In a startling revelation, a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shed light on the state of abortion in the United States following the momentous overturning of Roe v Wade in June 2022. Despite a wave of near-total abortion bans enacted across numerous states, the national abortion rate saw a mere 2% decline in the aftermath of this landmark Supreme Court decision.
A Closer Look at the Numbers
The CDC report, released on Wednesday, provides a comprehensive tally of abortion provision in the post-Roe United States. In 2022, US providers performed over 613,000 abortions, a slight drop from the nearly 626,000 procedures conducted in the previous year. This minimal decrease defies expectations, given the swift implementation of abortion bans in many states following Roe’s demise.
Breaking down the data further, the report highlights that:
- The vast majority of abortions took place at or before 9 weeks of pregnancy
- Approximately 6% of abortions occurred between 14 to 20 weeks gestation
- Only 1% of procedures were performed at or after 21 weeks
- Women in their 20s accounted for the bulk of abortion patients
- Nearly 60% of those seeking abortions had previously given birth
The Impact of Abortion Pills and “Shield Laws”
Experts attribute the surprisingly stable abortion rates to the increased availability of abortion pills and the emergence of “shield laws” in certain states. These laws provide legal protection to providers who use telemedicine to mail abortion pills to individuals residing in states with abortion bans. Between April and June 2024 alone, shield laws enabled providers to offer a monthly average of 7,700 telehealth abortions to people in states with severe restrictions.
According to Isaac Maddow-Zimet, a data scientist at the Guttmacher Institute, “It really speaks to a bifurcation of access. On one hand, you have many states where abortion has gotten incredibly difficult to access… And then, on the other hand, you have states with more protective laws where a lot of the things that people have been doing to ameliorate the effects of bans have also increased access to residents of those states.”
The Rise of Abortion “Havens” and Cross-State Travel
The CDC report also highlights the growing trend of women traveling across state lines to access abortion care in states that have become “abortion havens.” For example, Kansas, which borders multiple anti-abortion states, performed nearly 5,000 more abortions in 2022 compared to the previous year.
“We estimate that, in 2023, around 168,000 people traveled across state lines to access abortion care, which is more than double the number of people who traveled in 2019 or 2020,” noted Maddow-Zimet.
Organizations such as abortion funds have played a crucial role in helping patients cover the costs associated with traveling for the procedure. However, as public outrage over Roe’s demise has waned, many of these funds are beginning to face financial constraints, which could potentially lead to an overall decrease in abortion access.
Gaps in Data and Challenges Ahead
It is important to note that the CDC report comes with certain limitations. The data is not comprehensive, as four states—California, Maryland, New Hampshire, and New Jersey—do not provide the agency with information about the abortions performed within their jurisdictions. Additionally, the report does not capture data on abortions conducted outside of the US healthcare system, such as self-managed abortions using pills obtained through alternative channels.
These gaps in data have drawn criticism from some abortion opponents, who argue that states should face financial repercussions for failing to supply the CDC with complete and detailed abortion statistics. The controversial Project 2025 playbook even suggests that the CDC should collect data on miscarriages, stillbirths, and medical treatments that may unintentionally result in fetal demise.
As the United States continues to grapple with the aftermath of Roe v Wade’s reversal, the CDC report serves as a sobering reminder of the complex and evolving landscape of abortion access in the country. While the overall abortion rate may have remained relatively stable in the immediate aftermath, the long-term sustainability of the current system, which relies heavily on public donations and the tireless efforts of providers and support organizations, remains uncertain.
As Maddow-Zimet aptly summarized, “Whether that is something that can be sustained in the long run, I think is a big question.”
The future of abortion rights in the United States hangs in the balance, and the ongoing battle between pro-choice advocates and anti-abortion activists shows no signs of abating. As the nation moves forward, it is crucial that policymakers, healthcare providers, and the public at large remain vigilant and committed to ensuring safe, legal, and accessible reproductive healthcare for all.
