June 24 marks the fourth anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to determine the legality of abortion.
Abortion is legal in Wisconsin, but highly restricted by state laws. These non-evidence-based restrictions make it hard or impossible for people to get abortion care, causing harmful outcomes.
Abortion care is available at one clinic in Madison, three in Milwaukee, and one in Sheboygan (medication abortion only). Ninety-six percent of Wisconsin counties lack abortion clinics, so many people must travel long distances for care.
Wisconsin law requires two in-person visits, at least 24 hours apart, for what could be a single in-person or virtual visit. State law also bans telehealth for medication abortion care, despite extensive evidence of its safety and effectiveness. In recent years, Wisconsinites have placed thousands of orders for abortion pills online from out-of-state clinicians operating under shield laws.
Four years after Dobbs, abortion care is available in Wisconsin, but restrictions limit access.
Legal, logistical, and financial barriers to abortion care block access for some Wisconsinites, especially those already marginalized or with fewer resources. CORE research with pregnant Wisconsinites who considered ending their pregnancies after Dobbs found that some people, especially those facing economic scarcity and other structural challenges, could not get abortions and had to carry pregnancies to term.
Other recent CORE research links post-Dobbs abortion restrictions to more intimate partner violence and increased referrals to child protective services, and documents how healthcare institutions play a major but overlooked role in shaping pregnancy-related care.
CORE’s findings and broader research show that abortion restrictions and denied abortion care undermine reproductive autonomy and harm pregnant Wisconsinites’ ability to work, care for family, remain housed, and be healthy and well.
CORE will continue to monitor political and judicial actions affecting reproductive autonomy (including a recent court ruling that threatens medication abortion access nationwide) and will produce and share research to support evidence-based policy.