Summary
Contrary to many predictions, abortions did not decline nationally after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Instead, U.S. abortion rates rose in 2023, surpassing 1 million, driven by expanded access to abortion pills and increased out-of-state travel.
Telemedicine policies, donations, and shield laws protecting providers enabled medication abortions to account for 63% of all abortions.
However, low-income women of color face significant barriers.
Advocates fear restrictions under a Trump administration, including tighter FDA rules on abortion pills or enforcement of the Comstock Act.
I appreciate the article saying “contrary to predictions” rather than “despite the overturning” as in the summary. Because anyone with any sense knew it would pan out this way. The summary wording sounds as it would be logical to assume the bans would result in fewer abortions. The article wording correctly allows that it’s the predictors (those pushing the forced-birth agenda) who were wrong.
Make pregnancy even more dangerous and force knowledgeable OBGYNs to abandon your state? Spur the sympathy of women throughout the land and the mobilization of pro-choice “auntie networks” who may never have understood the plight of poor women without access to care before? And do it in a pandemic-altered economy where remotely-accessed products and healthcare have become routine?
Classic FAFO.
“Contrary to predictions” instead makes sense. I’ve updated the summary.
Honestly, I’m willing to bet that early-term abortions have risen when possible at least somewhat because women understand there’s a risk that if they miscarry or have other complications later into the term, doctors might be forced to endanger their lives in order to comply with christofascist nonsense. That is to say that pregnancies are now riskier to have thanks to these ridiculous, misogynist, theo-Nazi fucks.
System works as designed. They get to kill women and make life harder for minorities. And it’ll provide them with a pretext for further repression once they take power. Gotta save those babies!
