Crisis Pregnancy Centers
A Guide to Finding Legitimate Abortion Care
Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are part of a billion-dollar industry operated by national anti-abortion organizations like Care Net, Heartbeat International, and Birthright. Their primary mission is to block access to abortion services by spreading disinformation and delaying access to a full range of prenatal and abortion care.
Despite masquerading as pregnancy resources or maternal wellness centers, these anti-abortion facilities and fake clinics are not typically legitimate medical clinics and do not provide comprehensive medical and prenatal care to their visitors. Instead, they are part of a broader movement aimed at obstructing pregnant peoples’ access to abortion information and care.
Most of these centers operate without licensed medical staff and offer their limited services for free. Therefore, they are not HIPAA-certified or compliant. This allows them to collect sensitive information from visitors without a legal obligation to protect people’s privacy. This loophole places a billion-dollar network of anti-abortion organizations in the unique position of being able to surveil pregnant people.
Crisis Pregnancy Centers are Prevalent
Across the United States, anti-abortion centers vastly outnumber clinics that offer comprehensive reproductive healthcare. While Minnesota no longer funds these fake clinics, they currently outnumber legitimate abortion clinics in the state at a ratio of about 11:1.
Abortion is safe, and evidence shows that denying access to abortion leads to more negative outcomes for pregnant people and their children.
Anti-abortion facilities mask their true intentions and often offer several “free” services that encourage pregnant people to seek out their care. Here’s how to spot signs of anti-abortion centers online and in person. For more comprehensive guidance, refer to Reproductive Equity Now’s “Recognizing CPCs” guide.
On the Web
Anti-abortion centers may:
- Not readily reveal on their websites that they are unlicensed and don’t provide abortions.
- Pay to show up in Google searches alongside legitimate medical clinics.
In Person
Anti-abortion centers may:
- Have non-medical volunteers wear scrubs around the office.
- Offer only limited medical services, such as ultrasounds. However, because these centers lack medical licensing, these ultrasounds are often non-diagnostic and staff may mislead or misunderstand ultrasound findings which can delay necessary care.
- Offer so-called “abortion pill reversal.” Abortion pill reversal is not supported by science, and falsely advertising it as such is dangerous.
- Push abstinence-only beliefs and teachings.
- Offer counseling that encourages parenting and/or adoption and discourages abortion, typically with fear-mongering tactics.
- Offer material resources, such as baby clothes or formula. Sometimes for “free” in exchange for attending abstinence-only teachings and parenting programs.
- Repeatedly and mistakenly linking abortion to cancer, infertility, and mental illness or health problems.
- Not require you to sign a HIPAA agreement. While many fake clinics claim they are bound by “Commitment of Care and Competence” agreements, these are non-legal agreements drafted by the large anti-abortion organizations that operate most CPCs and are neither regulated or enforced.
- Do not offer, refer for, or even discuss abortion care with you. Abortion care is part of all-options counseling and should be part of an open discussion with a healthcare provider, if it is an option in your state.
- Dismiss or deny that contraceptives and other safe-sex practices are effective in preventing pregnancy. Contraceptives do work, and discussing them should be a regular part of reproductive care.
“Women who have abortions are clear about their decision and most commonly report feeling relief — even years later. Evidence shows that they do not experience negative mental health problems, either at the time of the abortion or years later. They are more likely to set and achieve their goals, and to have a wanted pregnancy in the following years.”
– ANSIRH
Learn More
- Listen to the Gender Justice Brief’s podcast episode on crisis pregnancy centers!
- Read the Designed to Deceive study on crisis pregnancy centers, made possible by our team at Gender Justice and our partners in The Alliance: State Advocates for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality.
- Read Minnesota Attorney General’s consumer alert warning about CPCs.
- Read Gender Justice’s press release regarding the Campaign for Accountability’s complaint filed with the Attorney General about CPC’s misleading privacy practices.
Share Your Story
Abortion Resources
Report Deceptive Practices at Anti-Abortion Centers
If you have information or concerns about any CPC that may be providing deceptive or inaccurate information, you should contact the Minnesota Attorney General at:
- (651) 296-3353 (Metro Area)
- (800) 657-3787 (Greater Minnesota)
- (800) 627-3529 (Minnesota Relay)
- Consumer Assistance Request
Report unethical care from a medical professional:
If you think you have been harmed by deceptive practices or harassment at a fake clinic, you can request legal assistance from Gender Justice, the organizational home of UnRestrict Minnesota.