DES Moines, Iowa — Within the first six weeks of the state’s near total abortion ban taking effect, the number of abortions in Iowa dropped nearly 38%.
New data from the Guttmacher Institute counted roughly 400 abortions a month in the first half of 2024, compared to just 250 in August after the ban took effect.
“We’re just overjoyed to hear that number of abortions in Iowa have declined,” Maggie Dewitte the executive director of Pulse Life Advocates said. “That’s exactly what the pro-life movement is hoping would be the result of enforcing our heartbeat law.”
While the number of abortions in Iowa may be going down, Planned Parenthood North Central States Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sarah Traxler said they’re still providing care to Iowans across state lines.
“Actually was in Nebraska this week providing care and many, many of the patients we saw in Nebraska are from Iowa,” Dr. Traxler said. “Most patients who are coming to Nebraska from Iowa aren’t coming from right across the border. They’re coming from really far away.”
Democrats have fought Iowa’s near six-week abortion ban from the beginning and don’t want to see Republicans raise any more restrictions during the 2025 legislative session.
“Republicans did not listen and instead they acted swiftly to remove freedom and take control away from families to determine their future,” State Rep. Lindsay James (D- Dubuque) said.
As for the GOP, State Rep. Steve Holt (R- Denison) said it’s great news to hear abortions are decreasing in the state but said it’s still too early to tell what’s next at the statehouse.
“We will be having another caucus in December to talk about the issues we think we need to move forward on, but I think it’s obvious going from 64 to 67 which is a supermajority in the House and expanding in the Senate, I think it’s very obvious that the Democrat’s focus on abortion and legalizing marijuana were not particularly great ideas.”
