Due to the strict abortion policies being implemented in Texas, more than half of the clinics in the state had been forced to close down. Women, in particular, are already feeling the negative effects of the restrictions.

Broadly revealed that in the past five years, 288 abortion restrictions were passed in Texas, leading to dozens of abortion clinics ceasing operations. Women are reportedly losing options on how they should deal with the unwanted pregnancy.

In 2013, former Texas Governor Rick Perry signed the omnibus anti-abortion bill, HB2, into law. The law mandates that women who plan to abort their babies should first meet several requirements.

Al Jazeera revealed that an abortion measure that became effective on Oct. 31, 2013 required all physicians who perform the procedure to secure admitting privileges to hospitals within 30 miles of their facilities. Many of them were turned down. There is also a mandatory 24-hour waiting period that requires women who are planning abortion to have personal counseling before receiving care.

Although the new bill was described as a means of protecting the health of women, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association are publicly against it for being biased. Protesters claim that there is no medically sound rationale for the state to put up more burdensome requirements on abortion clinics compared to other medical venues that perform procedures that pose the same or even greater risks.

Al Jazeera cited how some women allegedly had to pawn or sell their wedding rings, furniture and other personal belongings to afford abortion care. The Lilith Fund hotline is a nonprofit organization that gives financial assistance to women seeking abortions. However, it can usually only fund about one-third of the women who approach for support. One volunteer only has $1,080 dollars to allocate per six-hour shift. About 25 women call per shift, with most getting rejected. The volunteer usually brainstorms with callers to discuss items that they could pawn.

Since the limitations on abortion were set in 2013, the number of abortion givers in Texas have gone down from 41 to 19. If HB2 remains, there may only be 10 left. The Texas Policy Evaluation Project stated that as of April 2014, there are over 1.6 million women of reproductive age in the state who reside over 50 miles from their nearest abortion provider. Hundreds of thousands of women have attempted to abort babies on their own since 2014.

More news and updates on Texas’ abortion policies are expected soon.