Abortion is healthcare.

Learn more about the impacts abortion bans have had across states. View abortion laws by state here.

• In 2023, there were only a reported 11 OB-GYNs per 100,000 residents (NPR). More than 15% of Wyoming residents live more than 30 minutes away from a hospital that provides labor and delivery services, which is particularly concerning given the state’s vast rural areas. People in counties with the longest travel times can spend almost 90 minutes on average to reach a hospital with obstetric care. (March of Dimes)

• A year after the Dobbs decision, women aged 18–44 experienced greater difficulties accessing contraceptives, with reports of receiving high-quality contraceptive care declining. The data shows a roughly 4-percentage-point increase in the number of reproductive-aged women facing obstacles or delays in obtaining their preferred contraception compared to the period before the ruling. (Guttmacher)

• Following the Dobbs decision, U.S. medical students across all specialties (not just OB-GYN) submitted fewer applications for residencies per person in the 2023–2024 cycle. There was an 11.7% decrease in U.S. MD senior applicants compared to the previous cycle, which had already seen a 7.7% decline. (Association of American Medical Colleges)

• South Carolina used to be a reliable source for abortion care with the proportion of abortions provided to patients traveling from out of state increasing from 3% in 2020 to 42% in the first six months of 2023. Overall, there were 3,200 more abortions in South Carolina during that time, and the increase in interstate travel accounted for 75% of that increase. Unfortunately, the new six-week ban not only severely restricts access to abortion for South Carolina residents, but it also limits what care is available to neighbors who live in bordering states where abortion has been totally banned. (Guttmacher)

• Clinics in Pennsylvania are facing increased pressure due to the rising number of out-of-state patients (abortions in Pennsylvania among out-of-state residents rose 41% in 2022). This has resulted in longer wait times and stretched health care resources as clinics work to meet the growing demand. (Guttmacher)

• Since the Dobbs ruling, North Dakota has seen a profound shift in abortion access. The state’s sole abortion clinic, Red River Women’s Clinic, moved to Minnesota, leaving North Dakota without any clinics providing abortion services. (Guttmacher)

• As of July 2023, North Carolina enforces a 12-week abortion ban with few exceptions, alongside a 72-hour waiting period and mandatory in-person visits, making access more challenging. Despite these restrictions, the state has become a key access point for abortion care in the South, with expanded access to medication abortions through advanced practice clinicians. The legal landscape is still evolving, with ongoing challenges and the potential for further legislative changes. (19th News, North Carolina Health News)

• Nebraska is among several states that have seen the rise of “sanctuary cities” where local municipalities ban abortion in defiance of state laws. Nebraska has also become a destination for out-of-state patients from neighboring states with stricter laws, increasing demand on its health care system. (Nebraska Public Media, The Guardian)

• 10% of reproductive-aged women in Iowa reported having trouble or delays in accessing their preferred contraception, compared to 7% in 2021. This is critical as 31% of women of reproductive age (15–49) in Iowa had incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level and are reliant on publicly supported contraceptive care. (Guttmacher)

• Georgia’s 6-week ban disproportionately affects certain groups that are most likely to discover their pregnancy after 6 weeks, including 44% of 18- to 19-year-olds. (Guttmacher Institute)

• The average woman in Florida seeking an abortion after six weeks now faces a 590-mile journey and nearly 14-day wait time, while clinics in North Carolina (the closest state with access) have seen increased patient traffic and longer wait times. (Washington Post)

• Ongoing legal battles continue to shape the state’s abortion laws, with the 15-week ban currently in effect. (AP News, Center for Reproductive Rights)

• The sole clinic providing abortion services has stopped offering abortion care, leaving no in-state options for individuals seeking these services. With the clinic closure, West Virginians now must travel out of state for abortion care. The nearest options include Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, with distances ranging from 180 to 300 miles, depending on the individual’s location. (Guttmacher Institute)

• Tennessee has the worst maternal mortality rate of any state at 41.1% per 100,000 live births, a number closely linked to restrictive abortion access. (CDC)

• South Dakota’s sparse population and vast rural areas compounded with highly restrictive laws have made abortion access incredibly challenging. With no in-state abortion clinics post Dobbs, people now have to travel long distances to neighboring states, imposing significant burdens on those who cannot easily afford travel or time off work. (Planned Parenthood)

• The ripple effect of Oklahoma’s abortion ban has significantly impacted neighboring states, particularly Kansas. As Oklahoma closed its doors to abortion services, Kansas saw a 114% increase in abortions in the first half of 2023 compared to 2020, with around 70–75% of patients at some clinics now coming from out of state, primarily from Oklahoma and Texas. This influx has led to longer wait times and increased demands on health care resources. Clinics like Trust Women in Wichita, for example, receive between 3,000 and 4,000 phone calls per day from people seeking care. (KCUR, Guttmacher Institute)

• Prior to the Dobbs decision, Missouri had only one abortion clinic: the Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis. Today, Missouri no longer has any abortion clinics, forcing people to travel out of state, primarily to Kansas and Illinois, where abortion remains legal. Additionally, many physicians are reporting increased legal concerns, especially when it comes to reproductive health services. A 2022 survey by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) found that 63% of OB-GYNs reported concern about criminal penalties from ban-violations when practicing in states with restrictive abortion laws, and 43% said they were reconsidering practicing in those states.​ (Guttmacher Institute)

• Racial inequities have been intensified in Mississippi—especially for Black women, who make up 80% of abortion seekers, and are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. (NPWF)

• Physicians in Louisiana are delaying routine prenatal care until after 12 weeks of pregnancy. They are also declining to provide needed abortion care because of concern about violating Louisiana’s abortion ban and receiving harsh criminal penalties. (Lift Louisiana, NPR)

• Kentucky’s maternal mortality rate is among the highest in the nation. (University of Louisville) The lack of access drove 4,450 Kentucky women across state lines seeking abortion care. (Kentucky Today, Guttmacher Institute)

• Companies like Eli Lilly, a major pharmaceutical company and one of Indiana’s largest employers, have expressed concerns about the impact of the state’s abortion laws on attracting and retaining talent. Eli Lilly announced plans to shift job creation and investments outside Indiana due to the abortion restrictions, signaling potential for laws to hurt the state’s economic future. (Source: NPR)

• More than 50 Idaho obstetricians have stopped practicing in the state since a total abortion ban took effect in August 2022. (AP News)

• Nearly half of Arkansas counties lack obstetric care, in hospitals or birth centers, worsening maternal health outcomes and access in rural areas. (Washington Post)

• Alabama is facing a significant medical shortage, with OB-GYN residency applications dropping 21.2% in 2023–24, following the state’s abortion ban. (Association of American Medical Colleges)

• Texas reported a 12.9% increase in infant deaths in 2022, with the rise largely linked to high-risk pregnancies being carried to term. (Johns Hopkins)