A recent study has revealed an increase in the number of abortions in the United States since the Supreme Court allowed states to impose stringent bans on the procedure. According to the Society of Family Planning (SFP), the average number of abortions per month reached 98,990 during the first quarter of 2024. This figure represents a rise compared to the monthly averages recorded in 2022 and 2023.
The increase in abortions has been partially attributed to the expanded availability of abortion pills through online telehealth services. The SFP reported that the share of abortions conducted via telehealth surged from 4% to 20% nationwide since April 2022. This shift indicates a growing reliance on remote medical services to access abortions, despite the tightening restrictions in many states.
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the nationwide right to abortion in June 2022 led to many Republican-led states implementing restrictive or outright prohibitive abortion laws. In response, some Democratic-led states have enacted “shield laws” that protect doctors providing telehealth abortion services to patients in states with stricter regulations.
Even when excluding abortions facilitated under shield laws, the overall monthly average for abortions from January to March 2024 was still higher compared to the same period in 2023. Specifically, the average number of abortions was 89,770 during these months, compared to 86,967 the previous year. Under shield laws, there was also a notable 16% increase in abortions, with a monthly average of 9,200 observed in early 2024.
The SFP study also highlighted significant declines in states with stringent abortion bans, including Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Alabama. With 22 states now enforcing stricter abortion laws since the reversal of Roe v. Wade, the issue is expected to play a major role in the upcoming November elections.
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has promised to implement nationwide protections for abortion if elected, while Republican rival Donald Trump, who appointed the justices responsible for overturning Roe, has been criticized for his stance on abortion rights.