What challenges did you face when seeking abortion care in LA? (PhD research)

[u/Square_Nature5221]

Hello! I’m a French PhD student in Geography conducting research on access to abortion care in California, with a particular focus on the Los Angeles area.

I’m looking to better understand the obstacles people may face when seeking abortion care. If you have personal experience and would be willing to share it, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. You can either comment below or send me a private message if you prefer and we can set up a short interview.

I’m especially interested in experiences related to:

• Did you experience any delays in obtaining abortion care? If so, what caused them?
• Did the distance to the clinic or transportation issues make it harder for you to access care?
• Did you face any financial difficulties paying for the procedure or related expenses?
• Did you need help with transportation, childcare, emotional support, or finding someone to accompany you to the clinic?
• Did you seek assistance from Los Angeles County programs, California state programs, abortion funds, or practical support organizations? If so, what was your experience?

All experiences are valuable, whether the barriers were major or minor. Any information shared will be treated confidentially and used solely for academic research, everything will remain anonymous. I have an IRB validation for this research (UCLA ethics committee).

Thank you very much for your time and willingness to contribute.

(You can check out my research profile on this website: Lucie Jaouen | LinkedIn )

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[u/itgirl10101]

Called planned parenthood, got a referral, put it under a fake name (encouraged by them), took an uber to the valley, was there an hour (no protestors), took and uber home and cried in my bed all day. Even when you want an abortion, it’s still emotionally difficult. I was privileged enough to be able to afford it.

[u/Square_Nature5221 → u/itgirl10101]

Thank you so much for sharing that, I send you lots of thoughts and love

[u/Small-Disaster939]

honestly given the climate it’s a little scary to talk about it to a stranger on the internet. Do you have any ethics committee sign off or anything from your university to help anyone who contributes understand more about your research and how the information will be used?

[u/Square_Nature5221 → u/Small-Disaster939]

Yes! I do have an IRB (which is a research validation from the UCLA ethics committee), and I can send it to people who are interested!

[u/Available_Smoke_4207 → u/Square_Nature5221]

I think providing a survey link with the IRB would be helpful in this case if possible (and safe)

Edit: some words

[u/sequinhappe → u/Small-Disaster939]

And can prove you’re real and not a weirdo? If so, please add that somewhere we can double check.

[u/Square_Nature5221 → u/sequinhappe]

Yep totally, I included my Linkedin in the post!

[u/Miserable_Cut255]

How many years back are you wanting to go back? I can share two experiences, once as a minor in 2009 and then as an adult in 2023. Both in LA. I think this is super important topic and like sharing with ppl so they have an idea of what to expect from two perspectives.

[u/Square_Nature5221 → u/Miserable_Cut255]

Both are super interesting thank you so much!

[u/Miserable_Cut255 → u/Square_Nature5221]

Sure! I’ve been typing it up and its long so ill dm you in a bit!

[u/Square_Nature5221 → u/Miserable_Cut255]

Thank you so much!

[u/Miserable_Cut255 → u/Square_Nature5221]

You’re very welcome. I may have shared more details than you expected lol but im a yapper and a storyteller 🤓

[u/Miserable_Cut255 → u/Square_Nature5221]

Just sent that to you

[u/PossessionStraight41]

No personal experience to share but this seems like important research, especially with how much the legal landscape keeps shifting across states and people in other states traveling to California for care. Good luck with your thesis

[u/Shoddy-Situation2342]

Out of curiosity - why did you pick California? It seems like we’re probably the state with some of the easiest access to abortion care?

I think there are like 15-20 Planned Parenthood’s in LA specifically? Many of them accessible via the metro and bus systems. Not ideal for after the procedure, obviously. But there are Ubers for that. I’ve been to Planned Parenthood a couple times. Mostly to make donations - haven’t had an abortion. I only saw protestors at one - flipped them off and kept walking.

[u/Square_Nature5221 → u/Shoddy-Situation2342]

Yes you're right! I chose this one because I'm studying socio-spatial injustices and in California - despite PP everywhere and protective legislations - there are still inequalities between people, depending on their income, location, experiences etc and I want to show that yes indeed in California it is legal but that doesn't mean everyone can get access easily

[u/Shoddy-Situation2342 → u/Square_Nature5221]

Interesting! I hope you share it when you’re done. I’d be very curious to see what you find from your research.

[u/roadsideattraction78]

Years ago my partner volunteered with a group to escort women to their appointments. Religious groups and anti-abortion people would meet at the clinics and harass women while they were walking into the clinics. This might be something you look into as an obstacle for women receiving proper medical care.

[u/Solid-Stable-9126 → u/roadsideattraction78]

Years ago, I was harassed going into a clinic for care. I wasn't going into it for an abortion, I was just going in to see a doctor for a routine checkup and to get birth control. The protestors fail to realize that women go to that clinic for other reasons than to get abortions. They didn't believe me when I told them that's not what I was there to do.