The quantity of abortions performed by medical professionals in the U.S. has decreased this year, according to a recent study, as the impact of new regulations becomes evident and it’s increasingly common to handle abortions outside of traditional healthcare settings.
Over the last three years, the availability of abortion services has remained uncertain following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling, which eliminated the federal protection for abortion rights.
Abortions increased nationwide in 2023 and in 2024, despite restrictions put in place by over a dozen states and other challenges. However, there has been a significant drop in 2025, according to data released on Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy group that focuses on sexual and reproductive health and advocates for abortion rights.
There was a 5% decrease in clinician-administered abortions during the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, according to the latest report.reportindicates approximately 4,700 fewer abortions per month, on average.
Data from the first half of the year might not indicate the overall trends for the entire year, as various elements can influence abortion rates. However, according to Guttmacher data, the biggest drops in abortions performed by healthcare professionals occurred in states that enacted restrictions after six weeks of pregnancy and in those bordering areas with complete abortion bans.
Traveling out of state for an abortion remains much more frequent than it was prior to the Dobbs ruling – approximately 1 in 7 individuals who obtained an abortion during the first half of 2025 traveled across state lines to do so – however, there was an 8% decrease in these instances compared to the first half of the previous year.
“These trends probably show the effect of new abortion restrictions, the wider access to medication abortion through shield law provisions in states that have complete bans, the rising challenges caused by traveling for abortion care, and the increasing pressure on abortion funds and support groups that assist with out-of-state travel for care,” the Guttmacher researchers stated.
Florida was a primary entry point for abortion servicesIn the United States, during 2023—the first full year following the Dobbs ruling—approximately one out of every three abortions in the South and one in twelve across the country occurred in Florida, as reported by Guttmacher data. However, a six-week abortion ban went into effect in May 2024, leading to significant changes.
Clinician-provided abortions in Florida decreased by 27% during the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, as reported by the latest Guttmacher data. This decline, which averages approximately 2,000 fewer procedures per month, made up over 40% of the nation’s overall reduction.
“Since 2023, the Monthly Abortion Provision Study has repeatedly shown the severe effects of early pregnancy restrictions on access to abortion. What we are witnessing in Florida is part of this ongoing pattern,” said Isabel DoCampo, a senior research associate at the Guttmacher Institute, in a statement.
Eight states have implemented shield laws that provide legal safeguards for healthcare providers who operate in areas where abortion is still permitted, allowing them to prescribe medication for abortion through telehealth services to individuals residing in states with prohibitions or limitations.
Guttmacher does not report on abortions conducted under shield laws in its publications, but the Society of Family Planning incorporates this data into its trends, with figures showing a consistent rise.
Increased adoption of this option may explain part of the national decrease in abortions performed by clinicians and travel to other states, according to Guttmacher researchers. Nearly 14,000 abortions were conducted under shield laws in December, according to theLatest report from the Society of Family Planning.
“Shield laws and direct financial support for patients are essential to enable individuals in restrictive states to obtain the abortion care they require. With increasingly severe challenges to abortion access on the horizon, strong and immediate policy actions are more critical than ever,” said Kelly Baden, vice president of public policy at the Guttmacher Institute, in a statement.
Federal organizations are carrying out their own assessment of the safety and effectivenessone of the medications used in abortion treatment has raised new worries regarding restrictions on availability.
This month, US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary sent a letter to 22 Republican state attorneys general stating that the “Administration will guarantee that women’s health is adequately safeguarded by conducting a comprehensive review of how mifepristone can be safely administered.”
Major health organizations, including theAmerican College of Obstetrics and Gynecology,have consistently advocated for increased access to mifepristone. However, opponents of abortion have argued that the medication is unsafe and that the FDA did not conduct sufficient research. The US Supreme CourtdeclinedIn June 2024, efforts were made to restrict the drug’s access but allowed for potential future regulatory adjustments, drawing attention once again to federal organizations like the FDA.
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