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Two years after the overturn of Roe v. Wade sent abortion back to the states, America is still seeing the aftereffects. Democrats continue to campaign on the issue, which remains top of mind for many voters.

As President Biden seeks reelection, he's committed to restoring Roe v. Wade, should he secure a second term in office. Though to truly follow through on this promise, the president will need enough congressional votes.

In 2024, ballot initiatives to codify abortion access are coming up in multiple states. Previous initiatives of this kind have seen Americans overwhelmingly vote in favor of legalized abortion, even in red states like Kansas.

Nevertheless, a new study from JAMA Open Network shines a light on the further impacts of state-level abortion restrictions.

Notable declines in birth control use

On Wednesday, the aforementioned study revealed in states with considerable abortion restrictions, the number of women using contraception has fallen. In the aftermath of overturning Roe v. Wade, the rate of birth control prescription fills dropped by 4% more than originally expected.

This decline follows not just daily contraception, but also emergency birth control, such as Ella and Plan B. Driving the drop in usage, according to JAMA, is confusion about the legality of contraceptions post-Roe.

Some people mistakenly believe the morning after pill or other forms of emergency contraception have become illegal. Just in January 2023, a study from KFF revealed almost 33% of residents in states with abortion restrictions were uncertain if they could lawfully access birth control.

Clearing the air about contraception in the United States

Despite the demise of Roe v. Wade, birth control remains legal in all 50 states across America. This includes not just hormonal contraception that women can ingest on a daily basis, but also Ella, Plan B, IUDs, etc.

Birth control is also now available for over-the-counter purchase. Thanks to Opill, women seeking contraception can easily find it at stores like Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart. Opill birth control likewise remains available for purchase on the Opill.com website and on Amazon.

These pills boast a 98% effectiveness rate, are FDA-approved, and accessible without needing any kind of prescription.