Abortion Delays Increase in US Following Overturning of Roe v. Wade

Half of U.S. States Now Restrict Access to Abortion, Leading to Longer Wait Times and More Complex Procedures

Abortion delays have become more common in the US since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, leading to more complex, costly and riskier procedures.
About half of U.S. states now have laws that ban or restrict access to abortion, causing an increased demand for appointments at the remaining providers.
At least 66 clinics in 15 states stopped providing abortions in the 100 days after Roe was overturned, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
The necessity for people to travel out of state is at the root of abortion delays, with the average driving distance to the nearest clinic rising substantially in some states after Roe.
Clinics have taken steps to reduce waits, such as adding more telehealth appointments for medication abortions, staying open longer and adding more staff, but individual issues like child care problems, canceled flights and financial concerns can still cause delays.