Media Center: Press Release

Increased Availability of Medication Abortion Offers Important Option

New York, NY—New data released today shows that abortions in the United States have declined from 1.31 million to 1.21 million annually, while the number of providers offering medication abortion has increased 70% from 2000 to 2005.  More information about the new abortion statistics is available online in a slideshow presentation created by Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health and the Guttmacher Institute.

Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health today released the following statement from board chair Suzanne T. Poppema, MD.

“I see glimmers of hope in the latest information about abortion in the United States.  While we don’t yet know what led to the decline in abortions from 2000 to 2005, it is gratifying to see changes in other abortion trends.  Though the number of physicians offering abortion continues to fall, the decline was much less in this period than in previous decades.  The decision to terminate a pregnancy means very little to women if they can’t find a doctor willing to provide an abortion.

“I am encouraged that many doctors who never provided surgical abortions are now offering medication abortion.  Eighty-seven percent of U.S. counties have no abortion services, forcing women to travel long distances or forego the procedure.  If we want to counteract this dearth of services, the reproductive health community must encourage more physicians to offer medical or surgical abortions.  We know from other countries that mifepristone could be used more widely for medication abortion than it is today.  But doctors may need encouragement to overcome their fears of harassment and stigma if they provide abortions.  I hope this latest data will lead physicians already using medication abortion to educate their peers about the method and encourage its use.  Women can also expand access to abortion by asking their physicians to provide this valuable and effective option in the privacy of their offices.”

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