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Post-Dobbs case studies: Stories from Wisconsinites who considered abortion when it was unavailable

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This report contains nine case studies of Wisconsinites whom we interviewed in the year after the U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and made abortion care unavailable in our state. Our main purpose is to describe the lived experience of pregnant Wisconsinites who wished to be able to access abortion care when it was unavailable and/or heavily restricted.

File: CORE-case-studies-from-post-Dobbs-Wisconsinites_December-2024.pdf

Press Release: Reddit yields new information about how people make personal decisions about abortion—and how the internet shapes their decisions

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Press Release: Reddit yields new information about how people make personal decisions about abortion—and how the internet shapes their decisions (6/30/2021)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2021
CORE: The Collaborative for Reproductive Equity
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Contact: Samantha Herndon
smherndon@wisc.edu

608-285-2364

Press Release: Reddit yields new information about how people make personal decisions about abortion—and how the internet shapes their decisions

A new article published by a team of researchers at the UW-Madison Collaborative for Reproductive Equity (CORE) innovatively studied Reddit users to cast a revealing light on the barriers facing people as they choose whether to have an in-clinic abortion or a pill abortion at home. The study, published in the prestigious American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, studied Reddit users’ posts about their abortion experiences, revealing four key themes:

  • Structural Barriers, such as concerns about cost and transportation;
  • Emotional Experiences, such as desiring the support of the clinic staff in cases where a pregnant person did not have family or friend support;
  • Pregnancy Profiles, such as when someone has an underlying medical condition;
  • Process-Specific Concerns, such as the length of the appointment.

CORE Researchers Laura Jacques, MD, Emma Carpenter, PhD, Taryn Valley, MA, Barbara Alvarez, MS, and Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH turned to Reddit to better understand how pregnant people who want an abortion decide what type of abortion care to choose. Reddit, a website used by nearly a quarter of US-based young adults, with over two million user-created message boards, provides a unique source of information. Online anonymity may make the internet appealing for those seeking abortion information, and anonymity is a key feature of Reddit.

Barring specific medical reasons in the first trimester, people can select the abortion method that feels most comfortable to them. An in-clinic abortion involves a brief procedure and is often performed in outpatient clinics. A pill abortion can be accomplished in people’s own home, but in many states, including Wisconsin, patients are required to make one or more visits to a clinic to obtain medications and/or follow-up care. Some Reddit users expressed a preference for being in a health clinic setting with professional providers present, while others wanted the privacy of their own homes.

The novel use of social media as a source of information about patient decision making offers a unique opportunity for researchers to capture the thoughts and experiences of people who have not yet or may never make it to a clinic. The study presents a new source of data for researchers going forward that can inform abortion policy, information, and provision of care.

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The Collaborative for Reproductive Equity (CORE) is an initiative within the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. CORE investigators conduct rigorous, interdisciplinary research focused on reproductive health, equity, and autonomy in Wisconsin, and beyond. Visit core.wisc.edu to learn more about our research.

Press Release: UW CORE Study Highlights Physicians’ Attitudes Toward Abortion; Research Brief Reveals Majority Support for Abortion Access

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New press release shares information from a CORE research brief. The study surveyed over 900 physicians, and found that many are concerned about abortion policies interfering in healthcare.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 17, 2021

CORE: The Collaborative for Reproductive Equity
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Contact: Samantha Herndon
smherndon@wisc.edu

608-285-2364

UW CORE Study Highlights Physicians’ Attitudes Toward Abortion: Research Brief Reveals Majority Support for Abortion Access

A new study by UW-Madison researchers documents overwhelming support of abortion services among faculty physicians at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, with more than three-quarters of doctors expressing support for abortion access and more than nine in ten expressing concern about abortion restrictions. CORE, the UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity, shares these findings in the research brief “Physician Support of Unrestricted Abortion Services in Wisconsin.”

The new research is part of a larger project that assessed abortion-related attitudes, practices, and perceptions among physicians of all specialties within a Wisconsin-based teaching hospital. The researchers surveyed 913 physicians who represent more than 20 medical specialties. The survey results showed:

  • More than three-quarters of physicians surveyed reported at least some degree of support for unrestricted access to abortion (78% said they support unrestricted abortion access somewhat or a lot).
  • 99% were at least a little concerned about legislation interfering in the doctor-patient relationship, and nearly half (48%) were extremely concerned.
  • Most doctors expressed at least some level of concern that abortion laws will make it difficult for physicians to offer timely and appropriate care (93%) and for patients to receive the care they need (91%).
  • Nine in ten doctors (90%) surveyed indicated that women’s health in Wisconsin would get worse if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

These findings underscore substantial physician concern that Wisconsin abortion restrictions can negatively affect patient care, the patient–provider relationship, and patients’ health.

CORE’s research suggests that Wisconsin’s abortion restrictions, which include (but are not limited to) a mandatory 24-hour waiting period, multiple clinically unnecessary constraints on medication abortion services, and the criminalization of abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, are not in line with physician’s professional perspectives. While doctors’ personal beliefs vary, the majority of doctors surveyed report that current abortion restrictions worsen patient care and that women’s health will decline further if abortion becomes illegal in our state.

 

UW CORE is an initiative within the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. CORE investigators conduct rigorous, interdisciplinary research focused on reproductive health, equity, and autonomy in Wisconsin, and beyond.

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Removing family planning organizations from Medicaid would harm tens of thousands of Wisconsinites

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This brief outlines evidence of the likely impact of a proposed federal policy to prohibit family planning clinics that provide abortion care from participating in the Medicaid program.

File: Removing-family-planning-orgs-from-Medicaid_June-2025.pdf

This brief outlines evidence of the likely impact of a proposed federal policy to prohibit family planning clinics that provide abortion care from participating in the Medicaid program.

Why it matters: This policy could severely limit access to essential healthcare services for tens of thousands of Wisconsinites, including access to birth control, cancer screenings, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment. Contraceptive deserts and health inequities would increase.