Five-Year Trends in Medication Abortion: A View from Planned Parenthood

Objectives: National estimates demonstrate that while abortions are declining in the U.S., the proportion of medication abortions is increasing. The Guttmacher Institute’s abortion provider census found that 23% of non-hospital abortions in 2011 were medication abortions; when looking only at abortions performed within nine weeks’ gestation, the proportion is higher. Our objective was to analyze five-year trends in medication abortions performed at Planned Parenthood health centers and to compare these to national trends.

Methods: We analyzed de-identified, aggregate client visit data from 2009–2013 from Planned Parenthood affiliates operating approximately 700 health centers. We assessed trends in abortion method type and geographic region.

Results: In 2009, medication abortions accounted for 35% of all first trimester abortions performed at Planned Parenthood. This percentage has increased steadily to 44% in 2013. On average, in 2013, medication abortion accounted for the largest share of all first trimester abortions among health centers located in the South when compared to other regions, and the smallest share among centers in the Midwest. In Ohio — where restrictive laws require four visits to access medication abortion with a 7-week gestational limit — only 8% of abortions performed were medication.

Conclusions: Medication abortion appears to be more common at Planned Parenthood health centers than among U.S. providers overall, though this varies by affiliate.  While Planned Parenthood provides a significant share of abortions nationwide, these findings are limited to our health centers and do not represent all abortions or other types of providers. Nevertheless, the findings are consistent with national trends.