History of Abortion Legislation in the United States

Abstract

In general, demand for abortion services has been consistent throughout U.S. history; what has varied throughout the centuries is a person's ability to access a safe abortion, free from persecution and prosecution. Recent U.S. history has demonstrated that making abortions illegal does not stop people from obtaining abortions. Furthermore, when discussing abortion access in the United States, a recurring theme in our history is how restriction of abortion and antiabortion legislation primarily affects the poorest and most-underprivileged members of U.S. society. This article examines the history of abortion legislation in the United States to promote better understanding of current antiabortion legislation and what these laws mean for patients and providers. (J GYNECOL SURG 2022:XXX)