What we believe
These values guide every part of our work.
At ICRF, we believe that access to reproductive healthcare is essential to the well-being of individuals and communities. Every Iowan deserves the freedom to make personal medical decisions without government interference. We are committed to ensuring that all people have access to medically accurate, comprehensive information so they can make informed choices about their care. Because when Iowans have autonomy over their health, our communities are stronger, healthier, and more just.
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ICRF is committed to supporting Iowans with trusted, fact-based resources and broad community engagement.
Navigating reproductive healthcare in Iowa can be confusing—but you’re not alone. Explore our FAQ and trusted resources to understand your rights, find services, and get the care you need.
Abortion is legal only up to about six weeks of pregnancy. After that, exceptions exist for medical emergencies, specific fetal anomalies, or if the pregnancy endangers the patient’s life. However, these exceptions are narrow and inconsistently applied.
Read more here.
Abortion in Iowa is legal in very limited cases after 6 weeks—like medical emergencies or specific fetal conditions. But the window is small, and access is shrinking. Since Iowa's six-week abortion ban took effect, aid for Iowans traveling for abortions tripled. In all of 2024, 625 Iowans seeking out-of-state abortions requested help from the organizations. In 2023, that number was 194. Learn more.
Yes. Traveling out of Iowa to obtain abortion care is currently legal. No state laws prevent you from leaving to seek care in places like Illinois or Minnesota. While some states have proposed “abortion trafficking” laws, Iowa does not currently criminalize traveling for care. Need care? You’re not alone. Abortion is still legal in neighboring states, and help is available. Find resources, travel support, and funding at abortionfinder.org.
HIPAA protects most personal health information from being disclosed without your consent. However, there are exceptions: law enforcement can access records with a court order, subpoena, or as required by law. HIPAA doesn’t guarantee absolute confidentiality in a legal investigation. Know your rights. Learn when your health info can be shared and how to stay informed. hhs.gov/hipaa
Under current Iowa law, it is not a crime to assist someone in accessing legal abortion care, including out-of-state services. However, legislation in other states has attempted to criminalize aid and support, so it’s essential to stay informed and cautious. Find abortion laws by state.
The Trump administration recently revoked federal guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortion care under EMTALA—the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.Now, in states with abortion bans—including Iowa—hospitals can legally deny life-saving care, even in emergencies like miscarriage, sepsis, or organ failure. This rollback has left providers uncertain and patients at greater risk of delays or denial of critical care.
If you are in a pregnancy-related emergency and denied treatment:
Call the Repro Legal Helpline at 844-868-2812.
Visit reprolegalhelpline.org for free legal guidance.
“Personhood” laws seek to define life as beginning at fertilization. If passed, such laws could severely limit or criminalize access to IVF, certain contraceptives, and miscarriage management. Iowa has considered such proposals, but they have not passed into law as of 2025.
Emergency contraception (EC) can help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or birth control failure—but timing matters. In Iowa, you have several options:
Over-the-counter (no prescription needed):
You can buy emergency contraception like Plan B (levonorgestrel) at most pharmacies, grocery stores, and online retailers. No ID or prescription is required.
Online access:
• Plan C Pills – Learn about options by state, including how to access EC and abortion pills.
• Abortion Finder – Use their Emergency Contraception Tool to find where to get EC near you.
Clinics & healthcare providers:
• Some community health clinics, student health centers, and family planning providers like Planned Parenthood offer EC for free or low cost.
• Use Abortion Finder’s support list to locate nearby clinics and assistance programs.
Remember:
EC works best within 72 hours but can be effective up to 5 days after unprotected sex. Acting quickly gives you the best chance of preventing pregnancy.
Yes, in many cases. Even in restrictive states, telehealth providers and international organization smay be able to mail abortion pills discreetly. Plan C offers updated resources on how to access safe medication abortion online. Other resources include Whole Woman’s Health and Hey Jane.
Yes—abortion is a safe and common medical procedure.
The vast majority of abortions are performed safely in outpatient settings, with complication rates under 2%. Most complications, when they occur, are minor and easily treated. In fact, abortion is statistically safer than many routine medical procedures, including wisdom tooth removal, colonoscopies, and plastic surgery.
Importantly, childbirth carries a risk of death approximately 14 times higher than abortion, making abortion not only safe but often much safer than carrying a pregnancy to term.
Look for groups like Family Planning Council of Iowa, Planned Parenthood, and Iowa Abortion Access Fund, and local clinics and county health departments . They offer judgment-free, confidential support from trained professionals and advocates.
Reproductive freedom for medical providers in restrictive states
Your role is to provide evidence-based, nonjudgmental care, inform patients of all their options, and support them in accessing safe services—even if those services are not available in your state.Patient autonomy remains a central ethical principle. ACOG provides a clinical guide for providers.
Yes. In Iowa, talking about abortion is not prohibited in most instances. You can and should provide accurate information about all legal and medically appropriate options. If you’re unsure, consult institutional legal counsel or organizations.
In many cases, yes—but laws are evolving. While direct referrals may be restricted in some areas, providing general information or directing patients to public resources is often legally safer and still helpful.
• Document neutrally and accurately.
• Use patient-centered language (“patient is exploring pregnancy options”) without editorializing.
• Know your state’s laws and institutional policies.
• Limit sensitive communications to HIPAA-compliant platforms.
Familiarize yourself with conscience clauses and institutional policy exceptions. Consider using publicly available patient resources as a workaround and connect with advocacy groups that support clinicians in hostile environments.
• Direct them to resources like Family Planning Council of Iowa, Planned Parenthood, and Iowa Abortion Access Fund.
• Refer to abortion funds and practical support networks discreetly.
• Empower patients with knowledge about self-managed abortion and legal hotlines.
Iowa does not require reporting of a self-managed abortion. Reporting pregnancy outcomes without clear legal or medical indication can endanger patients and breach trust. ACOG has provider guidelines for reference.
• Donate to or partner with reproductive health organizations.
• Volunteer with hotlines or accompaniment networks.
• Mentor trainees on rights-based, patient-centered care.
Iowa needs you. Our state is facing a growing shortage of OB-GYNs—especially in rural areas where many counties are considered maternity care deserts. This means fewer prenatal and delivery services, longer wait times, and more patients going without essential care. Your expertise can make a life-changing difference.
If you’re considering a move or new position in Iowa, explore current OB-GYN job openings here: obgynpower.com/job-board. Your skills are urgently needed to help ensure every Iowan has access to safe, expert reproductive healthcare.
Take action now to shape the future.
This organization fills a vital need for women and families in Iowa. Iowans’ ability to exercise reproductive and bodily autonomy in their personal and private reproductive medical decisions has changed dramatically in the last two decades. Lawmakers in the Iowa Legislature have inserted themselves into the medical arena by limiting access for women to the full range of reproductive health care. The Iowa courts have upheld those limitations in several recent decisions. While family planning is a deeply personal and private decision, government interference in the lives of Iowans has reached anew pinnacle of public interest.
Iowa has not always been restrictive of individual rights. Iowa was an early supporter of women’s suffrage, and the first state in the nation to support women voting in school board elections. Iowa had strong support for women’s suffrage in state and national elections, being the tenth state in the nation to ratify the 19th amendment.
Iowa was the third state to legalize gay marriage, stemming from the 2009 unanimous court decision in Varnum v. Brien. Historically, Iowa has been in the top states in the nation for quality public education as measured by higher-than-average test scores, graduation rates and state funding.
Recent shifts in Iowa’s legislative and judicial landscape have significantly reduced access to reproductive healthcare. In 2024, the Iowa Supreme Court allowed a law banning abortion after approximately 6 weeks of pregnancy to take effect—a time when many people do not yet know they are pregnant. While this law is now in force, public opinion does not align with this level of restriction. According to Pew Research Center, more than 61% of Iowans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
At the same time, new legislative proposals have aimed to introduce reproductive health materials in public schools that are not grounded in scientific or medical consensus. These materials risk spreading misinformation to Iowa’s youth under the guise of education.
ICRF remains committed to providing fact-based resources and educational tools to ensure Iowans can make informed decisions about their healthcare—grounded in science, not politics.
Beyond the medical facts of conception, pregnancy, and contraception, providing accurate information about reproductive freedom will include the social, economic, and psychological benefits of bodily autonomy. The board-certified physicians in ICRF can build greater understanding around key concepts while developing additional empathy and community among citizens who previously misunderstood or were misinformed about reproductive issues. The ICRF wants to bridge this educational divide.
Although in recent elections our moderate landscape has taken on a burgundy tint, the state remains very closely divided. In 2022, Iowa recorded the most expensive mid-term election cycle in history, with approximately $6.5 million spent –cheap, when you consider the $6.4 billion dollars that was spent on state-level races in 2022. The market for information, media, and education in Iowa is ripe.
Empower change.
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