The real-life impact of abortion denials, backed by data

Abortion isn’t just a political issue. It’s a deeply personal one with measurable, lasting consequences. Nearly half of all abortions globally are unsafe, sending an estimated 7 million women in developing countries to hospitals every year for complications that could have been prevented with timely, legal care.

In the post‑Dobbs United States, the stakes are no less stark. One year after Roe v. Wade was overturned, 41.8% of women of reproductive age had to drive at least 30 minutes to reach a clinic, and nearly one in four lacked access within 90 minutes. These structural barriers are forcing thousands to cross state lines just to obtain basic reproductive care.

The Turnaway Study, a decade-long multi-site research project in the U.S., confirms what global health data have long suggested: abortion denials aren’t harmless policy—they actively harm women and families. Here’s how.

Denial of Abortion Worsens Health and Survival Odds

Being denied a wanted abortion has real, measurable health consequences. Research from the Turnaway Study found that women denied abortions experienced worse physical and mental health compared with those who received one.

Globally, unsafe abortions spike where legal access is limited, leading to severe complications and higher maternal death rates. WHO data show that maternal deaths from unsafe procedures can exceed 200 per 100,000 births in some regions, compared with fewer than 1 per 100,000 for safe abortions.

Abortion bans don’t save lives. They shift risk from safe medical care to dangerous workarounds.

Maternal Mortality and Pregnancy Complications Rise with Restrictions

Restrictions increase the odds of serious pregnancy complications. The U.S., which already has a maternal death rate of 23.8 per 100,000 live births, shows higher risks in states with restrictive policies.

Analyses of TRAP laws, which impose strict regulations on abortion providers, indicate that hypertensive disorders during pregnancy rise by 11–16%, and disparities in low birth weight and prematurity between Black and white infants increase by 3–6%.

These laws don’t just regulate clinics. They actively create dangerous environments where forced pregnancies contribute to preventable illness and death, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.

Abortion Denials Trap People in “Maternity Care Deserts”

Many Americans live far from safe reproductive care. A 2023 geospatial analysis found that about 41.4% of women (roughly 30.8 million) do not have an abortion clinic within a 30-minute drive, and nearly one in four cannot reach one within 90 minutes.

When combined with areas lacking adequate maternity services, more than half of women of reproductive age effectively lack timely, safe reproductive care. Boston Children’s Hospital estimates that 1.7 million U.S. women live in counties with neither abortion nor full maternity services.

Being forced to carry a pregnancy in these “care deserts” often means risking health, financial stability, and personal safety simply because geography and policy collide.

Economic Fallout: Poverty, Debt, and Lost Earnings

Abortion restrictions come with a steep economic cost. U.S. research estimates the annual economic impact at $173 billion, driven by lost earnings, interrupted education, and reduced productivity. At the individual level, women denied abortions face an 80% higher chance of bankruptcies, evictions, and tax liens.

For young Black women, abortion access can mean $23,000–$28,000 higher annual earnings and $48,000–$52,000 higher family income. Forced birth isn’t just a personal issue; it’s systemic financial pressure amplified for marginalized groups.

Derailed Education and Career Paths

Long-term studies show that abortion access supports educational attainment and career advancement. The Turnaway Study shows that even a single-year delay in motherhood can significantly increase lifetime earnings, with a documented 11% wage advantage for women who delayed parenthood through abortion access.

Denying abortions often results in drop-outs or stalled careers, creating a cascading effect on income, professional development, and life trajectory. Abortion denials, therefore, don’t just affect health. They shape educational achievements, workplace participation, and long-term economic independence.

Increased Exposure to Abusive Partners

Carrying an unwanted pregnancy often means remaining tethered to dangerous partners. Turnaway Study data show that women denied abortions were more likely to stay in contact with abusive partners, legally and emotionally bound by the pregnancy.

This prolongs exposure to violence, financial control, and psychological harm, demonstrating that abortion denial is not just a policy; it’s a direct safety threat for many survivors.

Mental Health: Denial Is More Harmful Than the Procedure

Contrary to common misconceptions, abortion itself does not increase the risk of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. In fact, research shows that denial of abortion is the more significant risk factor for negative mental health outcomes.

Women forced to carry pregnancies report higher anxiety, lower life satisfaction, and reduced self-esteem immediately after being denied care. While some emotional recovery occurs over the years, the initial impact is measurable and significant.

Abortion denial, not abortion itself, is the event that triggers lasting stress and emotional strain.

Effects Ripple to Existing and Future Children

The impact extends beyond the parent. Studies show that children born when abortion is denied are more likely to live in poverty, face housing instability, and have limited access to educational opportunities. Conversely, families with timely access to abortion resources see children with better outcomes in schooling and long-term economic stability.

This demonstrates that abortion access is a multi-generational issue: the impacts of denial echo through households and influence the life chances of existing and future children, compounding socioeconomic inequities over time.

Unsafe Abortions and Medical Complications

Where abortion access is restricted, unsafe procedures become more common and dangerous. The WHO reports that 45% of abortions globally are unsafe, with some regions reaching a rate of three out of four procedures under high-risk conditions.

Complications from unsafe abortions account for millions of hospitalizations annually, costing health systems hundreds of millions of dollars in treatment and lost household income.

Unsafe abortion is a preventable health crisis, demonstrating the tangible risks that arise when legal and safe options are removed.

Health Systems and Local Economies Absorb the Downstream Costs

Abortion denials ripple across health care and local economies. Emergency care, ICU stays, and long-term complication management strain hospitals and providers, while lost workforce participation reduces productivity and economic growth. In developing countries alone, unsafe abortion complications cost over $500 million annually.

In the U.S., these policy-driven barriers contribute to a $173 billion annual economic loss, showing that the societal price of abortion restrictions far exceeds individual consequences. The burden on systems and communities is a critical, often overlooked part of the story.

Geographic Inequity: Who Is Forced to Travel, Wait, or Give Up

Access to abortion is uneven across states and regions. After recent bans, two in five women must travel more than 30 minutes, and one in four travel over 90 minutes for care, creating financial, logistical, and childcare barriers.

Rural residents, low-income individuals, and people of color are disproportionately affected. These inequities often leave women with no viable options except to carry unwanted pregnancies or seek unsafe alternatives, demonstrating how reproductive restrictions function as both a social and geographic lottery.

Key Data Points to Know

• 80% increase in bankruptcies, evictions, and tax liens among women denied abortions.
• $173 billion annual economic cost from U.S. abortion restrictions.
• 41% of American women lack a clinic within 30 minutes; 25% lack one within 90 minutes.
• 45% of global abortions are unsafe; in some regions, 3 out of 4 are high-risk.
• 8% of maternal deaths globally are linked to abortion complications.
• 11–16% increase in hypertensive disorders in pregnancy under restrictive laws.

Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.

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