Question: What is the association between the US Supreme Court’s July 2022 Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision and fills for oral and emergency contraceptives?
Findings: In this cohort study of over 143 million prescriptions dispensed at US retail pharmacies from March 2021 through October 2023, the Dobbs decision was associated with declines in fills for oral contraceptives—both daily oral contraceptive pills and emergency contraceptives—in states that implemented the most restrictive policies with a full ban on abortion. One year after Dobbs, declines were greatest for emergency contraceptives; states that became the most restrictive experienced an additional 65% decrease in fills for emergency contraceptives compared with states that kept moderate levels of abortion restrictions after Dobbs.