Know Before You Go
Unlicensed Pregnancy Centers Want You to Stay Pregnant
If you are pregnant and looking for information, you deserve honest information about all your options. You can get that information and the medical care you need at a real clinic, but you will not get that at an unlicensed pregnancy center. Despite mimicking the appearance of legitimate healthcare providers, their mission is to discourage people from getting abortions and access to birth control.
What are unlicensed pregnancy centers?
Unlicensed pregnancy centers (UPCs) are fake clinics that exist to keep people from accessing abortion care. They set themselves up to look like real health clinics – their websites, advertising, and office spaces look the same as real clinics; staff wear white coats and scrubs; they may even use the word “clinic” in their names – but most UPCs provide no medical care whatsoever. They are religious, unregulated organizations that spread dangerously false information about abortion, birth control, and sexually transmitted infections.
Why should I avoid unlicensed pregnancy centers?
They are deceptive and misleading: Unlicensed pregnancy centers are set up to look like real clinics. Many are located next to real reproductive health clinics, and target low-income and communities of color. They may offer free pregnancy testing, but then refuse to give you the written test results. And they never give referrals to abortion providers.
Health concerns: They rarely offer complete, medically accurate information. They may offer ultrasounds, but may not be trained to use the machine properly, and most do not have medical professionals on staff to look at the results. This could be very dangerous if they say your ultrasound results are fine when in fact there is something seriously wrong.
Privacy risks: Unlicensed pregnancy centers are not classified as medical facilities and, therefore, are not bound by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This means they are not legally required to protect your personal health information. The personal information gathered by UPCs could be shared with other anti-abortion groups or used as evidence in civil or criminal cases against people who get abortions or those who help them.
There have been instances where unlicensed pregnancy centers in Louisiana mishandled client information. For example, The Unexpected Pregnancy Center in New Iberia allegedly posted personal identifying health information of clients online, leading to calls for investigation under the Louisiana Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Your Rights
You are not obligated to provide personal information to unlicensed pregnancy centers. It's within your rights to inquire about their licensing status, how your information will be used, and whether it will be shared with third parties.
How can I spot a unlicensed pregnancy center?
Look for the words “pregnancy options,” “pregnancy resource center,” or “pregnancy care center” in your internet search results, on advertisements, and on their signage.
If you call them, ask if they can refer you to an abortion provider. If the “clinic” will not give you a referral it is probably an unlicensed pregnancy center.
You can also tell by the way they handle your pregnancy test. If you go in for a free pregnancy test and they do not give you the result right away, they refuse to tell you the result, or will not give you the result in writing, you are at a unlicensed pregnancy center.
In short, unlicensed pregnancy centers:
Will not refer you to abortion providers,
May not give you your pregnancy test result or will delay giving it to you,
May not give you complete information about your options,
May not have licensed medical providers on staff,
Advertisements may include the words “pregnancy options,” “pregnancy resource center,” or “pregnancy care center.”
Recommendations:
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Before sharing personal information, confirm whether the center is a licensed medical facility.
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Ask how your information will be used and protected.
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If you believe your information has been mishandled, you can file a complaint with the Louisiana Attorney General's Office.
What do you need?
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Free Pregnancy Tests, Ultrasounds, & Diapers
There are community health centers and other resources that can help you get a free pregnancy test, diapers, and ultrasounds.
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Birth Control
Family planning clinics provide birth control.
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Pregnancy Resources
Louisiana programs that help support you as a parent and provide for your child.
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I Need an A: Can help you learn about all your abortion options and find the most up to date information about abortion clinics, pills by mail, state abortion laws, and support. They’ve designed ineedana.com to protect your privacy by not storing anything you enter when you search your options and keeping your digital footprint small.
National Abortion Federation: The largest national, toll-free, multi-lingual Hotline for abortion provider information and financial assistance in the U.S. and Canada. They provide callers with accurate information, confidential consultation, and information on providers of quality abortion care. They also provide case management services and limited financial assistance to help you afford the cost of your care and travel-related expenses. The Hotline is free and offers services to everyone, regardless of your individual situation.
No matter where you live, the National Abortion Hotline can help you get an abortion 1-800-772-9100
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The Louisiana Abortion Fund or call 844.442.2678 leave a message and someone will return your call within 1 business day.
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Repro Legal Helpline: Free, confidential helpline where you can get legal information or advice about self-managed abortion, young people’s access to abortion or judicial bypass, and referrals to local resources.
Run by If/When/How.
By phone: 1-844-868-2812
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Did you know?
Unlicensed pregnancy centers in Louisiana receive millions of taxpayer dollars through state funding programs which allocate public funds to these centers despite their lack of medical oversight or comprehensive healthcare services.
Read more about Louisiana’s government funding of these centers:
And more about unlicensed pregnancy center finances nationally at Unregulated Pregnancy Clinic Finance Watch.
Also, see #ExposeFakeClinics for more resources and to connect with advocacy efforts, like submitting online reviews and spreading the word.
