In a recent release by the Society of Family Planning, new abortion estimates from their #WeCount project have been made public, suggesting that from July to September 2023, there were approximately 81,000 to 89,000 abortions each month in the U.S. This report, quickly seized upon by mainstream media outlets like the Associated Press and the Hill, presents these figures as largely unchanged from the monthly abortion totals before the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision. However, a closer examination reveals methodological flaws that question the accuracy and presentation of these findings.
First of all, the #WeCount project’s approach to comparing post-Dobbs abortion data with pre-Dobbs figures is fundamentally flawed. By only estimating abortions for two months prior to the Dobbs ruling, the project bases its comparisons on an alarmingly small sample size. Additionally, considering that Texas and Oklahoma were already enforcing stringent pro-life laws before Dobbs, the pre-Dobbs abortion estimates are skewed lower, making any post-Dobbs decline seem less significant.
An intriguing aspect of the #WeCount report is its estimates on telehealth abortions, which it claims accounted for about 16 percent of all U.S. abortions between July and September 2023. While there may be reasons to scrutinize these figures, the health risks associated with medically unsupervised chemical abortions are well-documented. The notion that over 10,000 chemical abortions could be occurring monthly in the U.S. without direct medical oversight is deeply troubling.
Curiously, the media’s coverage of the new #WeCount estimates overlooks significant research indicating that recent pro-life laws have had a life-saving impact. Four studies, including one from the Lozier Institute, a piece in the Journal of the American Medical Association, research from the University of Houston, and a study by the Institute for Labor Economics, all present strong statistical evidence that pro-life laws, such as the Texas Heartbeat Act, have led to a significant increase in births. These studies collectively suggest that in Texas alone, approximately 1,000 more children are being born each month due to the state’s pro-life legislation. Furthermore, examining birth data from the first six months of 2023 shows higher birth rates in 13 states enforcing strong pro-life laws compared to 25 states where abortion remained legal.
Despite how the mainstream media might spin these latest abortion figures, the evidence is clear: recent pro-life laws are having a tangible impact, preventing abortions and saving lives. The #WeCount project’s methodological shortcomings and the media’s selective reporting should not distract from the profound effect these life-affirming laws are having across the nation.
