In California, abortion is legal up until the point of fetal viability, which is generally around 23 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. After viability, abortions are permitted only if a physician determines that continuing the pregnancy would pose a risk to the pregnant person's life or health, or if there are serious fetal abnormalities. There is no strict gestational age cut-off, as decisions are made on a case-by-case basis by qualified medical professionals assessing viability and health risks
. Medication abortion (the abortion pill) is typically available up to 11 weeks from the last menstrual period, while in-clinic (surgical) abortions are offered up to 16 weeks at many providers, with options for later abortions under specific medical circumstances
. California’s laws are designed to protect reproductive rights robustly, including constitutional protections passed in 2022 (Proposition 1), and the state actively supports access to abortion care and safeguards providers and patients
