United States: The latest reports indicated that the number of women seeking abortions in the USA has surged since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The #WeCount report shows a gradual but noticeable rise since March 2023.
In fact, the monthly abortion total for the first half of 2024 reached approximately 98,000, surpassing the 2023 monthly average of 88,000 and the 2022 figure of 81,400.
Surprising Findings
Among the thirteen states that have enacted abortion bans, 10 have seen an uptick in abortion numbers, while only three states did not report a rise.
The Society of Family Planning researchers indicated that “these findings highlight the shifting landscape of abortion access following the Supreme Court’s decision and how a fragmented system of care has adapted to meet growing demands,” according to US News.
What’s Driving the Increase?
Dr. Ushma Upadhyay, co-chair of #WeCount and a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, states, “In this environment of restricted abortion care, medication abortion offered via telehealth under shield laws significantly contributes to increased access.”
“Even as abortion opponents strive to eliminate safe and effective abortion care, providers and advocates are continually developing new methods to ensure people receive the necessary care,” Upadhyay added.
Reports indicate that in-person abortions accounted for around 80 percent of total abortions, but this avenue has faced the most challenges from state bans.
By Q2 2024, medication abortions through telehealth made up 20 percent of abortion care, accounting for a 4 percent increase in overall national abortion volume compared to Q2 2022.
Expert Opinions
Experts did not anticipate an increase in abortion rates following the Supreme Court’s ruling, according to US News.
David Cohen, co-author of the upcoming book “After Dobbs: How the Supreme Court Ended Roe but Not Abortion” and a law professor at Drexel University, remarked, “This has caught everyone by surprise.”
“While many expected creativity and determination would still secure access for numerous individuals post-Roe, few anticipated that the numbers would remain steady or even rise,” Cohen explained.
Only Texas, Idaho, and Oklahoma were the states where bans coincided with a decrease in abortion rates during this timeframe.
National trends show that abortion numbers continue to climb, with roughly 587,000 reported from the beginning of the year through mid-year, marking a 12 percent increase from the same period in 2023.
New shield laws, which protect those dispensing medication abortion pills in banned states, have been reflected in this report for the first time.
These laws collectively enable approximately 7,700 abortions each month in states with total prohibitions or those banning the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy.
Additionally, telehealth abortion services have significantly influenced access, especially in rural areas where clinics are scarce.
In Wyoming, for instance, although abortion remains legal, telehealth accounted for 55 percent of abortions in the second quarter of this year.