According to recent studies, numerous women purchased abortion pills as a precautionary measure, anticipating a potential need for them. There has been a surge in demand for these medications in recent years, particularly during periods when obtaining them may have been more challenging.

Approximately 50% of abortions in the United States are performed through medication, using two drugs known as mifepristone and misoprostol. A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine examined the inquiries for these medications from individuals who were not pregnant, but were seeking them through a virtual healthcare provider called Aid Access based in Europe, which provides prescriptions for both future and immediate use.

Aid Access received about 48,400 requests from across the U.S. for so-called “advance provision” from September 2021 through April 2023. Requests were highest right after news leaked in May 2022 that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade — but before the formal announcement that June, researchers found.

Across the country, there was a significant increase in daily requests, with the average number rising almost ten times from approximately 25 requests in the eight months prior to the leak, to 247 requests after. In states where an abortion ban was unavoidable, the average weekly rate of requests rose by nearly nine times.

According to Dr. Abigail Aiken, one of the authors of the letter, individuals are concerned about possible dangers to their reproductive rights and access to reproductive health care. They may be wondering how to best prepare for and navigate these challenges.

According to research, the number of daily requests decreased to 89 nationwide following the Supreme Court’s decision. However, it increased to 172 in April 2023 due to conflicting legal rulings regarding the federal approval of mifepristone. The Supreme Court is anticipated to make a decision on restrictions for this drug later this year.

Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, a co-author and director of Aid Access in Amsterdam, credits the recent increase in public awareness during uncertain times for this rise.

A study revealed disparities in the distribution of advance abortion pills. Those who requested pills for current abortions were found to be predominantly younger than 30, non-Hispanic white, childless, and residing in urban areas and less impoverished regions.

Dr. Daniel Grossman, an OB-GYN at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the research, stated that current efforts to provide advance abortion care are not effectively reaching those who face the most significant obstacles.

“It is understandable that individuals may desire to keep these pills readily available in case of need, rather than having to travel to a different state or attempt to obtain them through telehealth after becoming pregnant,” he stated in an email, also emphasizing the need for further investigation into existing disparities.

Aiken mentioned that several other groups have begun providing pills beforehand.

Many people may find this concept unfamiliar as it is not commonly practiced in the American healthcare system,” she explained. “For many, it may come as a surprise that this is even an available option.”

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The Health and Science Department of The Associated Press is funded by the Science and Educational Media Group of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The AP is solely responsible for all of its content.