Iowa
What women can do when most abortions are banned in Iowa
With an interest in reproductive rights, I did some research to find out how a young woman (or girl) not intending to have a child might navigate this new legal landscape.
Dr. Sarah Traxler talks about the future of abortion care in Iowa
Dr. Sarah Traxler talks about the future of abortion care in Iowa on the last day before the six-week abortion ban takes effect.
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled June 28 that the state can hijack a woman’s body if it has a reason (“rational basis”). This means that the “fetal heartbeat” law, passed last year by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by the governor, can soon take effect.
The law is intended to force a woman (or girl) to bear a child. Pregnancy and childbirth threaten the health of the woman. Among other things, in about 30% of cases, she must have a cesarean section. The law caters to religious groups that consider intrauterine life the spiritual equal of a woman.
The “fetal heartbeat” can be detected by Doppler ultrasound at 6 weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. At this stage, the embryo — not yet a fetus — is about the size and shape of a pea. It is life, but not what most people would call a child.
More: As Iowa’s ‘fetal heartbeat’ abortion ban looms, clinics prepare for an uncertain future
The law is backward and cruel, but it is the law. I am a medical doctor with a specialty of psychiatry, not obstetrics. But with an interest in reproductive rights, I did some research to find out how a young woman (or girl) not intending to have a child might navigate this new legal landscape.
Most obviously, try not to get pregnant. Intrauterine devices and long-term implants are nearly 100% effective, but they are not right for everyone. Other methods often fail due to imperfect use. With condoms, for example, the real-world pregnancy rate approaches 20% per year. Strive to be perfect.
Consider the morning-after pill for contraceptive lapses. Generic levonorgestrel, 1.5 mg, is widely available for about $6. It should be used as early as possible after sex, generally within 72 hours.
Diagnose pregnancy as early as possible. On the first day of your missed period, you are already four weeks pregnant (from the last menstrual period), leaving just two weeks to get an abortion from an Iowa provider. Monitor your periods and test frequently. Pregnancy test strips are available in bulk for about 30 cents apiece.
There are other good reasons for diagnosing pregnancy early:
- An early abortion is less traumatic, physically and emotionally.
- For the 15% of women who are Rh negative, incompatibility risks rise later in the pregnancy.
- An early medication abortion is more likely to be successful.
- If an early medication abortion fails, there is time to repeat it.
If you miss the six-week cutoff in Iowa, you can still get an abortion at a clinic in Illinois (24 weeks), Minnesota (24 weeks), Kansas (22 weeks), Wisconsin (22 weeks), or Nebraska (12 weeks). An abortion in a clinic can be expensive, but financial help is often available.
Desperate women might be drawn to online clinics or pharmacies for a medication abortion, from about 10 to 13 weeks. The clinics violate Iowa law and provide only limited medical support. The pharmacies sometimes provide pills that are counterfeit or expired. As an Iowa physician, I can’t recommend these options.
Although the fetal heartbeat law doesn’t impose penalties on women, there are still legal risks. But if you have an illegal abortion and have problems, don’t hesitate to see a medical provider. Simply say that you think you are having a miscarriage, and ask the provider to avoid sensitive topics unless medically necessary.
If, for whatever reason, you wish to keep your abortion private:
- Tell a minimum number of people about your pregnancy and plans.
- Avoid mentioning your situation in text, email, or social media. Promptly delete any revealing content from all folders, including trash.
- Keep your abortion research private. Put your browser in incognito mode and use the DuckDuckGo search engine.
So, Iowa women, you can still control your own body. You can still choose to have a baby or not. You can still live by your own religious beliefs. Just don’t expect help from your state government.
Dr. Timothy Olson is a psychiatrist practicing in Des Moines and a lifelong Iowa resident.
The Iowa Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big with rewards ranging from $1,000 to millions. The most an Iowan has ever won from playing the lottery was $343 million in 2018 off the Powerball.
Don’t miss out on the winnings. Here’s a look at Friday, May 8, 2026, winning numbers for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing
37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick-3 numbers from May 8 drawing
Midday: 0-5-8
Evening: 9-9-2
Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick-4 numbers from May 8 drawing
Midday: 0-2-7-3
Evening: 0-7-0-6
Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing
14-16-21-43-51, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Iowa Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Iowa editor. You can send feedback using this form.
IOWA — Iowa’s new restrictions on SNAP benefits are drawing concern from advocates who say the changes could make it harder for families to buy food and could put future summer assistance for children at risk.
The state’s SNAP waiver took effect January 1, 2026, limiting what items can be purchased based on Iowa’s taxable food list. While that includes widely discussed restrictions on soda and candy, the policy also affects certain prepared foods, creating confusion for shoppers.
“Something as small as whether or not a utensil is included in a food item actually impacts whether or not you can continue to purchase that item using your SNAP benefits,” Paige Chickering, Iowa State Manager for the Save the Children Action Network, said.
Advocates say the rules can be difficult to navigate, especially for people relying on quick meals. Items like prepackaged salads or sandwiches may or may not qualify depending on how they are packaged.
At the same time, new legislation slated for the next session at the statehouse could make those restrictions more permanent by requiring Iowa to continue seeking federal approval for the waiver.
That’s raising additional concerns about the future of Summer EBT, also known as “Sun Bucks,” which provides food assistance to children when school is out.
“This makes that food assistance dependent on a decision made in Washington, D.C. that is just arbitrary and not really dependent on the needs of Iowans and Iowa children,” Chickering said.
The program is expected to help around 220,000 children in Iowa during the summer months. Advocates worry leaving it up to federal approval of the waiver could jeopardize that support if policies change. They also point out that SNAP plays a major role in addressing hunger compared to other resources.
“We know that for every one meal provided by an emergency feeding organization, SNAP provides nine,” Chickering said.
Advocates say they support improving nutrition but argue there are more effective, evidence based ways to do that without limiting food choices.
For now, organizations across Iowa are working to help families understand the new rules, while also pushing lawmakers to reconsider how the policy could impact food access moving forward.
Scoop: Iowa Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek snagged a major endorsement for his Senate bid from former Sen. Tom Harkin.
Harkin, who retired in 2015, was the last Democrat to represent Iowa in the Senate. Turek is locked in a competitive primary with state Sen. Zach Wahls in a race that has divided major factions of the Democratic Party.
“I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to win an election, and then to faithfully represent all Iowans, not just those who voted for you,” Harkin said in his endorsement. “That’s why I’m supporting Josh Turek.”
Harkin served in the Senate for 30 years and is the author of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Turek, who was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, was 11 when the ADA was enacted.
Harkin is a widely sought after endorsement in the Hawkeye State. His decision to wade into the race is notable because Harkin also has a relationship with Wahls.
Wahls called Harkin “one of my closest political mentors,” and said the former senator officiated his wedding in 2021.
Iowa’s Senate primaries are June 2.
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