The Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned the federal right to abortion established by Roe v. Wade five decades ago. The legality of abortion access is now determined by each state. Here in Wisconsin, a pre-Roe abortion ban from 1849 makes performing an abortion a felony—even in the case of rape, incest, and/or health risks to the pregnant person.
The Wisconsin Attorney General has filed a lawsuit asking the court to rule whether the 1849 law is enforceable. In the meantime, Wisconsin’s abortion clinics no longer provide abortion services. Some clinics offer pre-abortion and post-abortion care.
Learn more about what this means for Wisconsin by reading CORE's briefs, research, and resources linked below.
What the overturning of Roe v. Wade means for Wisconsin
CORE briefs and fact sheets:
- What it costs Wisconsinites to obtain abortion care in the post-Roe landscape (related infographic)
- Post-Dobbs changes in abortion access in Wisconsin and nationally
- Recent changes in medication abortion access
- Self-managed abortion
- Contraception is not abortion
- Medical student education on abortion: The current landscape
- Roe v. Wade’s fall: Consequences for Wisconsin
Without Roe, options are limited.
CORE’s research brief indicates that in this post-Roe period, Wisconsinites will either:
- Travel out of state to access care in Illinois, Minnesota, or elsewhere
- Self-manage their abortions, many accessing medication abortion pills online through providers such as Aid Access, Just the Pill, or Plan C
- Access abortion care in Wisconsin in cases of medical emergencies
- Carry pregnancies to term despite their intentions
"Abortion care is an essential component of comprehensive reproductive health care. Lack of access to abortion care will have a profound, lasting impact on the health of individuals, families and communities across Wisconsin."
UW–Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Interim Chair Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS
Statements and updates from CORE, our department, and professional organizations:
- CORE update on April 2023 mifepristone rulings
- UW-Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology response to Dobbs Supreme Court decision
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Abortion Is Essential
- Joint statement from Maternal Health Specialists on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
CORE is committed to continuing to work toward our mission.
We conduct and share rigorous, interdisciplinary research to inform policies and programs so that all Wisconsin residents and families may live with reproductive autonomy — able to make decisions about their reproductive health and access needed services without interference or coercion.