Helen says the place was dirty and that the guy said what she was doing was illegal. So even if abortion was legal in NY, she still had an unsafe one.

FYI Legal abortions in New York predated Roe v Wade by several years possibly as early as 1969.
let's go and say a prayer for a boy who couldn't run as fast as I could

Marco referred to Helen's abortion during the scene in his kitchen: "Well, sure, baby. It was a free scrape. Was a favor. Can't expect Columbia Presbyterian".

I know you wrote this a long time agobut I'm only just watching it now. They actually did explain it, though in typical 1970's subtle fashion. When she got home from her subway ride where she was clearly in pain (the opening scene), Marco asked her if it hurt. She said yes, and it was dirty there. He said something like "well it was a 'free scrape' as a favor. You can't expect Columbia Presbeterian" (hospital).

I don't think it was ever actually explained, the audience is just supposed to conclude that she's a 20-something girl living a hippie lifestyle and waiting in line at a welfare hospital when she's hemorrhaging so badly that it's probably the result of a back-alley abortion. This was fairly common prior to Roe v Wade.

oh ok. thanks for clearing that up. i guess i must have missed that part. i just dont remember it ever being explained.

she had had an abortion. it was 1971 so it was an illegal abortion. roe v wade was not till 73.
but legal or not she would still be bleeding a fair amount.