June has again been designated as a month honoring the United States, a reflection that resonates with many Americans and members of the LGBTQ community. Some conservative voices have proposed reframing the occasion as the “month of life” in opposition to abortion rights, using this moment to highlight a political shift that began a year earlier when the Supreme Court nulled the constitutional protection that had been in effect since January 1973. The Dobbs decision, issued by the Court, changed the landscape of abortion policy across the country and set in motion a new frontier that is both legal and social.
The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling, announced on June 24, 2022, overturned Roe v. Wade and returned abortion regulation to individual states. The decision has left a country already marked by deep political divides to navigate a patchwork of laws that vary widely from one state to another. Critics note that those who face the greatest barriers to terminating a pregnancy are often low-income individuals and people of color, underscoring existing inequalities in access to care.
new map
Across the United States, thirteen states, mainly in the South, have either full or near-total bans on abortion. In many cases these bans lack exceptions for rape or incest. Some states, like Georgia, have enacted restrictions at six weeks of gestation, a point at which many may not yet realize they are pregnant. Others have approved stringent measures that are not yet in effect or are stalled by court challenges. Florida, the country’s third most populous state, stands as a focal point because a significant share of individuals seeking abortion care from the South now travel there. In those discussions, the role of state supreme courts becomes pivotal in shaping the future of abortion access beyond six weeks.
Meanwhile, seventeen states plus the District of Columbia have moved to protect access to abortion up to roughly 24 weeks of gestation, with protections for medical providers and supporters who assist patients. Additionally, six state governments and fifteen municipalities have raised as much as $208 million to fund contraception or provide financial assistance to those in need, according to data from the National Institute for Reproductive Safety.
an uneven blow
Estimates vary, but somewhere between 22 and 25 million women of reproductive age live in states where abortion is restricted or banned. Data from a survey conducted by the Family Planning Association indicates a decline in abortions in the first nine months after the ruling, falling by roughly 3 percent—about 24,000 procedures compared with the previous year. This decline has unequal implications, reflecting broader social and economic disparities in maternal health, poverty, and access to healthcare services. The impact of the Dobbs decision is not distributed evenly across the country, and abortion-rights advocates worry over potential attempts to bar or limit access to mifespristone, a key drug used in chemical abortions, amid ongoing court actions.
As Caitlin Myers, an economics professor at Middlebury College who studies abortion and tracks the effects of the Supreme Court ruling, notes, a large share of abortion patients live at or below the federal poverty level, with about half earning under that line. People of color and those facing economic hardship are among the most affected, including women who must travel longer distances to reach care. In this evolving map, the typical travel distance to a provider has increased significantly for many. The average distance to the nearest provider rose from about 40 kilometers before June 2022 to roughly 137 kilometers by April of this year, with a notable jump by mid-2023.
influence beyond
Over the past year, more than 61 Planned Parenthood facilities and other clinics have closed, shifting some responsibilities to contraception and prenatal care in affected areas, while new clinics have opened in states where abortion remains legal. Critics emphasize that bans and restrictive laws create uncertainty for both patients and healthcare professionals, raising concerns about emergency care and unintended consequences for those seeking timely treatment. Medical professionals report that ambiguity in the wording of some laws fosters confusion, sometimes described as chaotic, making it harder to attract specialists to states with tighter restrictions. A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that a significant portion of healthcare providers faced limitations when addressing spontaneous abortions and related emergencies, with many expressing concern about legal risks when making patient-care decisions. The overall message from researchers is clear: legal uncertainties can indirectly influence the quality and availability of care, especially in urgent situations.