Throughout my career as a physician providing abortion care, I have seen how people’s lives can be profoundly affected based on whether or not they have access to abortion care. My experience recruiting participants in the Turnaway Study reinforced what I had already seen: When you can control when and if you have children, it can shape your future, health, and family stability.
Understanding the Turnaway Study
The Turnaway Study was an innovative research initiative led by Dr. Diana Greene Foster at UC San Francisco’s Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH).
From 2008, researchers followed nearly 1,000 women for five years. Participants came from 30 abortion clinics across 21 states, including a clinic where I was practicing at the time.
The study compared outcomes between women who obtained abortions just within the clinic’s gestational limits and those who were turned away because they were beyond these limits.
This unique design allowed researchers to make robust comparisons, capturing real-life consequences of abortion denial. Clinics like the one I worked at contributed essential frontline data, bringing real-world clinical experiences into our understanding of reproductive health.
Key Findings From the Study
The Turnaway Study provided critical insights into the realities faced by women who were either granted or denied abortion care. These findings reinforce the experiences I’ve encountered throughout my career.
1. Mental Health Realities
Contrary to many myths, most women who had abortions reported feelings of relief, not regret. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, 95% still believed abortion was the right decision five years later.
Over time, receiving an abortion showed no lasting negative mental health impacts.
On the flip side, women who were denied abortions initially faced increased stress, anxiety, and lower self-esteem. This directly aligns with the observations in my book, Undue Burden, where I address harmful myths about abortion causing regret or emotional distress.
2. Economic Consequences
The financial repercussions of being denied an abortion are significant and long-lasting. Women turned away experienced greater poverty, increased overdue debt, evictions, and unemployment. The Washington Post reported a 78% jump in overdue debt and tripled unemployment rates among these women, illustrating clearly how access to abortion is tied to economic security.
3. Health Risks of Continuing Unwanted Pregnancies
The study highlighted the physical dangers faced by women forced to continue unwanted pregnancies. They experienced higher rates of severe complications such as preeclampsia, hemorrhage, and infections. Tragically, the study documented two maternal deaths among those who were denied abortions, while no deaths occurred from the abortion procedure itself.
4. Family and Relationship Dynamics
Denying abortion care affects more than just the pregnant person. It also significantly impacts families. Existing children of women denied abortions often faced increased poverty and developmental delays. Mothers also reported difficulty bonding with children from unwanted pregnancies, underscoring the importance of readiness and choice in creating stable family environments.
5. Effects on Life Goals and Personal Aspirations
One notable finding from the Turnaway Study is how being denied abortion access restricts personal growth. Women who were able to get abortions were twice as likely to achieve educational and career goals and 1.5 times as likely to hold a job over five years. On the other hand, women denied care reported that unplanned pregnancies disrupted their ambitions, limiting their academic advancement and career progress.
Broader Social, Legal, and Policy Implications
The Turnaway Study’s robust data have reshaped public discussions and influenced legal and policy outcomes. Planned Parenthood and other reproductive rights organizations use the study’s findings to counter misinformation and argue against restrictive abortion laws.
The study has been pivotal in court cases, helping judges make more informed decisions. For example, its findings directly contributed to a Tennessee ruling against a mandatory waiting period, underscoring how evidence can challenge restrictive and harmful abortion laws.
My Clinical Experience and the Turnaway Study
When I helped with the Turnaway Study, it confirmed what I saw daily: the crucial role abortion access plays in health, family stability, and financial security.
Although I wouldn’t share individual patient stories from the study, the documented patterns mirrored countless interactions I’ve had over the years. This alignment reinforced my commitment to advocating fiercely for reproductive freedom and access.
Throughout my book, I stress the need for evidence-based advocacy. The Turnaway Study has become a cornerstone of such efforts, reinforcing my belief that clinical insights backed by robust research must guide our healthcare policies.
Why the Turnaway Study Is Crucial Today
Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the findings from the Turnaway Study are more critical than ever. They provide undeniable evidence of the real and lasting harm caused by restrictive abortion laws, affecting health, finances, family stability, and individual autonomy.
In our current charged political environment, where reproductive rights face unprecedented threats, we must leverage such powerful evidence to advocate for policies that prioritize reproductive healthcare as essential care.
Moving Forward: Using Evidence to Drive Advocacy
The Turnaway Study has provided clear, irrefutable data supporting what abortion providers like me have always known: Abortion access is fundamental to health, family stability, and financial independence.
Moving forward, we must ensure policymakers, healthcare providers, and the public understand these realities and advocate based on evidence, not misinformation or stigma.
Visit ANSIRH to learn more.
