A study released by the National Bureau of Economic Research indicates that individuals in states with strict anti-abortion laws are engaging in less risky sexual behavior. The research highlights a significant increase in over-the-counter contraceptive purchases and a notable decrease in gonorrhea rates in 13 states that enacted near-total abortion bans following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
The study utilized condom purchases as a measure of protected sex and gonorrhea rates as an indicator of unprotected sex, comparing data from states with and without abortion bans. Caitlin Myers, an economist at Middlebury College and one of the study's authors, stated that these findings provide a new perspective on the impact of abortion restrictions, contrasting with previous research that suggested state differences in abortion access did not significantly influence sexual behavior.
Post-Dobbs, condom purchases rose by 5.4% in states with near-total abortion prohibitions, while gonorrhea infections decreased by 21% in those states compared to states with more permissive abortion laws. Myers noted that while safer sex practices have increased, this does not eliminate the demand for abortion, as unintended pregnancies can still occur. The study also emphasizes that the increase in condom sales may lead to fewer unintended pregnancies but does not completely remove the need for abortion services.
The research indicates that awareness of state-specific abortion laws has increased following the Dobbs decision, influencing individuals' decisions regarding sexual health. However, it also acknowledges that the overall trend in abortion rates remains upward, with data from the Guttmacher Institute showing an estimated 1.1 million abortions nationally in 2025, a slight increase from the previous year. This rise is attributed in part to the availability of telemedicine for accessing abortion pills across state lines.