Virginia ranks among states with the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation.
The Guttmacher Institute placed the state at No. 9 in the nation based on the number of state
restrictions to abortion, The Washington Post reported.
Oklahoma leads the nation while Oregon comes in last with the least restrictive abortion laws, according to the study.
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In Virginia, first trimester abortions are legal, second trimester abortions must be performed in a hospital and those in the third trimester can only occur if the mother's life is in danger,
according to the legal website, FindLaw.
Patients in Virginia must undergo counseling and then a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion. They must also have a trans-vaginal ultrasound 24 hours before the abortion, if residing within 100 miles of the facility where the procedure is scheduled, FindLaw noted.
The state received an F grade on its
choice laws from the group NARAL Pro-Choice America.
Americans United for Life ranked Virginia 14th in the nation, noting that it "provides fairly comprehensive protection for women, the unborn, and newly born."
According to the Guttmacher Institute, 92 percent of all Virginia counties do not have an abortion clinic. By contrast, nationally 89 percent of all U.S. counties had no abortion clinic. It added that 27,110 Virginia women had abortions in 2011, marking 2.6 percent of all abortions nationwide.
Minors seeking an abortion in Virginia must obtain consent for the procedure from one of their parents, a grandparent or adult sibling who lives in the same home,
according to Planned Parenthood. Also, one of those adults must be notified 24 hours before the minor's abortion takes place.
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