United States: Abortion now banned after six weeks of pregnancy

The law banning most abortions or elective terminations of pregnancy from 6 weeks of pregnancy, well before the majority of women know they are pregnant, came into effect this Monday, July 29, in the state of Iowa, in the United States, US media reported.

The legislation now prohibits most abortions once a heartbeat has been detected, generally around 6 weeks of pregnancy.

A few exceptions exist, in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormality or when the life of the mother is in danger. Previously, abortion was legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Iowa thus joins the list of American states that have severely restricted access to abortion, or even banned it, since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning the federal guarantee of abortion.