Birth control usage decreases after state-implemented abortion bans.
Revised Version:
Title: Contraceptive Use Plunges Post-Roe Overturning, Recent Study Shows
Dive into the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and you'll encounter a startling trend: a significant decline in women's contraceptive use, according to new research. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, reveals that states with the most stringent abortion laws post-Roe have seen a significant drop in prescriptions for birth control and emergency contraception.
The Rebel Yell of anti-abortion lawmakers responding to the Supreme Court's decision two years ago gained momentum when the aforementioned states launched a barrage of restrictive laws. The most notable example is the Texas Heartbeat Act, which banned abortions after a fetal heartbeat was detected around six weeks of gestation - a law affecting up to half of all abortions, depending on the state.
After the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health in June 2022, these oppressive laws intensified, knocking down the constitutional right to an abortion that had been in place for five decades earlier. This pullback immensely benefited anti-abortion forces, who seized the opportunity to tighten their grip on reproductive rights.
I'll Have What She's Having - this is precisely what many women living in states with increasingly restrictive abortion laws sought prior to the overturning of Roe. Yet, research has long made it clear that such restrictions can have catastrophic consequences on women's health. In fact, a study earlier this year unveiled evidence that such laws slightly escalated murder rates among girls and women nationwide. The experts warned that these negative impacts would only intensify post-Dobbs, and now the numbers are revealing their fears.
The USC-led research team focused their investigation on the aftermath of Dobbs, assessing how Roe's elimination affected rates of contraceptive use, with an emphasis on states with the harshest abortion laws. They analyzed data on oral birth control and emergency contraceptive pills filled during the period before and after the Dobbs decision, grouping the states based on pre-existing abortion restrictions and any subsequent measures implemented.
The team observed a nationwide trend of declining birth control prescriptions from March 2021 to October 2023. Interestingly, the downward trend was similar between the states in the initial phase. However, post-Dobbs, the decrease in birth control prescriptions became more pronounced in the states with the harshest abortion laws enacted afterwards. In these regions, the research revealed a 24% overall reduction in birth control prescriptions during the study period.
During the early phase of Dobbs, emergency contraception fills saw an increase nationally. But in the second year, after the initial spike, the rates began to drop, particularly in states with the most restrictive abortion laws. In these regions, prescriptions for emergency contraceptives witnessed an additional 65% decrease starting in the second year, compared to states maintaining moderate abortion restrictions.
Initially, these findings may appear counterintuitive. Yet the authors attest that the shutdown of many family planning clinics that provided abortions in these states post-Dobbs likely impacted many women's access to oral contraception. Additionally, misinformation about the Dobbs decision and subsequent abortion bans, which is rife among the general public, could also contribute to climbing abortion rates.
This new research is the latest in a series of studies highlighting the fallout from recent anti-abortion policies. A study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics linked Texas' 2021 abortion ban to an increase in infant deaths and birth defects, underscoring the broader challenges in reproductive health care access.
The research team concludes that more needs to be done to safeguard women's reproductive health and freedom, especially those in states with the most draconian restrictions on abortion access. "Given these findings, efforts to protect and improve access to oral contraceptives are essential, particularly for emergency contraceptives in states with the most stringent restrictions on abortion," they suggested.
So, there you have it. A series of restrictive laws aimed at limiting abortion access has inadvertently led to a drop in the use of contraceptives, with the consequences still being felt and evaluated. While more research is required, it's crucial to emphasize the significance of education, access, and choice when it comes to reproductive health and rights.
- A counterintuitive trend investigation revealed a significant 24% reduction in birth control prescriptions in states with the harshest abortion laws post-Dobbs, suggesting a potential correlation between restrictive abortion laws and a decline in contraceptive use.
- In contrast to the initial increase observed in emergency contraception fills nationally after Dobbs, the subsequent two years saw a decrease, particularly in regions with the most restrictive abortion laws, where prescriptions for emergency contraceptives saw an additional 65% reduction.
- The USC-led research team posits that the shutdown of many family planning clinics in states with harsh abortion laws post-Dobbs and misinformation about the Dobbs decision may have limited women's access to oral contraception, potentially contributing to climbing abortion rates.
- To mitigate these developments, the research team recommends focusing effort on safeguarding women's reproductive health and freedom, especially for those in states with the most draconian restrictions on abortion, by protecting and improving access to oral contraceptives, particularly for emergency contraceptives.
