Abortion Rate Just Hit an All-Time Low

What caused the drop - better contraceptives, more careful couples, or tighter abortion laws?

The abortion rate has fallen to an all-time low after dropping 5 percent in a single year, 2009 (the most recent year for which we have data), according to the CDC.

Why the drop? A few factors might contribute. The numbers suggest that fewer women are getting pregnant unintentionally, which could be down to the wider use of more effective contraceptives, including hormone implants and IUDs - methods that allow less room for user error.

New laws restricting abortions in Republican-controlled states may also play a role.

Some economists have speculated that the recession has reduced unintended pregnancies, because families are more careful with contraception in tough economic times. But that idea is debunked by statistics, which show that recessions usually lead to more abortions: a 1% rise in the unemployment rate is correlated with a threefold rise in the abortion rate.

Via Sarah Kliff, the Washington Post, and the CDC.

Why do you think the abortion rate has dropped?

[martydotcom]

Unplanned pregnancies are just that, unplanned, not a function of hard economic times. Credit must be given to education, availability and improved BC techniques such as implants which are not dependent upon remembering to take a pill

[Fishbone345]

It always puzzles me how proven techniques to help awareness, give options, and help planning of families gets shunned by the people that it would do the most for. Methods to aid in lowering pregnancies have an effect on Abortion, that's a no brainer and anyone arguing it is a moron.

[crusader]

@Fishbone345 I am personally against abortion but support birth control. Many think of abortions as birth control though. Education and responsibility may eventually make the abortion debate nearly obselete as the desire for abortions greatly decreases, which would be a good thing.

[Fishbone345]

@crusader That was my point. ;)
The end goal being abortions reduced. The way to do that is via education, family planning and encouragement of contraception use and birth control.
The problem is, so many who feel like you do about abortion, don't feel like you do about birth control. They put forth abstinence as the only tried and true method. And that's just not supported by fact or stats.

[ST_Louie_Sue]

@Fishbone345 Abstinence IS the only tried and true method of 100% fool proof birth control. And menopause.

[jamie91]

@ST_Louie_Sue abstinence is unrealistic, which is why education in birth control is needed

[Dan_Tien]

I think that it is just another example of the usual ebb and flow of all human activities.

[Fishbone345]

Good point.

[FFX_VA]

Just what activities are you referring to? ;)

[MRMacrum]

During the great NY black out some years ago, there was a serious spike in the local birthrate 9 months later.

[MRMacrum]

Why do I think the Abortion rate dropped? Gosh could it be because less women are getting pregnant? The birth rate does not seem to be climbing. Matter of fact it is lower now also. So I guess the drop cannot be because more women are deciding to carry to term. More are just preventing pregnancy in the first place.

[martydotcom]

A piercing glimpse into the obvious. With fewer abortions and plunging birth rates we will soon be like Japan where adult diapers out sell infant diapers

[stepped_in_it]

@martydotcom Hey, I resemble that remark......LOL!

[marine1]

@martydotcom with a plate full of left overs,i did not eed that tid bit of information, thank you very much.

[Fishbone345]

Seems like both sides of this issue would be happy with the effects that easy access contraceptives and birth control would produce. A truly bi-partisan outcome. So why does one side insist on labeling people "whorish" and dividing by those type of actions?

[Denizen_Kate]

Some folks think that having a good time or feeling good now and then is a sin. Sometimes its because they aren't getting any, so they want to attach negative labels to those who are.

[Rocker]

@Denizen_Kate - Might be because that character Dr. DeJarlais in TN got married and stopped fooling around. lol

[DARSB]

Cheap, easily available contraception (including Plan B) obviously helps reduce abortion rates. It's worth considering whether the demise of the "abstinence only" fad might have helped.

[Fishbone345]

That "fad" is alive and well in some areas of the country. Any coincidence that those areas are also the areas in which teen pregnancy rates are the highest?

[DARSB]

@Fishbone345 I've seen some data that indicates the real problem with abstinence-only is in the recognition and treatment of STDs. Teens report they believe oral and anal sex not only avoid pregnancy but also syphilis, gonorrhea, HPV...

[martydotcom]

too bad Neo's enlightened views aren't available

[DARSB]

@martydotcom he's like Beetlejuice - you have to say his name 3 times. ;)

[Fishbone345]

@DARSB Or Biggie Smalls if you watch South Park. ;)
Its truly sad how naive the beliefs of Teens about sex are. And the blame goes squarely on the parents for lack of education about the topic.

[mudzangandoro]

introduction of new contraceptive methods. these prevention methods seem to be working and might just continue to decrease involuntary pregnancies.

[tomincali]

maybe far too many seen this video and took it to heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[SueLani]

One reasonable explanation not mentioned is the changing attitudes towards abortion. The next generation publishes first trimester sonograms on Facebook as baby's first photograph and names the baby in utero. There is a growing understanding among young women (and young men) that life starts at conception. Abortion isn't even an option.

[woodtick57]

Then birth rates would be up. I see a flaw in your reasoning...

[wild_turkey6]

I'm not discounting your views on that, but birth rates are also lower. Fewer abortions, and fewer births means fewer pregnancies. Here is a quote from the Washington Post article.
"No research has found a causal relationship yet. What we know is a correlation: At the same time the abortion rate took a big drop, use of more effective contraceptives had recently increased. That seems like it could be one factor explaining why the abortion rate recently dropped, after years of holding steady."

[SueLani]

Like most human activities, it's complicated. My point is that in addition to better birth control or fewer pregnancies or fewer accidental pregnancies, changing attitudes towards abortion make a difference. This difference may show up in the statistics in two ways - fewer accidental pregnancies by greater commitment to managing effective birth control and fewer terminated pregnancies, both as a result of increased respect for life from its inception.

[Denizen_Kate]

@SueLani - Yes, it is complicated. In another recent report, teen pregnancies are at a 20 year low as well, so either teen girls and boys are not having as much sex (doubtful) or sex education and availability of condoms and other contraceptives are working well with youth. Also, we can thank the work of organizations like Planned Parenthood for these drops in both teen pregnancies and the abortion rate.

[SueLani]

It would be be error to automatically assume that teen boys and girls are not having less sex. There has been a significant decline in rates of teen sexual activity among black teenagers ( http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/... ) and attitude changes continue to move the pendulum.

[woodtick57]

Must be women's bodies "shutting that whole thing down..."

[ACTSmom]

Fewer pregnancies...and abortions dropped 5%. That's a good start, but 18% of pregnancies still end in abortion. I'm happy to read there are fewer teen pregnancies and abortions...maybe they're getting smarter and realizing that neither giving birth nor abortion is easy.

[martydotcom]

Can one imply from your statement you are in favor of making birth control available to all who request it?

[woodtick57]

@martydotcom And proper education about its use and sexual practices in general?

[DARSB]

@woodtick57 Actual information? Now you're getting out of hand. We live in a time when a presumptive Republican candidate for President in 2016 thinks the age of our planet is for theologians, not geologists, to determine.

[woodtick57]

@DARSB
yeah, me and my silly facts...

i shall flog myself to appease the righteous...

[DARSB]

@woodtick57 careful with that flogging. Blindness, extraneous hair, and all that.

[PoliticalSpice]

Well, clearly,since Obama is responsible for everything, his moral leadership is the reason abortions have dropped, that and his emphasis on responsibilty which had increased attention to birth control. Looking forward to widespread agreement on this post...

[nolefties]

I would favor the latter, people don't want more kids when the economy is bad.

[PoliticalSpice]

@ nolefties
Are you saying women don't have sex when the economy is bad, or an Atkin notion, that a woman who legitimatelly doesn't want kids won't get pregnant?

[UScentral]

We might all be too damned tired (and angry, and overworked, and stressed out) to have sex.

[woodtick57]

No. no we're not!

[KyleMFb]

Maybe bc sex Ed or easier to get contraception it's defiantly not bc people are sustaining from sex bc girls are sluts theses days

[jamie91]

So who are these "sluts" having sex with? Virginal boys?

[jamie91]

@KyleMFb I think it is good the women are getting more of a traditionally male view of casual sex. To virgins everywhere: thanks for nothing.

[Graydog]

Thank you Planned Parenthood.

[Jack-Black]

Why have an abortion when nanny goverment will pay extra for every kid that pops out ?

[Keyjo]

Jack, you're a "rock and a hard place,"
A "Catch 22."
Damned if they do, Damned if they don't.
Typical neo-con, " You don't contracept, you don't abort, have the kid without support!"

[NormalFlora]

Better, easier, more reliable birth control.

[twinertia]

Nice to see that technology is having such a widespread, worthwhile effect. Medical abortion will eventually make this topic go the way of the dodo.

[Keyjo]

Better, more informative education, despite Republicans.
Better contraceptive methods, despite Christian fundies.
And MTV which airs that program about teenage Mothers.
(It comes on right after "Teen Wolf,"
Wooooooooo........:.