Iowa on Monday joins 17 other states in prohibiting abortion after six weeks gestation, changing the landscape of abortion access in the Midwest.

The implementation of the six-week law comes after the state Supreme Court ruled last month in a 4-3 decision that the prohibition passed by the legislature could be enforced. 

The law allows for several exceptions, including in cases of rape, incest, and life and health of the mother. There is also an exception for when fetal anomalies are “incompatible with life.”

The legislation prevents abortion following the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which occurs at approximately six weeks of pregnancy. 

Prior to the law taking effect, abortion was legal in Iowa until 22 weeks gestation, around the time of fetal viability.

Abortion regulation has been tied up in the Iowa court system since 2018 when Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) signed the first heartbeat law, which was quickly challenged by abortion providers.

On June 16, the state Supreme Court ruled in a 3-3 tie to not dissolve an existing lower court injunction on the 2018 law.

But, in a special session, the legislature passed a second fetal heartbeat law that enacted the same restrictions, which the courts have now allowed to take effect.

Reynolds called the ban’s institution “a victory for life,” saying that there is “no cause more worthy than protecting innocent unborn lives.”

SBA Pro-Life America, a prominent anti-abortion organization, estimates that the law will prevent 2,093 abortions in the state each year.

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The law taking effect will likely spur Iowans seeking abortions to travel to neighboring Minnesota and Illinois.

Illinois allows abortion until fetal viability, anywhere between 22 weeks and 26 weeks gestation. Minnesota allows abortion at any stage of pregnancy.