safe sexuality and reproductive health, rights, and justice initiatives in their own communities.

Native Youth Sexual Health’s Website: https://www.nativeyouthsexualhealth.com/

National Abortion Federation of Canada

NAF Canada promotes reproductive health among Canadians by ensuring that abortion care is accessible and carried out to the highest standards. They support physicians, nurses, counsellors, and administrators in providing safe, high-quality abortion care, and help improve abortion access by increasing the number of health care professionals educated and trained in abortion provision.

NAF Canada also provides assistance for patients with financial barriers to abortion care through the Dr. Henry Morgentaler Patient Assistance Fund. This Fund helps pregnant people in Canada whose abortion care is not covered by provincial or territorial health insurance or who have to incur travel expenses in accessing abortion care.

NAF Canada’s Website: https://nafcanada.org/

The Morgentaler Clinic

The Morgentaler Clinic has been providing safe and compassionate abortion services in Canada for over 40 years, offering a wide range of abortion care and related services, including counselling, contraceptive education and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The clinics perform abortions for women who are approximately 7–19 weeks pregnant. (Guidelines vary slightly by province.) If your pregnancy does not fall within those guidelines, the clinics will do their best to help you find the proper resources or refer you to a facility that can accommodate your needs.

Where legislation allows, the clinics’ services are fully covered by provincial healthcare insurance. There are no additional costs or hidden fees for residents of Ontario or Newfoundland and Labrador. If you don’t have a valid OHIP or MCP card, or if you are from out-of-province, they can help you get financial assistance.

The Morgentaler Clinic’s Website: http://www.morgentaler.ca/

Ottawa Abortion Doula Collective

The Ottawa Abortion Doula Collective is a group of pro-choice, feminist volunteers who support people in Ottawa and the surrounding area through their abortions. Their services are non-judgmental, compassionate, and free. Their abortion doulas have been trained in trauma-informed abortion support by the experienced abortion doula and founder of Abortion Support Services Atlantic, Shannon Hardy. They can help you sort out the logistical and emotional considerations of getting an abortion in Ottawa and the surrounding area.

Ottawa Abortion Doula Collective’s Website: https://ottawaabortiondoulas.ca/

Planned Parenthood Ottawa

Planned Parenthood Ottawa is a pro-choice organization supporting informed sexual and reproductive health choice through education, counselling, information and referral services. 

Planned Parenthood Ottawa’s Website: https://ppottawa.ca/

Planned Parenthood Toronto

Planned Parenthood Toronto provides sexual health services including birth control, IUDs, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing and options, medical abortion, STI testing and treatment, PReP, and anonymous HIV testing. PPT also provides primary care services for non-sexual health support, such as getting a flu shot. It is easy to start a new file with you, or have your medical records sent from another doctor. No OHIP card is required.

PPT also offers mental health supports including counselling services and a Life Resources Program, which helps folks to find support for the social determinants of health, such as income supports, education, employment, food security, housing, social inclusion, etc. PPT provides resources and external referrals to services including, but not limited to:

  • shelter and housing help
  • employment services
  • social assistance
  • food banks
  • legal aid
  • pregnancy options
  • parenting supports
  • immigration and settlement

Planned Parenthood Toronto’s Website: https://ppt.on.ca/

PPT’s Statement on the Overturning of Roe v. Wade: https://ppt.on.ca/ppt-stands-in-solidarity/

PPT’s Accompanying Press Release: https://ppt.on.ca/planned-parenthood-toronto-on-roe-v-wade-press-release/

SHORE Centre

The Sexual Health Options, Resources & Education – SHORE Centre was founded in 1972 and originally named Planned Parenthood Kitchener-Waterloo, followed by Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region. The Centre grew out of the Birth Control Centre at the University of Waterloo in order to provide all residents of the community with sexual health information and support. SHORE Centre’s founders included a librarian, a social worker, a doctor and nurse, Catherine “Kitty” Francis.

SHORE Centre offers the following counselling appointments:

• Pregnancy Options Support
• Abortion Options Support
• Support After an Abortion
• Adoption Options Support
• Support After Placing a Child for Adoption
• Support During Pregnancy
• Support After Giving Birth

SHORE Centre offers the following medical appointments:

• Medical Intake and Screening for Medication Abortion
    • This is the first step for having a medication abortion at SHORE Centre
• Birth Control Consultation
    • This includes the pill, patch, ring, the shot (Depo Provera), intrauterine device (IUD), implant (Nexplanon), and referral for tubal ligation
• Referral for Vasectomy
    • This appointment is to speak with a clinician to be referred for a vasectomy procedure
• IUD Insertion and Removal
• Nexplanon (implant) Insertion and Removal
• Pregnancy Test Pick Up
• Prenatal Vitamin Pick Up
• Condom, Dam and Lube Pick Up

SHORE Centre’s Website: https://www.shorecentre.ca/

SHORE Centre’s Statement on the Overturning of Roe v. Wade: https://www.instagram.com/p/CfMg-zpA3IO/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa: Young Womyn Project

The YWP is a specialized program within SASC Ottawa that supports young womyn and other marginalized genders between the ages of 14-24 who experience intersecting challenges in addition to sexual violence. The YWP believes in the power of young survivors to share their knowledge, support, and advocacy with one another as a means of gaining and re-claiming strength and resiliency. The YWP strongly believes that all young survivors are dynamic and are valuable participants in their communities and recognize that young womyn and other marginalized genders face many barriers to accessing support due to criminalization, discrimination, and lack of suitable social services. They seek to provide accessible, flexible, and customized support services for all survivors to be able to access. 

Support Services:

  • Individual Support (emotional support, referrals, resources and support in obtaining practical needs)
  • Group Support (monthly drop-in groups, empowerment groups, closed groups, and specialized groups)
  • Advocacy (housing, work, school, etc.)
  • Accompaniments (to sensitive appointments)

Young Womyn Project’s Website: https://sascottawa.com/services/young-womyn-project/

Women’s Healthcare Centre at Peterborough Regional Health Centre

The Women’s Healthcare Centre provides quality healthcare services for women in Peterborough, Haliburton, Northumberland Counties, and the City of Kawartha Lakes. The Women’s Healthcare Centre offers information, support, counselling, and treatment to help women prevent health problems and understand their choices when problems occur.

The Women’s Healthcare Centre is holistic in its approach, believing that a person’s health is affected by many factors – physical health, emotional health, and spiritual health, as well as the social and economic conditions of their lives. At the Centre, women are encouraged to consider all of these factors when making decisions about their health.

WHC’s Website: https://www.prhc.on.ca/healthcare-services/women-children/womens-healthcare-centre/

U.S./International Resources

Aid Access

Aid Access supports women, girls, trans men, non-binary, and all people with an unwanted pregnancy to access an abortion or miscarriage treatment.

Aid Access’ Website: https://aidaccess.org/en/

National Abortion Federation

The National Abortion Federation promotes reproductive health among Americans by ensuring that abortion care is accessible and carried out to the highest standards. They support physicians, nurses, counsellors, and administrators in providing safe, high-quality abortion care, and help improve abortion access by increasing the number of health care professionals educated and trained in abortion provision.

NAF’s Website: https://prochoice.org/

Find a Provider: https://prochoice.org/patients/find-a-provider/

Women on Web

Women on Web is an international online abortion service, providing access to safe abortion services. They are a team of medical doctors, researchers, activists, and help desk members who advocate for and facilitate access to contraception and safe abortion services to protect women’s health and lives.

People who need safe abortion or contraception can make an online consultation at the Women on Web website. After being reviewed by medical doctors, medical abortion pills or contraceptives are provided via mail. The help desk team accompanies women and pregnant people during all stages of the process and responds to any questions that may arise within 24 hours. Supervised by medical doctors, the help desk operates in 16 languages, including Arabic, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, and Turkish. 

Women on Web’s Website: https://www.womenonweb.org/en/