Plan B Use Plunges in US States That Enacted Abortion Bans

Use of prescription emergency contraception, also known as Plan B, fell by 60% in US states that implemented near-total abortion bans almost immediately after the Dobbs decision, due in part to clinic closures and misinformation.

The findings, published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open, add to concerns about abortion bans limiting a wide range of reproductive care. Levels held steady in states with moderate restrictions.

“It’s concerning in terms of protecting emergency contraceptive access for women who need it to prevent pregnancy and prevent the need for abortion,” said Dima Qato, the lead author on the study and the director for ...