US Abortions Increase to Two-Thirds via Pills and Travel, Driven by Telehealth and State Bans

Dec 28, 2024, 04:18 PM

Abortions in the United States have increased despite bans or deep restrictions in most Republican-controlled states, as women turn to abortion pills and travel to access services. A study has indicated that women are often surprised by the severe pain associated with abortion pills. The use of abortion pills has risen, with about two-thirds of abortions now involving these medications, up from about half before the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling in 2022. The increase in pill use has been facilitated by telehealth prescriptions, especially in states where abortion is banned. Additionally, travel for abortion has become more common, with states like New Mexico and Kansas seeing an influx of out-of-state patients, particularly from Texas. The legal and political battles over abortion access continue, with states like Texas challenging federal policies and attempting to restrict the mailing of abortion pills.