Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) were first established in the United States in the years before Roe v. Wade (1973), when individual states began liberalizing their abortion laws. They were a response to this liberalization by those holding pro-life sentiments; they offered pregnancy options counseling that excluded abortion.

While some CPCs were and are open about their politics, many CPCs were or still are not. More recently, and especially during the Bush administration, CPCs began to take on a more medicalized persona presenting themselves as healthcare clinics that offer free medical services like pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. As explained below, this newer manifestation confuses some women who believe they are patronizing legitimate medical clinics, which is further complicated by the evidence that these women are given ...