For the reason that overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, reproductive well being care has been fraught with rigidity. This previous yr was no totally different, with some states introducing complete bans on abortion, whereas others took measures to guard reproductive rights.

MedCity Information contacted advocacy teams Guttmacher Institute And Nationwide Affiliation for Household Planning and Reproductive Well being (NFPRHA) to know what they contemplate the wins and losses of 2023 in the case of reproductive well being, and what exercise they anticipate to see in 2024.

Their wins for 2023:

This yr noticed the second-highest variety of abortion protections enacted, in line with Kimya Forouzan, chief coverage officer for state points on the Guttmacher Institute. This exhibits that “policymakers proceed to spend money on defending and increasing entry to abortion.” Guttmacher knowledge additionally exhibits that abortion charges are elevated within the states the place healthcare remained authorized after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, in comparison with 2020. That is very true within the contiguous states the place restrictions on healthcare exist.

“The aim of abortion coverage ought to be to help these in search of care, and thru a mixture of proactive insurance policies and the great efforts of suppliers and abortion funds, it’s a victory when everybody has entry to abortion care and may make selections about their physique and future,” Forouzan mentioned.

Forouzan added that six states — Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon and Ohio — have taken steps to legally defend contraception. Moreover, Oregon, Vermont, and Massachusetts have expanded protection or funding for gender-affirming care.

For Kim Diaz Scott, vice chairman of coverage and communications at NFPRHA, says a serious victory is the reintroduction of the Proper to Contraception Act. This invoice would “the precise to acquire and voluntarily use contraception in federal legislation and affirm the precise for household planning suppliers to help their sufferers with the contraceptive care and schooling they want with out political or authorized interference.”

One other massive win is for the Meals and Drug Administration approval from Opill, de first over-the-counter contraception capsule within the U.S., Diaz Scott mentioned.

“This resolution will convey a transformative change in entry to contraception and reproductive well being and can assist cut back limitations for individuals of all ages who want simpler non-prescription contraceptive choices,” mentioned Diaz Scott. “Whereas this was groundbreaking progress, we should additionally be sure that Opill is reasonably priced and totally insured in order that it’s obtainable to everybody who wants it.”

Their losses for 2023:

Fourteen states have complete bans on abortion “with very restricted exceptions,” and two of those complete bans went into impact this yr, in line with Forouzan. Because of this almost 18 million girls of childbearing age – in addition to trans and non-binary individuals – shouldn’t have entry to abortion care of their state. As well as, seven states “limiting care to gestational limits, which might have been blatantly unconstitutional below Roe,” Forouzan mentioned. Three of those restrictions will come into impact in 2023.

“Anybody denied entry to abortion of their state is pressured to both overcome the big logistical and monetary hurdles of touring out of state, arranging an abortion themselves, or carrying an undesirable being pregnant to time period – three situations that both most troublesome or entail probably the most dangers. the best affect on these marginalized by financial insecurity and structural racism,” Forouzan mentioned.

She added that laws to restrict or ban gender-affirming care has “elevated dramatically this yr,” with 19 states passing 20 bans this yr out of a complete of twenty-two bans ever handed.

In accordance with Diaz Scott, one other main loss is that as a result of Congress didn’t safe extra funding for Title X, household planning suppliers are unable to fulfill the demand for his or her companies. Title X ensures entry to household planning and reproductive well being care companies, particularly for low-income individuals.

“Extremely certified, Title “These actions restrict entry to look after individuals who depend on this program for his or her care.”

Their expectations for 2024:

Each Forouzan and Diaz Scott mentioned they anticipate additional challenges in 2024. Forouzan, for instance, mentioned she expects a rise in legal guidelines limiting interstate journey for abortions. Diaz Scott added that there was “a rise in false claims about contraception that reject the science of contraceptive strategies and undermine their security and efficacy.”

“The fact is {that a} rising variety of states are trying to restrict entry to contraception – by defining abortion as emergency contraception and funding IUDs, cuts to household planning, parental consent mandates and extra,” Diaz Scott acknowledged. “With this looming risk, we should take each alternative to proceed defending and increasing entry to contraception.”

Nevertheless, some efforts will likely be made to guard reproductive well being, Forouzan famous. Within the 2024 elections, Maryland and New York have measures on the poll to enhance reproductive well being protections.

Picture: Fokusiert, Getty Photographs