Act on the Evidence: Policy Solutions to Protect and Advance Abortion and Contraception Access in the United States

Kelly Baden, Candace Gibson, Amy Friedrich-Karnik, Guttmacher Institute
November 2025

As the United States contends with the consequences of the Dobbs decision and an emboldened opposition seeking to further dismantle sexual and reproductive rights and access, both providers and people seeking care face unprecedented threats. A growing, global anti-rights and anti-science climate buttressed by the spread of mis- and disinformation, is driving continued attempts to eliminate abortion access. Communities already harmed by unjust systems and policies are experiencing disproportionate impacts.

Rooted in the belief that sound policy starts with high-quality evidence, Guttmacher’s flagship research on abortion and contraception underscores the growing barriers to reproductive health care while pointing to policy solutions that can move us closer to reproductive health care access for all. This analysis draws on findings from leading Guttmacher research projects to identify recent trends in abortion and contraceptive access and offers policy recommendations informed by that evidence.

Continued: https://www.guttmacher.org/2025/11/act-evidence-policy-solutions-protect-and-advance-abortion-and-contraception-access-united

11.11.2025

right to travel for abortion

The War on Mifepristone: How Junk Science and False Narratives Threaten US Abortion Access

October 2025
Kelly Baden, Joerg Dreweke, Rachel K. Jones, Guttmacher Institute

False information and faulty science regarding the safety of the drug mifepristone, which is used in the vast majority of medication abortions in the United States, is at the center of a narrative that may further reduce abortion access. Mifepristone, and medication abortion more broadly, is safe, effective and widely used in the United States and globally. Despite its demonstrated safety, relentless policy and legal attacks aim to restrict or even ban access to this method of abortion.

This analysis will explore and counter several pernicious aspects of such attacks. These include the misrepresentation of normal signs a medication abortion is working as intended—for example, cramping or bleeding—as serious medical complications; and the conflation of routine or precautionary care-seeking by medication abortion patients with emergency treatment for serious adverse events.

Continued: https://www.guttmacher.org/2025/10/war-mifepristone-how-junk-science-and-false-narratives-threaten-us-abortion-access

Three Years Post-Roe: The Escalating Campaign to Make Abortion Inaccessible Nationwide

Three years after Dobbs, the antiabortion movement is escalating efforts to block access to medication abortion, criminalize interstate travel, and impose a nationwide ban—threatening reproductive freedom across all 50 states.

June 2, 2025
by Kelly Baden, Ms. Magazine

It has been three years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, unleashing legal chaos and confusion for patients and providers across the United States. But even though abortion is banned in many U.S. states, the antiabortion movement is only intensifying its campaign to restrict abortion access nationwide. Overturning Roe is just the beginning; since then, the movement has pursued a range of strategies to make abortion completely inaccessible no matter where you live.

Continued: https://msmagazine.com/2025/06/02/three-years-dobbs-roe-abortion-overturn-medication-abortion-pills-travel-state-nationwide-ban/

02.06.2025

traveling for abortion

USA -With Risks to Patients and Providers Growing, States Should Revisit Abortion Reporting Requirements

Kelly Baden, Joerg Dreweke, Guttmacher Institute
March 2025

The increasingly hostile political and legal climate for abortion rights and access in the United States requires reconsideration of longstanding systems of state-mandated abortion reporting. Data on abortion incidence and trends are critical for understanding changes in the abortion access landscape and, in turn, can be vital in shaping public policies to improve reproductive health access and outcomes. However, the current climate has escalated the risk of mandated data collection being used to stigmatize, harass, or even prosecute abortion patients and providers—including in situations where abortion care is provided and obtained legally.

Continued: https://www.guttmacher.org/2025/03/risks-patients-and-providers-growing-states-should-revisit-abortion-reporting-requirements

12.03.2025

Research

#WeCount

abortion reporting requirements

Guttmacher Institute

Joerg Dreweke

Kelly Baden

mandated data collection for abortion

Monthly Abortion Provision Study

pregnancy criminalization

Guttmacher Joins US and Latin American Abortion Activists to Mobilize Against Reproductive Oppression

The 2nd Annual Green Wave Gathering brought together 150 activists from across the Americas to share strategies and solidarity in the face of rising far-right movements globally

May 20, 2024
Guttmacher Institute

Mexico City, MX – The Green Wave—the abortion rights movement originated in Latin America and led by activists who overturned extreme abortion bans across the region—continues spreading throughout the Americas, inspiring a new wave of activism and solidarity.

For the second year, US abortion activists met with Green Wave leaders from countries like Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Chile to share strategies and insights on advancing abortion reform. The gathering, which took place in Mexico City, aimed to strengthen the movement by learning from each other's successes and challenges in navigating complex environments where abortion access remains marginalized, criminalized and surveilled.

Continued: https://www.guttmacher.org/news-release/2024/guttmacher-joins-us-and-latin-american-abortion-activists-mobilize-against

New Data Show that Interstate Travel for Abortion Care in the United States Has Doubled Since 2020

Guttmacher Institute
DECEMBER 7, 2023

Post-Dobbs abortion bans and restrictions led to dramatic increase in patients forced to cross state lines for care

Today, the Guttmacher Institute released findings from the latest round of its Monthly Abortion Provision Study. In addition to monthly estimates of the number of facility-based abortions as well as medication abortions provided via telehealth and virtual providers in each state from January through September 2023, the release includes the first comprehensive data measuring the magnitude of interstate travel for abortion after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision in June 2022.

Continued: https://www.guttmacher.org/news-release/2023/new-data-show-interstate-travel-abortion-care-united-states-has-doubled-2020

07.12.2023

News

Research

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

Guttmacher Institute

Isaac Maddow-Zimet

Kelly Baden

Monthly Abortion Provision Study

A year after Dobbs and the end of Roe v. Wade, there’s chaos and confusion

June 24, 2023
Vanessa Romo

One year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, putting an end to the constitutionally protected right to access abortion, the health care landscape has become increasingly fragmented and complex to navigate, spawning widespread confusion.

So far, more than a dozen states have enacted extremely restrictive abortion bans, with the majority making no exceptions for rape or incest. And many more are waiting on legal challenges to make their way through the courts. In Texas, private citizens can sue abortion providers and those who assist patients seeking an abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.npr.org/2023/06/24/1183639093/abortion-ban-dobbs-roe-v-wade-anniversary-confusion

24.06.2023

News

anti-choice cruelty

anti-choice legislation

USA – Anti-abortion politicians never intended to support women and children

BY KELLY BADEN, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR
June 8, 2023

It’s been one year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and conservative states have had plenty of time to enact the policies to support women, children and families that they promised to prioritize once they reached their goal of banning abortion.

Immediately following the June 24, 2022, decision, politicians assured us that their post-Roe plans included supporting women and children. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said “Being pro-life means being pro-mothers, pro-babies, and pro-healthy futures,” while Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said he was “enthusiastically prepared to take on the challenges ahead and to take every step necessary to support mothers and children.” The Tennessee House Republican Caucus declared their “unwavering commitment to fight for families.”

Continued: https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/4038665-anti-abortion-politicians-never-intended-to-support-women-and-children/

Many Abortion Clinics May Not Survive COVID-19 Unless Progressives Take Bolder Action

Many Abortion Clinics May Not Survive COVID-19 Unless Progressives Take Bolder Action

04 Jun 2020
Halley Bondy

The fury of the anti-choice movement is always in Kwajelyn Jackson’s face.

Protesters stand outside of the Feminist Women’s Health Center in Atlanta, Georgia, where she works. They harass her doctors. They destroy clinic property. They break COVID-19 social distancing rules. They hound her patients, who are mostly poor and black or Hispanic.

Continued: https://shadowproof.com/2020/06/04/many-abortion-clinics-may-not-survive-covid-19-unless-progressives-take-bolder-action/

U.S.: New Presidential-Popular Divide Will Change Abortion Rights

Stricter laws under a Trump administration will hamper safe care, but could spur more private money for reproductive health

by Sara Goudarzi on November 14, 2016

During his campaign, president-elect Donald Trump promised to defund Planned Parenthood, nominate pro-life justices to the Supreme Court and ban abortions after the 20-week pregnancy mark. Vice President–elect Mike Pence reinforced these messages, specifically attacking the landmark Supreme Court decision protecting abortion rights. Pence stated he would like to “send Roe v. Wade to the ash heap of history, where it belongs.”

Following the duo’s surprising win last Tuesday, there is a great deal of concern about how the new administration’s policies will affect women’s reproductive rights. Experts believe that although serious changes could be on the horizon—like increased state restrictions and a chance of overturning Roe—such changes will likely happen slowly, and some may be offset by the majority pro-choice public.

[continued at link]
Source: Scientific American

14.11.2016