5 changes to reproductive health care in the US since Roe’s reversal

Canva The federal fight for reproductive rights began in 1965 when the Supreme Court ruled against states trying to prohibit the prescription, sale, or use of contraceptives (Griswold v. Connecticut). Since then, 22 cases related to reproductive rights have been heard and ruled on by the Supreme Court. These cases have included discussions about whether federal funds can be used for abortion procedures, how information about abortions and contraceptive pills can be disseminated, and whether both biological parents must be notified and consent to an abortion before it occurs. Those 22 cases include Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the decision made in Roe v. Wade that protected the right to an abortion under the umbrella of a right to privacy. In the wake of this decision, Stacker investigated how reproductive health care has changed in the U.S. since the reversal of Roe v. Wade, using various news and government sources. 24 states have banned or significantly restricted abortion access, while some states have joined forces to create reproductive rights havens Vic Hinterlang // Shutterstock There was significant movement in nearly half of the states to ban or greatly restrict abortions after Roe fell, especially in the South. Many of these bans fell under the category of trigger bans, which were laws put into place before the Supreme Court made its decision on the Dobbs case, but that could not be enacted until after federal abortion protections were officially lifted. Some states that have enforced trigger bans include Texas, Idaho, and Tennessee. On the other hand, some states have moved to protect existing abortion access or even expanded the resources provided to those in need of contraceptive care. These states are primarily concentrated in the West and Northeast and include California, Illinois, and New York. California, Oregon, and Washington state have joined forces to make a West Coast-wide safe haven for those seeking abortions. Both state and federal legislatures have moved to defund Planned Parenthood resources P. Rozenski // Shutterstock In January 2023, Rep. Michelle Fischbach proposed the Defund Planned Parenthood Act, which would prohibit any federal mandatory or discretionary funds from being allocated to Planned Parenthood unless the organization certifies that it will not perform abortions. In tandem with this legislation, Fischbach also introduced the Protecting Life and Taxpayers Act, which would require all federally funded organizations to make the same commitment. Fischbach’s proposals are not anomalies–they have been accompanied by proposals from Reps. Bob Good, Lauren Boebert, and others.  Though the strategy of defunding Planned Parenthood on a state-by-state basis isn’t new, there has been a resurgence in conservative lawmakers’ efforts to pass such legislation. Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas have all passed legislation that withholds state funding from Planned Parenthood in some way. These actions could have significant negative consequences on reproductive and sexual health care access including not only access to abortions but also access to contraceptives, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and other pregnancy-related care. More than 60 clinics ceased abortion services, and abortion training for medical professionals may also become restricted