Houston OB-GYN Dr. Hillary Boswell has observed an increase in teenage girls carrying their pregnancies to term following abortion bans implemented in Texas. In September 2021, Texas prohibited abortions after six weeks, and in June 2022, a total abortion ban was enacted after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Studies have shown a slight increase in teen fertility rates in Texas, with significant changes among Hispanic and Black teens.
Experts fear that the trend of declining teen births in the U.S. may be in jeopardy as more states implement abortion restrictions. Access to contraception and abortion medication is becoming harder for teens, particularly with the potential reversal of FDA policies and the classification of abortion medications as controlled substances in some states.
Teenage motherhood can have negative impacts on education, financial prospects, and health, with racial disparities being a significant factor. Organizations advocating for reproductive rights stress the importance of providing teens with access to safe and legal abortion care. Abortion opponents argue that teen pregnancies and births are preferable to abortions, citing programs to support teen parents in raising their children.
Source
Photo credit northdakotamonitor.com
