Abortion rights groups announced legal challenges Wednesday to reverse what they called "unconstitutional" laws limiting abortion access in three states.

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The American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America filed lawsuits Wednesday challenging laws in Missouri, Alaska and North Carolina.

Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project, said that while most attention has been placed on the incoming Trump administration, women across the country living in "hostile states" already face issues gaining access to the procedure.

"The truth is that today, even before the new administration takes office, for many women, the right to an abortion is more theoretical than real," Dalven said in a press call with reporters.

"States across the country have quietly passed hundreds of laws to stand in the way of a woman who decides to have an abortion."

In Alaska, the groups are challenging a restriction that bans abortions in outpatient centers after the first trimester.

"The law imposes great financial and emotional burdens for Alaskan women and their families," said Julie Rikelman, interim vice president for the U.S. Legal Program for the Center for Reproductive Rights.

In Missouri, the groups are challenging a state law that requires abortion clinics meet standards for surgical centers and for their doctors to have hospital admitting privileges. That law has left only one medical center in Missouri that can perform abortions.

Advocates argue these laws are geared toward limiting abortion access and do little to protect women's health.

And in North Carolina, the groups will challenge a law that bans abortions after 20 weeks except to save the life or health of the mother.

"Together, we're going on the offensive to protect abortion rights in these states," Rikelman said.

"We will continue to push back ... and we're prepared to fight the legal battles ahead."

Rickelman said even if the cases they're pursuing advance to the Supreme Court, she is confident they will win.

"If any of these cases end up before the court, we will vigorously defend the law and the constitutional doctrine that has been in place for over 40 years," she said.

"These restrictions we're challenging in North Carolina and Missouri ... these restrictions are the kind that are clearly unconstitutional under many Supreme Court decisions over the years."

Raegan McDonald-Mosley, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood, called Trump and his administration the greatest threat abortion rights advocates have seen in 100 years.

"We don't know exactly what's going to happen and when. What is certain is we've been around for 100 years, and plan to be around for 100 more," she said.