Abortions increased in 2024 due to the use of telehealth prescriptions, according to a recent report.
The ongoing landscape of abortion access in the United States continues to evolve as the number of procedures reported in 2024 has increased, indicating that women are finding various methods to obtain abortions despite a myriad of restrictions and outright bans in numerous states. A recent report from the WeCount project, under the Society of Family Planning, was published a day prior to the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a ruling that effectively ended nearly five decades of federal protection for abortion rights in the country.
As it currently stands, there are twelve states enforcing complete bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with limited exceptions to these prohibitions. Additionally, four states have implemented bans that activate around the six-week mark, a timeframe that often precedes a woman’s awareness of her pregnancy. This political and legal climate has led to significant changes in how abortions are accessed across the nation.
In contrast to the strict regulations imposed by certain states, a trend has emerged where abortion via medication has gained prominence, particularly through telehealth services. The report indicates that medication abortions represent a substantial portion of total abortions, underscoring a shift in patient-physician interactions, especially after the fallout from the Dobbs decision. The data shows approximately 1.1 million abortions taking place in 2023, which averages to about 95,000 each month, an increase from monthly tallies of 88,000 in 2022. It should be noted that these figures remain significantly lower than historical peaks seen in the late 1990s when close to 1.6 million abortions per year were recorded.
The report highlights that the utilization of telehealth for abortion services has surged, with reports indicating that one-quarter of abortion procedures in the United States are now conducted via telehealth. This marks a remarkable increase from one in twenty prior to the Dobbs ruling. This increase correlates with legislative measures in some states aimed at protecting medical professionals who perform telehealth consultations for patients in states where abortion remains heavily restricted.
WeCount has emerged as a critical source of national data regarding the use of abortion pills and the access methodologies of those seeking these services. However, the data also carries caveats, as it remains unclear how many prescriptions ultimately result in an abortion, given that some individuals may change their plans after acquiring pills.
In light of these developments, anti-abortion advocacy efforts have increasingly focused on restricting access to medication prescribed for abortions. Several states have initiated legal action targeting telehealth access, particularly concerning mifepristone, a common medication used in abortion procedures. Legislative efforts in certain states aim to further tighten regulations on the prescribing of these medications, with advocates pushing for robust scrutiny on their safety and delivery methods.
As America continues to grapple with these contentious issues, the evolution of abortion access remains a pivotal aspect of public discourse, reflecting broader societal attitudes toward reproductive rights and healthcare.
