What the Overturn of Roe v. Wade Means for You

On February 16, 2025 By newsroom Topic: Health And Fitness Skills

The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade removes federal protections for abortion, leaving the legality of abortion up to individual states. This impacts millions of Americans’ access to reproductive healthcare. Here’s what you need to know:

Where Abortion Is Immediately Illegal

13 states with "trigger laws" have already banned or severely limited abortion: Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.

States Likely to Ban Abortion Soon

Pre-Roe bans or restrictive laws exist in states like Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
States such as Florida, Indiana, Montana, and Nebraska may introduce bans soon.

States Where Abortion Remains Legal

Likely to protect or expand abortion access: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Washington, D.C.
Legal chaos may arise in states like Florida and Iowa, where future restrictions are possible.

Crossing State Lines for Abortion

Currently, no state prohibits traveling for an abortion.
Future laws might try to criminalize assisting someone crossing state lines for abortion services, as proposed in Missouri earlier this year.

Medication Abortion (Abortion Pill)

What it is: A combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, effective up to 11 weeks of pregnancy.
Telehealth access for abortion pills is banned or restricted in about 18 states.
In states banning abortion, all types—including medication—may soon be illegal.

Plan B vs. the Abortion Pill

Plan B (emergency contraception): Prevents pregnancy within 72 hours after unprotected sex.
It remains legal, but some states allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense it due to personal beliefs.

Privacy and Abortion

Conversations With Healthcare Providers

Protected under HIPAA, but healthcare providers may report suspected illegal activity, such as self-managed abortions.

Web Searches, Emails, and Texts

Not private. Search engines, apps, and communication platforms can share your data with third parties.

Period-Tracking Apps

Most apps store data in the cloud and may share it with advertisers.
Privacy-protecting options include Drip, Euki, and Periodical.

How to Protect Yourself

Use encrypted messaging apps like Signal for sensitive conversations.
Conduct abortion-related searches in private browsing mode or use a VPN.
Choose apps with strong privacy policies for tracking menstrual cycles.

Summing it up

Your access to abortion and related healthcare depends on where you live.
Be cautious about digital footprints and choose privacy-protecting tools.
Seek local advocacy groups for support and up-to-date legal information.

Stay informed and safe during this period of significant legal changes.