In the past two and a half years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, abortions have become slightly more common despite bans or deep restrictions in most Republican-controlled states. The legal and political fights over the future of abortion are still ongoing, with the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization changing the landscape of abortion policies and their impact. Data reveals that abortions are slightly more common now than before the ruling, with an increase in monthly abortions across the country.
The enforcement of abortion bans has changed how women obtain abortions in the U.S., but it has not decreased the number of abortions being obtained. Abortion bans do not prevent abortions from happening, but they do change the way care is provided. Women in states with bans face major obstacles in accessing abortions, with low-income, minority, and immigrant women being the least likely to be able to obtain them. For those living in states with bans, access to abortion is through travel or abortion pills.
Abortion pills have become a significant part of the abortion access equation, with nearly two-thirds of recent abortions involving the use of pills. The increase in pill prescriptions made through telehealth has raised legal questions and become central in battles over abortion access. Several states have taken action to restrict the use of abortion pills, including suing doctors for prescribing them via telemedicine and pushing for federal laws to ban their mailing. Travel for abortion has also increased, with efforts to help women seeking abortions travel to states where they are legal.
The landscape of abortion access has been in constant flux since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, with lawmakers and courts shifting where abortion is legal and under what conditions. Some states have implemented abortion bans, while others have seen clinics open or expand. Lack of access to abortions during emergencies has emerged as a major issue, with hospitals facing challenges in providing necessary care to pregnant women. Abortion rights remain popular with voters, with a majority supporting the legalization of abortion in all or most cases across various states.
Overall, despite the ongoing legal battles and restrictions on abortion access, the data shows that abortions have become slightly more common in the United States. Travel for abortion and the use of abortion pills have increased, while the landscape of abortion access continues to shift with new bans and restrictions being implemented. Abortion rights remain a popular issue among voters, with a majority supporting the legalization of abortion in various states, even as legal challenges and debates continue over the future of abortion rights in the country.
