Abortion pill reversal in Colorado is legally restricted under a 2023 state law, but a federal court permanently blocked enforcement of that ban against a specific Catholic clinic and providers acting with it in August 2025. The practical result: you can get the treatment in Colorado, but only from a narrow set of providers protected by that court order, and only if you act quickly after taking the first abortion pill.
How Quickly You Need to Act
Time is the single biggest factor. Progesterone therapy works best when started within 24 hours of taking mifepristone, the first drug in a medication abortion. The window extends to roughly 72 hours, but effectiveness drops as time passes.1Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Abortion Pill Reversal Teaching Sheet
If you have already taken misoprostol, the second drug in the sequence, reversal is not considered viable. Misoprostol is usually taken 24 to 48 hours after mifepristone and causes the uterine contractions that complete the abortion. Reversal targets the gap between the two drugs.
Finding a Provider Who Can Legally Treat You in Colorado
The Abortion Pill Rescue Network runs a 24/7 hotline at 877-558-0333. It maintains a directory of participating providers, including those operating under the court protections in Colorado. Calling the hotline is the fastest way to reach a provider who can lawfully offer the treatment in the state.
The providers currently shielded from Colorado’s ban are Bella Health and Wellness, its named co-plaintiffs in the federal case, and anyone acting in concert with them. Other Colorado providers who are not covered by the court order face professional discipline if they attempt reversal, which is why most will not offer it.
What Happens at the Appointment
Before starting progesterone, the provider needs to confirm two things through ultrasound: that the pregnancy is inside the uterus, and that the embryo still shows signs of viability. If the pregnancy is ectopic, meaning it is in a fallopian tube, reversal is not an option and the situation requires different medical care. For pregnancies too early to see on ultrasound (generally before six weeks), providers may monitor blood hormone levels until an ultrasound becomes useful.
The clinic will collect a detailed history, including the exact date and time you took mifepristone and whether you took any misoprostol. Clinics protected by the permanent injunction typically provide disclosure forms explaining both the legal status of the treatment in Colorado and the fact that mainstream medical organizations have not endorsed it.
The Progesterone Protocol
Progesterone is given by injection, oral capsule, or vaginal suppository, depending on the provider’s protocol and how quickly treatment begins. The first dose is usually administered at the clinic during the initial visit.
Treatment continues through the first trimester, with ultrasounds every one to two weeks to confirm the pregnancy is progressing. This is not a one-visit treatment. It requires ongoing appointments, dosage adjustments, and monitoring until the pregnancy is stable enough for routine prenatal care. Stopping progesterone early or missing follow-ups can undermine whatever benefit the treatment provides.
What It Costs
Costs depend on the form of progesterone prescribed, the number of ultrasounds needed, and whether you have insurance. A first-trimester ultrasound typically runs between $150 and $700 without insurance. Oral progesterone capsules generally cost around $60 for a standard supply at retail price, though the total across an entire first trimester adds up given ongoing refills and monitoring visits.
No Colorado law requires insurers or Medicaid to cover progesterone specifically for medication abortion reversal. Progesterone itself is commonly prescribed for other pregnancy-related conditions, so some patients find their insurance covers the drug even when the reversal context is not explicitly approved. The Abortion Pill Rescue Network says it helps patients facing financial hardship find ways to reduce treatment costs.
Colorado’s Ban and the Court Order That Limits It
Colorado passed Senate Bill 23-190 in 2023, making it unprofessional conduct for any licensed healthcare provider to prescribe, administer, or attempt medication abortion reversal.2Colorado General Assembly. SB23-190 Deceptive Trade Practice Pregnancy-Related Service The law defines reversal broadly, as delivering any drug with the intent to interfere with, reverse, or halt a medication abortion.3Colorado General Assembly. Senate Bill 23-190 Concerning Policies to Make Punishable Deceptive Actions Regarding Pregnancy-Related Services A violation qualifies as unprofessional conduct under Title 12 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which can trigger discipline ranging from a formal reprimand to license suspension or revocation.
The Colorado Medical Board ruled that reversal falls outside generally accepted standards of practice. The Board of Nursing and Board of Pharmacy each declined to classify it as either accepted or unprofessional, opting for case-by-case review.
Shortly after SB 23-190 took effect, Bella Health and Wellness, a Catholic healthcare clinic, sued Attorney General Phil Weiser. It argued the ban violated its providers’ First Amendment rights to practice medicine consistent with their religious beliefs. A federal judge in the District of Colorado granted a preliminary injunction in October 2023.4FindLaw. Bella Health and Wellness v Weiser On August 1, 2025, the same court made that protection permanent, finding the state failed to show a compelling interest in banning the practice as applied to these plaintiffs.5United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Order on Motions for Summary Judgment in Bella Health and Wellness v Weiser
The injunction is narrow. The court stated explicitly that it “covers enforcement actions against the Plaintiffs, not the law itself.” The ban remains on the books and enforceable against Colorado providers who were not party to the case and are not acting in concert with the plaintiffs. That is why patient access depends on reaching one of the covered clinics rather than any nearby physician.
What the Medical Community Says About the Treatment
Medication abortion uses two drugs. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the hormone that sustains a pregnancy. Misoprostol, taken 24 to 48 hours later, causes uterine contractions to complete the process. Reversal theory holds that flooding the body with high doses of progesterone can outcompete the mifepristone still bound to progesterone receptors, potentially allowing the pregnancy to continue.
Proponents cite an observational case series of 754 patients reporting reversal rates of 64 to 68 percent with intramuscular or high-dose oral progesterone.6National Library of Medicine. A Case Series Detailing the Successful Reversal of the Effects of Mifepristone
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists takes a different view, stating that reversal claims “are not based on science and do not meet clinical standards” and that no dose or method of progesterone has been shown to be both safe and effective for this purpose. ACOG notes that a 2020 controlled study designed to test the treatment was halted early because of safety concerns among participants. The Colorado legislature cited ACOG’s position when drafting SB 23-190.3Colorado General Assembly. Senate Bill 23-190 Concerning Policies to Make Punishable Deceptive Actions Regarding Pregnancy-Related Services
Advocates point to case-series data suggesting the treatment works more often than not. Mainstream medical organizations say the evidence is too thin and the risks too poorly studied to recommend it. A provider offering reversal under the Bella Health injunction should walk you through both sides before you decide.