A recent study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) shows that people living in states with abortion bans face longer waits and higher expenses when seeking abortion care. They are more than twice as likely to get abortions later in pregnancy compared to those in states without bans.
The delays happen mainly because people must travel farther to reach clinics, which adds time and costs. These longer waits can make abortion procedures more complicated.
The study was published on June 26 in the American Journal of Public Health, almost three years after the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion.
After the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, 14 states—including Alabama, Texas, and Wisconsin—enforced abortion bans.
Researchers surveyed 855 people from these states between 2022 and 2024. Key findings include:
- The number of second-trimester abortions rose from 8% before the bans to 17% after.
- Average travel time to reach abortion care increased from 2.8 hours to 11.3 hours.
- The number of people needing overnight stays jumped from 5% to 58%.
- Travel costs more than doubled, going from $179 to $372.
- After the bans, 81% of people who contacted clinics had to travel out of state for abortion care.
- Only 3% carried their unwanted pregnancies to term.
The study highlights how abortion bans create significant barriers, forcing people to travel far and wait longer for care, which can add emotional and financial strain.
