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While B.C. politicians proclaim their support for access to abortion in the province, many women still have significant barriers to overcome. 

Within the entire health region, there are three clinics officially providing surgical abortions in Kelowna, Nelson and Cranbrook, according to optionsforsexualhealth.org.

READ MORE: U.S. politics on abortion re-opens divide in the Okanagan

Nicole Pasquino, clinical practice director at Options for Sexual Health, said Interior Health’s large jurisdiction is one of the greatest challenges it faces in making abortions accessible. 

A woman from Williams Lake, for example, would have to travel 900 kilometres round-trip to Kelowna. It is possible there are more than three places for a surgical abortion in Interior Health, Pasquino said. Private healthcare providers may discreetly offer the service for safety and to avoid stigma, she said. Patients would have to find out about those private clinics through referrals and word of mouth.

Interior Health refused to comment on whether there are more than three clinics in the region where surgical abortions are available because of safety concerns for physicians and staff. 

Having to plan a trip to one of those three cities can be avoided if a patient discovers and decides they want an abortion within a certain timeframe. By opting for a medical abortion – also known as the abortion pill – women can forego a surgical procedure.

“Medical abortion is like a miscarriage (in this case, caused by medicines) that takes place at home over one to two days and does not require your doctor to be present,” according to healthlinkbc.ca.

After 10 weeks, a surgical abortion becomes the last legal option in B.C. to terminate a pregnancy.

Medical abortions can't always be considered an option because “a lot of women don’t even know they’re pregnant in the first trimester,” Pasquino said.

READ MORE: Most Canadians support the right to choose to have an abortion: poll

Either way, women considering an abortion are often faced with the barriers of stigma.

Opposition to abortion is often centred around religious beliefs, and people against the practice muddy the waters for those who need it. Pasquino said some pregnant women have been mislead into going into fake clinics to explore their options, only to be fed junk science that make abortions seem unsafe.

Unsupportive families can be another form of stigma, especially for younger patients who finds themselves unsure about who they can trust.

“A 14 year old may not want to approach the family doctor who birthed her about how to get an abortion,” she said.

Anybody who doesn't want to obtain a prescription in person can book a virtual appointment with Willow Women’s Clinic.

And then there’s the financial barrier, which Pasquino said can be the toughest obstacle for some patients.

While the procedure is covered by MSP, a patient on a tight budget still has to deal with lost wages, as well as the potential costs of travel, childcare and accommodations.

Patients who are not covered by MSP can expect a bill of $450 to $600 for the procedure, she said.

READ MORE: Running an abortion clinic while waiting for court decision

The medical at-home procedure, once prescribed, can be accessed through numerous pharmacies throughout the health region – but that option is only available if the patient discovers they’re pregnant early enough, and if they're more comfortable with that procedure. According to B.C.’s Ministry of Health, medical abortions are available for up to the nine-week mark. The three clinics mentioned offer medical abortions up to 10 weeks, according to optionsforsexualhealth.org.

For patients who live closest to Kelowna or Cranbrook, surgical abortions are available up until 13 weeks and 6 days. In Nelson, surgical procedures can take place up until 11 weeks and 6 days.

But for women who don’t live close to those communities, once the option to go the medical route has passed, they have to overcome greater barriers. For those reasons, Pasquino considers access to abortion to be inequitable in Interior Health. 

To those who are scared or unsure about how to pursue an abortion in Interior Health, Pasquino recommends calling Options for Sexual Health’s hotline at 1-800-739-7367.

“We’re not here to make a decision for you,” she said. “Whether parenting, adoption or having an abortion is best for you, we’re just here to listen to you and honour your choice.”

A map of Interior Health's boundaries.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED

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