The Jane Collective was an underground abortion service which operated in Chicago, Illinois from 1969 to 1973. The collective was started by women when they realized that many illegal abortion providers were not doctors. Since illegal abortions were also dangerous and very expensive, founding members of the collective believed that they could provide safer, cheaper abortions. During the years which Jane operated, the collective performed more than 12,000 abortions, for about $25.00 per procedure — on loan, if the woman was unable to pay at the time.
The collective gradually disbanded after Roe v Wade made abortion legal throughout the United States in 1973.