Study Finds Drop in Birth Control Use in States with Abortion Restrictions

A study published by the JAMA Network Open medical journal has found a decline in prescription birth control access among women in states with the most restrictive abortion laws. The research indicates that monthly prescription rates for birth control pills and emergency contraceptives were significantly lower in the second half of 2023 compared to rates before the US Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which overturned the federal right to abortion.

Researchers attributed the decrease to the closure of some family planning clinics and public confusion about what options remain legal post-Dobbs. Although birth control use has been generally declining, the prescription fill rate fell about 4% more than expected in states with stricter abortion laws. The findings suggest that there is a need to protect and improve access to oral contraceptives, particularly emergency contraceptives, in states where abortion is heavily restricted.