Authors: Kelly Baden, Guttmacher Institute Candace Gibson, Guttmacher Institute Amy Friedrich-Karnik, Guttmacher Institute
As the United States contends with the consequences of the Dobbs decision and an emboldened opposition seeking to further dismantle sexual and reproductive rights and access, both providers and people seeking care face unprecedented threats. A growing, global anti-rights and anti-science climate buttressed by the spread of mis- and disinformation, is driving continued attempts to eliminate abortion access. Communities already harmed by unjust systems and policies are experiencing disproportionate impacts.
Rooted in the belief that sound policy starts with high-quality evidence, Guttmacher’s flagship research on abortion and contraception underscores the growing barriers to reproductive health care while pointing to policy solutions that can move us closer to reproductive health care access for all. This analysis draws on findings from leading Guttmacher research projects to identify recent trends in abortion and contraceptive access and offers policy recommendations informed by that evidence. While not exhaustive, these recommendations are intended to support advocates, communities, and policymakers working to advance rights-based, patient-centered approaches to sexual and reproductive health care in the United States. In a moment defined by entrenched inequities, rampant misinformation and political turbulence, the stakes for evidence-based policy have never been higher.
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Key takeaways from the Report:
- Changes in Abortion Provision Reflect a Complicated Legal Landscape
- Cost is a Major Barrier for People Seeking Abortion Care
- Young People Face Unique Challenges in Accessing Abortion
- Restrictions on Publicly Funded Reproductive Health Care Limit Access to Contraception
- Attacks on Reproductive Health Care Limit Access to Person-Centered Contraceptive Care
[Editor’s Note: This report is far too long to include in full but is worth checking out at this link: https://www.guttmacher.org/2025/11/act-evidence-policy-solutions-protect-and-advance-abortion-and-contraception-access-united]
SOURCE: Guttmacher, November 2025;