The ban on abortion in several US states has led to the spread of riskier methods for ending pregnancies. This trend is reported by medriva, citing a study conducted by researchers from KFF. [Citation: KFF study referenced by medriva].
About half of the states now prohibit or severely restrict abortion access. As a result, the average waiting time for an abortion has grown to five to eight working days. While political debates continue, the health and safety of women, particularly those with complex pregnancies, face heightened risk.
The abortion bans have driven some women to seek care in other states, leaving others without safer medical options. Data also show more clinics reporting patients seeking abortion after 14 weeks of gestation, a stage associated with greater health risks. [Citation: KFF study cited in medriva].
In some instances, women must obtain court approval before an abortion, even when continuing the pregnancy could endanger their health. In a Texas case, a patient who was deemed unviable due to fetal pathology was permitted to terminate the pregnancy after doctors determined that continuing posed risks to her health and future fertility. In another Texas case, a judge allowed an abortion for a woman carrying trisomy 18. [Citation: KFF study referenced by medriva].
Earlier research has suggested that a cesarean birth can affect future fertility for some individuals, adding another layer to the ongoing discussion about reproductive health and access to care. [Citation: KFF study referenced by medriva].