VCU Students & Abortion
In the Spring of 2025 RRFP hosted VCU Interns from the departments of African American Studies (AFAM) and Gender & Women's Studies (GSWS).
This year our four interns set up tables on campus & asked folks if they had any questions about abortion, and then created resources for their peers — these are the questions from students and faculty members at Virginia Commonwealth University! Answers were written by our interns in partnership with RRFP staff, volunteers, and collaborators.
Medical Questions:
Medical Questions answered by friend of RRFP and Certified Nurse Midwife Sylvia Hannah Boudali, Cycles Care Midwifery (cyclescare.org)What are the risks of having an abortion?
The risks of abortion mainly include heavy bleeding, and infection. Abortion does not impact fertility or the well being of future pregnancies. It is important to note that the risks of carrying a pregnancy are much higher than having an abortion.
Are there a lot of bad effects for Plan B?
The main side effects of Plan B are nausea and mood changes. They are usually self limited, meaning only impacting you for a day or so after taking. They can also change your period and bleeding pattern for that particular month. Very important to take a pregnancy test two weeks after taking Plan B, it only works some of the time.
Does taking Plan B impact other birth control products?
No, it may impact your bleeding and mood similarly to birth control, but it can be safely taken with birth control. “Ella,” a different emergency contraception, can interfere with the depo provera shot as well as progesterone only pill, called the “mini pill”.
I’ve heard that birth control is harmful for women’s health, but just how bad is it? And what ways does/can it harm a woman’s body?
Birth control is not “bad” for the body universally. It all depends on what risk factors you have and what option you are choosing! Birth control can cause a range of side effects including mood changes, skin changes, weight gain, and sexual changes. Most people on birth control do not experience any of this. Many forms of birth control stop the body from ovulating and so sometimes when a person stops birth control and is ready to conceive there is a lag time (a few weeks to months) before their body starts ovulating again. Birth control can also mask fertility issues or PCOS without addressing them, though this is very different from birth control causing these issues. TLDR: there are so many birth control options, it is usually possible to find one that does not cause harm to your particular situation.
When is it the safest time to get an abortion?
Abortion care is safe at any gestation, though there is less risk of bleeding too heavily if a pregnancy is ended earlier on in the gestation.
How long until you can try for another kid?
You can get pregnant within two weeks of an abortion, though if you are planning to conceive and carry a pregnancy, it is best to let your body heal until your first period after the abortion, and to attempt to conceive that next cycle.
How long does an abortion take? And what is the recovery time afterwards?
There are two types of abortion, a medical abortion with a pill and a procedural abortion in-clinic. The process of releasing the pregnancy with a medical abortion usually takes a few hours once the process has begun. Recovery, which includes bleeding and cramping and mood change can last many weeks, though most people are back to daily life within a day or two. The clinic procedure usually takes 5-10 minutes. Recovery is 30 minutes in the clinic and once you are home recovery can range similar to a medical abortion, sometimes days sometimes weeks. Most people are no longer symptomatic and have no more pregnancy hormone in their body 5 weeks after the abortion, and usually the person will get their period about a month or two after the abortion.
Legal Questions:
What states are abortions legal in currently?
The best website to see where abortion is legal and illegal/restricted is Guttmacher interactive map on US Abortion policies and access after Roe. Even if abortion is legal in a state there are still restrictions most of the time.
Will VA ever ban abortions?
Right now there are no threats to Virginians abortion access, however VA does not have any protections in place to keep this from happening. There is a constitutional amendment in the works to try to keep abortion protected however.
[Are] abortion rights being threatened in all states?
There are sanctuary states that have abortion protections in place in their constitutions to keep this from happening, however states without those protections are at risk of bans. The sanctuary states include: Maryland, Vermont, New York, Ohio, Colorado, Arizona, Michigan, California, and Missouri
Are abortions banned in Virginia?
No they are not! Getting an abortion is not illegal in Virginia. However there are still some restrictions, see above website for state specifics!
Are there any legal penalties in Virginia for seeking an abortion?
Seeking an abortion from a clinic does not have any legal penalties, however “self-managed” abortions (procuring or inducing an abortion through unestablished means/yourself) are criminalized. People can be charged with the improper burial of human remains, child endangerment, etc.
General Questions:
If you wanted to get an abortion on campus where would you go?
The student health center does not do abortions however VCU health family planning does offer abortion services. Other places to get abortions while living on or around campus will be…
Richmond Medical Center for Women: 118 N Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA 23220
Seven Hills Family Medicine: 9A W Grace St, Richmond, VA 23220
Planned Parenthood: 201 N. Hamilton St, Richmond, VA 23221
Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center: 1250 E Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23298
Are there any groups in Richmond, VA that organize to support womens’ reproductive rights?
There are many groups in Richmond that offer support around reproductive healthcare and rights, like us! Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project, and the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood!
Are there any age restrictions in Virginia that inhibit people from getting abortions?
Virginia is a "judicial bypass" state. If you look up "judicial bypass" you can see the states that require it. It means parent/guardian consent is required for getting an abortion and minors (under 18) have to talk to a judge to get permission to bypass that.
What is reproductive healthcare?
The World Health Organization defines reproductive health as “...a state of well-being in relation to sexuality across the life span that involves physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions.” Basically, sexual health and healthcare is an intrinsic element of people’s health and is based on a positive, equitable, and respectful approach to sexuality, relationships, and reproduction, that is free of coercion, fear, discrimination, stigma and shame.
How many months can I wait to get an abortion in Virginia?
In the state of Virginia, you can get an abortion up to 24 weeks (about 5.5 months). However in DC and Maryland it’s around 31-32 weeks.
What is happening with [abortion rights] right now?
To be honest, it’s hard to keep up. Since the Dobbs case that overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the abortion rights landscape has been even more consistently evolving and differs state to state. However, even before Roe was overturned, legislation to limit or ban abortions has been constantly being proposed and sometimes passed. At the state and federal levels, coalitions on all sides of the debate are in continuous fights to both pass legislation to protect abortion rights, and prevent or support different types of bans from passing. These websites are great for tracking what the laws are in any given state at that point in time:
Determining what laws are being proposed and what point in the process they are in is a much harder task, but each state has a government website where you can attempt to track bills regarding abortion/reproductive rights.
How many abortions happen in a year in RVA?
There aren’t set numbers of abortions that happen in Richmond specifically, however according to the Charlotte Lozier Institute there were just over 15,000 abortions recorded in the state of Virginia in 2020. This doesn’t include people who had abortions through self managed abortion or other methods.
Where can people learn about their reproductive rights?
Websites linked in above answers can highlight what states have which laws in place currently and are updated as things change. Local government websites will have which bills are in progress as well that can be informative to the abortion access landscape of your state.
Where can you find accessible healthcare?
Healthcare in the United States is a convoluted system!! But if you have some type of insurance, including Medicaid, you should be able to contact your insurance to find out which providers accept your particular type of insurance and what the insurance covers (any co-pays, deductibles, etc.). Some clinics in Richmond take patients who do not have insurance, too. Virginia has a number of “free clinics” and health departments that offer services regardless of insurance. Call ahead to make appointments and determine costs, if they accept your insurance or will see you without insurance etc.
For STI/HIV screenings, treatment and prevention education, as well as a variety of other resource, check out the Richmond Henrico Health District (health department) website for multiple options (including non-profits): https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/richmond-city/stihiv-prevention-program/
Access Now, Seven Hills Family Medicine (abortion provider!), Health Brigade, Daily Planet, Planned Parenthood, CrossOver Health, Goochland Cares - are all other examples of lower cost healthcare options in the Greater Richmond Area.
How can you access abortions and abortion pills?
Telehealth appointments are legal in Virginia for anyone with a Virginia address you can also go to in person. Use ineedana.com or abortionfinder.org to find a clinic.
Economic Questions:
(Questions surrounding costs & funding)Is [abortion] free? Are there affordable funding options for reproductive healthcare?
Abortion is not free & Virginia medicaid does not cover abortion. Many private insurances also do not cover, but some do. Call your health insurance provider (usually the number on your insurance card) to find out what is covered. There are a variety of abortion funds that operate across the country and help reduce abortion costs for individuals by covering portions (or all) of their abortion costs, transportation and/or hotel/lodging as needed. Find abortion funds on ineedana.com
How much do abortions cost?
In Virginia, medication pills appointments can vary from 250-650 depending on the provider plus 30-40$ pharmacy cost depending on the provider. Telehealth appointments have the cheapest option.
In Virginia, procedure appointments can vary from $450-$7,400 depending on the person's gestation and clinic.
The cost of an ultrasound is usually around $100-150 at a clinic & is included in the cost of the abortion if you are making an abortion appointment. Unfortunately, VCU student health services don’t offer ultrasound appointments for free so you would have to go to a hospital or the VCU hospital.
Crisis pregnancy centers provide inaccurate ultrasounds & can delay your access to real health care. Use this map to make sure you're not getting an ultrasound from a crisis pregnancy center: https://crisispregnancycentermap.com/
On DC and Maryland costs can go up to 5 digits costs for higher gestations $XX,000
Philosophical / Discussion Questions:
How can I help women feel less ashamed of abortion?
Normalizing the challenging and personal feelings that arise! Abortion has long been and continues to be a stigmatized procedure. Even if a person feels confident in their decision, is the most outspoken about abortion access/rights, and/or believes deeply in a person’s right to choose - abortions are also a physical and hormonal experience that can surface a lot of different feelings. Depending on someone’s history of trauma, experiences with medical providers and the health care system, their own family history or past pregnancies - abortions can bring up a lot of unexpected emotions. Normalizing the shame, regret, grief, relief, elation, depression, etc. that can come up for folks by talking about it, validating peoples’ experiences, being a good listener, sharing your own experiences, maybe even finding a support group around this topic or becoming involved in an abortion activism space (share your story, help others) all can hopefully reduce some of the shame. A lot more people have had abortions than those who talk about it - solidarity and showing people they are not alone is a good place to start.
How do you support a friend who may be struggling with their experience with abortion?
If a loved one is struggling with their abortion experience, there are many ways to be a supportive friend. Simply asking what or if there is anything you can do to support them is a great start, because people process and receive care in different ways. Getting an abortion, and the physical experience of it, is very personal and intimate for many. A friend who may usually tell you everything on their mind might be more reluctant to open up about an abortion. Abortions also have a LOT of stigma, shame and grief around them, so it can be difficult or scary to talk about. Letting someone know you are there to just listen without judgement and validate what they are going through may be a gentle way to let someone know you care and want to support them. `
You can always offer or ask if they are in need of other types of support, like accompanying them to a follow-up appointment, cooking a meal for them (even just to drop on their doorstep), spending time with them, or helping with childcare (for example, watching their child while they attend a follow-up appointment, etc.) or transportation. As always with supporting loved ones in your life - make sure to ask first what would be the most helpful, determine what type of support you feel comfortable offering and have capacity for, and let them know how/when you’re available.
If you are seriously worried about someone’s mental health post-abortion, or otherwise - please seek help! There’s a hotline available called the suicide and crisis lifeline. Just dial 988.
How can you as an individual support?
Donate to independent abortion clinics, show up to protests, speak up and normalize the conversation, and educate yourself about reproductive health care laws in your state. Support your loved ones who have gone through abortions - normalize talking about it!
What’s needed?
See above - supporting reproductive rights and health care and access to abortion can look like a lot of different things. You can donate to independent clinics, abortions funds (like RRFP, for example), volunteer your time or transportation or childcare help, contact representatives, organize or participate in protests and rallies to protect abortion rights in your local jurisdiction or state. You can even become an abortion provider! There’s no one way to support abortion access.
Why are people so against [abortion]?
There are many reasons that abortion has been stigmatized throughout history. The emergence of more modern medicine and established medical schools created a stigma around natural abortives and women's health care provided by midwives and natural healers. The Catholic church has also influenced the stigma around abortion as it is seen as a sin and murder. With multiple facets and the overall lack of care for women’s health abortion has become something stigmatized and villainized.
What portion of the population is informed about ‘basic’ sex ed?”
Sex education is a subject that varies greatly depending on when (as in, what decade) you received “sex ed,” what state you live/lived in, and what schools you go/went to. Your family system and environment (including if your parent opt you out of sex ed at your school), as well as access to sexual health care and at what age all contribute to the sexual health information a person receives. There are SO many factors.
There isn’t an across-the-board standard “basic sex ed” that everyone receives at a certain age. The responsibility of who will provide sex ed tends to be unclear. For some, it’s provided by a religious association, or by a member of the family, or the school (who may outsource this class to a non-profit, health department, religious group or company, or may have a nurse, PE teacher or other faculty teach the curriculum). Some folks rely on medical providers in a healthcare setting or at a health department to provide sexual and/or reproductive information.
So, there’s no way to know what exact percentage of the population received what type of sex ed - there isn’t a nationally agreed upon idea of sex ed to begin with! There are large federal funding streams that go towards all types of organizations who offer medically accurate but not at all comprehensive abstinence-only until marriage sexual education curriculum. Conversely, other organizations like Planned Parenthood in some parts of the US offer medically accurate, LGBTQ+ inclusive and age appropriate sex education curriculum. Those are just some examples.What results is that everyone gets a pretty different experience of sex ed with a wide range of possibilities of what information is offered. I think it’s fair to say that most people are under informed about sexual health, their reproductive and sexual physiology and navigating consent, boundaries and sexual communication - not to mention pleasure!
Sources of sex education and resources are available in many forms, but can be a little piecemeal with information. Healthcare providers and local health departments are great for medical questions about reproductive and sexual health like reproductive and sexual physiology, contraception, pregnancy, menstruation, and STIs (prevention, symptoms, treatment options). Other educational opportunities from trusted organizations and community groups like workshops, support resources, and even webinars may be helpful for more interpersonal aspects of sex education like consent, boundary communication, healthy relationships (or domestic/sexual violence), gender identity and expression, and less usual sexual preferences (like kink and BDSM, etc.).
What is required to join RRFP?
Anyone who wants to be involved can check out the website to get looped in - you can submit a volunteer interest form to start. There are many existing pathways to get involved like fundraising, intake coordination, tabling, materials development, translating, and more!
Is there a common reason people get abortions?
There are some available statistics on who and why people in the United States get abortions that indicate trends - but people get abortions for all kinds of reasons. Whether it’s emotional, financial/economic, spiritual - it’s the pregnant person’s choice (should be). Some common examples are that the timing is wrong for having a baby, it would interfere with other important life priorities like education or raising children, or the person/couple/family can’t afford it at that moment. Many people getting abortions are already parents, and are generally between 20-30 years old. However, people of all ages, and all walks of life choose to get abortions for all kinds of reasons.
