When Banning Backfires: The Unintended Consequences of Outlawing Abortion
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022 was expected to lead to a decrease in abortions across the United States. However, recent data suggests the opposite has happened. Instead of a downturn, the number of abortions has increased, raising questions about the effectiveness of restrictive abortion laws in achieving their intended goals.
According to the WeCount study, published by the Society of Family Planning, the number of abortions nationwide has risen from 86,830 at the time of Roe v. Wade’s reversal to just shy of 100,000 in March 2024. The research highlights that this increase is largely facilitated by doctors in abortion-friendly states who are providing abortion pills to patients in more restrictive states through telehealth services. This method has become a lifeline for many women who find themselves in restrictive environments, ensuring they still have access to abortion care.
Telehealth abortion services are making a significant impact, easing surges in demand and reducing wait times at physical abortion clinics, which remain crucial for providing in-person care. According to Professor Ushma Upadhyay of the University of California, San Francisco, telehealth is proving to be a critical difference-maker for those seeking abortion care. With 80 percent of all abortions still being performed in clinics, the telehealth option supplements the system by providing timely and accessible care to those in need.
The report analyzed data from April 2022 to March 2024 and found a peak of over 100,000 abortions in January 2024. This is a record number since WeCount began tracking abortion data following the Supreme Court’s overturning of the nationwide right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The landscape of reproductive rights in the U.S. has been drastically altered, with more than a dozen states making abortion illegal and others introducing new restrictions, while some have expanded access.
One notable consequence of these legislative changes is the rise in telehealth-based abortion services. Women in restrictive states are turning to providers in states with broader access to abortion and shield laws that protect doctors from prosecution for prescribing abortion drugs to out-of-state residents. This highlights the lengths to which women will go to control their reproductive health, regardless of the changing legal landscape.
The increase in abortion numbers since the overturn of Roe v. Wade underscores a critical point: restrictive laws may not deter women from seeking abortions. Instead, they may simply change the methods by which women access the care they need. This phenomenon raises important considerations for policymakers and advocates on both sides of the debate, emphasizing the need for a nuanced approach to reproductive health care that addresses the realities faced by women across the country.
