Abortion rates have been on the rise across the country since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, leading to the proliferation of abortion bans.
Cities like Wichita, in states where the procedure is still legal, witness a consistent increase in the number of patients seeking the abortion services.
In the previous year, Trust Women, the largest abortion provider in Wichita, experienced a significant increase in patient numbers. With over 5,000 patients, it marked a historic high for the clinic, surpassing more than triple the amount seen in 2021, the year prior to the court’s decision to invalidate federal abortion protections.
According to Zach Gingrich-Gaylord, the clinic’s communication director, the increase in out-of-state patients has resulted in them becoming the majority, rather than seeing more patients from Kansas.
Despite the fact that 14 states have enacted bans on abortion following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe, there was actually an increase in the number of women who underwent the procedure last year compared to the previous year, as per the latest national data released on Tuesday.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, a national organization that has been monitoring abortion rates in the United States since 1973, last year marked a significant milestone. For the first time since 2012, the number of abortions in the U.S. exceeded 1 million.
According to the group’s estimation, there were 15.7 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age in the country last year, indicating a 10% increase since 2020. However, the group believes that this number is likely an underestimate as it only takes into account abortions performed at physical healthcare facilities like clinics and doctors’ offices. The use of telehealth and virtual providers for prescribing abortion pills is not included in this count.
According to Guttmacher, states that do not have complete abortion bans experienced a 25% increase in the number of abortions from last year to 2020. Moreover, states like Kansas, which are adjacent to states with bans, witnessed an even higher surge in abortion rates.
According to Guttmacher, the majority of abortions in Kansas last year were performed on patients who came from out of state. In fact, 71% of abortions in Kansas were provided to out-of-state patients, which is an increase from the previous year, where the percentage was 52%. In 2023, there was a significant rise in the number of patients who traveled to Kansas for abortions, with approximately 8,300 more patients seeking abortion services. This increase accounted for 89% of the overall rise in abortions in the state compared to 2020.
According to Gingrich-Gaylord of Trust Women in Wichita, there has been a similar trend observed. She mentioned that over 80% of the women seeking abortions at their clinic are from out of state. Out of these, slightly over half are from Texas, approximately 20% are from Oklahoma, and the remaining percentage comprises women from states such as Louisiana and Arkansas.
Trust Women has responded to the increasing demand for abortions by significantly expanding its clinic staff and the number of clinic days when abortions are performed. This growth has been essential in meeting the needs of patients seeking abortion services. Like many other abortion providers, Trust Women relies on a dedicated network of approximately two dozen traveling physicians to ensure access to safe and legal abortions.
He explained that the scarcity of local providers is simply a result of the hostile environment in the area.
In a surprising turn of events in 2022, Kansas emerged as a trailblazer by rejecting an amendment aimed at revoking abortion rights from the state’s constitution. This landmark decision came merely a month after the court overturned Roe v. Wade, marking Kansas as the first state to fortify abortion rights following the removal of national protections. Despite grappling with stringent clinic regulations, Kansas has now become an attractive destination for individuals seeking abortion services.
Trust Women was established in 2013 with the aim of restoring access to abortion care at the clinic previously operated by Dr. George Tiller. Dr. Tiller, a Wichita doctor, was tragically murdered by an anti-abortion extremist in 2009. Throughout the years, the clinic has faced persistent anti-abortion protests, making the work of Trust Women all the more vital.
Advocacy groups are playing a crucial role in addressing the rising number of abortions across the country. These organizations are stepping in to provide support to women who lack legal access to abortion services in their local areas or states.
The Midwest Access Coalition, established a decade ago, assists individuals in managing the financial burdens associated with traveling for abortion services.
In 2024, the group has already assisted over 565 individuals in covering expenses such as transportation, hotels, and child care. During the first quarter of 2023, the group had aided approximately 450 people.
In the current year, a total of 163 individuals received assistance in traveling to Kansas. Among them, 95 sought medical services at Aria Medical in Wichita, a clinic exclusively dedicated to providing medical abortions. Additionally, 53 individuals sought services at Trust Women, while eight individuals chose Planned Parenthood in Wichita as their preferred healthcare provider.
The Midwest Access Coalition provided assistance to four individuals in getting to Planned Parenthood in Overland Park, as well as three others who visited Planned Parenthood in Wyandotte County.
Alison Dreith, the coalition’s director of strategic partnerships, explained that approximately half of patients face numerous practical barriers that prevent them from attending their initial abortion appointment. These obstacles often pose significant challenges and hinder their ability to access the necessary healthcare services.
“We handle the booking and payment of accommodations, transportation, food, child care, incidentals, and any other expenses that our clients need assistance with in accessing their care,” she explained.
According to Dreith, the group receives financial backing from both individual and institutional donors, including foundations. She also noted that there was a significant increase in support following the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2022.
The National Abortion Federation experienced a similar increase in the number of people reaching out to its hotline following the court’s decision. According to a press release issued in December, the organization reported a significant rise in expenses for hotel accommodations, transportation tickets, and rideshares compared to before the ruling.
Veronica Jones, the chief operating officer of the federation, emphasized that the increase in numbers clearly indicates that the demand for abortion care persists, despite the ban.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, there has been a noticeable increase in medication abortions, which can be attributed to the changing regulations that have made them more accessible. In the United States, medication abortions accounted for 63% of all abortions in the previous year, whereas in 2020, it was 53%. It is worth noting that on March 26, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case that challenges the usage of mifepristone, a medication commonly used in medical abortions. Many experts believe that the outcome of this case could potentially result in more restrictions being imposed.
Abortion protesters often gather outside Trust Women in Wichita, hoping to see abortion banned in Kansas, just as it has been in nearby states.
The state Legislature is currently considering strategies to decrease the number of abortions in the state. One proposal is to mandate that patients provide an explanation for their decision to terminate a pregnancy. Additionally, there is a push to allocate increased funding to maternity homes, adoption assistance organizations, and anti-abortion counseling centers within the state.
One of the centers, Choices Medical Clinic, is located next door to Trust Women. According to Gingrich-Gaylord, the clinic, along with others of its kind, employs deliberately misleading marketing techniques to attract women who have scheduled appointments for abortions to come to Trust Women instead.
According to the doctor, many patients are left feeling confused and deceived. He explains that when individuals from Texas, who are already in an unfamiliar environment and facing fear and stigma, arrive at the clinic, they are faced with a decision. On one hand, there is a clinic surrounded by a privacy fence, and on the other hand, there is a clinic that appears welcoming.
According to Gingrich-Gaylord, in the past, patients have selected Choices Medical and have been deceived into thinking that they are unable to obtain the abortion they sought in Wichita.
“They might inform you that you’ve already missed the appointment,” he explained. “They provide you with inaccurate ultrasound details, claiming that you’re either too early or too late, giving you a false sense of having more time… And now you find yourself in a completely different situation.”
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