Study: US Abortion Numbers Rise amid Pill Use

The number of abortions performed in the United States in the first quarter of 2026 rose slightly compared to the same period in 2025, while the number of women traveling to another state for the procedure declined. This is according to data from the Guttmacher Institute, which has been tracking developments since the repeal of federal protection for abortion rights in 2022.

According to the study, 296,130 abortions were performed in the first three months of 2026, compared with 292,590 during the same period last year. At the same time, the number of women traveling to another state for an abortion fell by nearly 8% between 2024 and 2025.

The authors and other experts attribute this trend to the growing use of medical abortions via telemedicine and the mailing of abortion pills. According to data from the Society for Family Planning, approximately 27% of all abortions in the US are now performed this way.

The study also noted a decline in abortion-seeking travel from Texas and significant changes in Florida following the tightening of state legislation there. Critics of the current administration argue that the federal government is not adequately enforcing existing restrictions on abortion medications.

(ewtn, sab)