According to a recent study published by the Guttmacher Institute, abortion procedures in the United States saw a significant rise last year, even in the face of state bans imposed following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The research found that approximately 1,026,690 abortions were reported in the formal healthcare system in 2023, marking the highest number recorded in over a decade.

The study indicated that this figure equates to around 15.7 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age, representing a 10 percent increase compared to 2020. Notably, 2023 was the first full calendar year since the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned, effectively eliminating the constitutional right to abortion. As a result, states were granted the authority to impose restrictions or bans on abortion procedures.

In response to this newfound autonomy, several Republican-led states swiftly enacted legislation to limit or prohibit residents' access to abortions. Currently, fourteen states across the nation have implemented near-total abortion bans. Furthermore, states such as Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Utah passed laws limiting abortion access based on gestational age.

Interestingly, the study revealed that almost every state without a total abortion ban experienced an average increase of 25 percent in the number of procedures from 2020. States bordering those with bans witnessed the most substantial surge, with a 37 percent increase in abortion procedures from 2020 to 2023.

The Guttmacher Institute also highlighted the prevalence of medication abortions, which accounted for 63 percent of all abortions in the U.S. in 2023, in contrast to 53 percent in 2020. While the improved access to medication abortion was seen as a positive development, Principal Research Scientist Rachel Jones cautioned against viewing it as a standalone solution. She emphasized that the availability of medication abortion does not necessarily align with patients' preferred method of care and that for some individuals, it may be the only viable option in light of increasingly restrictive regulations.

Jones added, "Every person deserves access to abortion care on their terms and according to their needs and preferences – whether that care is via telemedicine, an in-person visit, or outside the formal health care system."

The study utilized national and state-level abortion data from 2023, acknowledging that the estimates are likely an undercount as only abortions reported in the formal U.S. health care system were considered. The Guttmacher Institute employed a statistical model that combines data from provider samples with historical information on the workload of every U.S. provider to generate these estimates.

This study aligns with previous research following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, which also indicated a slight increase in clinician-provided abortions nationwide, with a notable decline in states with abortion bans.