(Radio Iowa) – A new report indicates the number of Iowans seeking abortions and abortion pills from out-of-state providers has increased since the law banning most abortions in Iowa took effect in late July of 2024. Isaac Maddow-Zimet is with the Guttmacher (GOOT-mock-er) Institute.
Iowa’s 2024 law bans most abortions after cardiac activity can be detected, which is around the sixth week of a pregnancy. There are limited exceptions for rape, incest, life of the mother and fetal abnormalities. 2025 was the first full year the law was in effect and the report tracked how many Iowans were prescribed pills for an abortion.
An Iowa law that took effect July 1st requires those seeking medication for an abortion in Iowa to see a provider in person and the pills must be dispensed at a medical center in Iowa. States like Illinois and Minnesota have so-called “shield laws” that allow providers there to prescribe abortion pills for patients who live in Iowa and other states with dispensing restrictions.
