"Surge in Preemptive Abortion Pill Orders Amid US Access Concerns"

An analysis by Abigail Aiken of the University of Texas at Austin indicates a surge in requests for abortion pills for future use, known as advance provision, through Aid Access, particularly during periods when abortion rights are perceived to be under threat, such as after the leak of the draft Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) acknowledges mifepristone's safety and effectiveness, while noting regulatory barriers to prescribing it in advance. Aid Access, despite these barriers, provides the medication with guidance, and the analysis shows that those seeking advance provision are typically older, more likely to be white, and from lower-poverty areas, suggesting financial and accessibility barriers for others.