A shifting landscape of abortion policies means the way women access care is changing

The number of abortions in the United States has increased two years after a significant change in legal precedent. In the spring of 2024, there was an average of about 97,500 abortions each month. Nearly 80% were conducted in-person, though this figure represents a slight decrease from the previous year. Telehealth abortions are on the rise, especially medication abortions provided under legal protections in states with restrictions. 

These legal protections allow some providers to offer remote medication abortions to residents of restrictive states. In the summer of 2023, the average number of abortions provided under such protections was about 5,700 per month, increasing to over 9,700 by the spring of 2024. This method contributed significantly to maintaining abortion access in a challenging legal environment.

Certain states have witnessed increased out-of-state abortion rates. For instance, West Virginia and Tennessee residents accessed more abortions through out-of-state travel or under legal protections compared to previous years. Conversely, in Florida, a new 6-week ban led to a reduction in in-person abortions with a modest rise in those provided under legal protections.

Despite emerging avenues for access, there remains a substantial unmet need for abortion services across the country. Many individuals face significant barriers, including travel or postponement, due to evolving restrictive laws. Though the average number of abortions has increased, the data does not reflect the numerous self-managed abortions or the potential numbers unable to access care at all.