Under 2021’s “heartbeat law” in Texas, abortions after 6 weeks are illegal, but the majority of women do not find out they are pregnant till after this point, leaving women with no choice. Now, new research confirms that this law is having a detrimental impact on Texan women.
New research by the JAMA Network shows an increase in mental distress amongst women in Texas, which is directly linked to the restrictions on abortion.
The law saw a 57% reduction in abortions. While roughly 67% of the state is conservative Christian and therefore sees this as a triumph, this reduction isn’t by choice and has a detrimental impact on the women at the brunt of it.
The current situation
Since Roe versus Wade was overturned in 2022, Texas alone has forced 26,000 women to carry pregnancies as a result of rape. This is the highest amongst the 14 states in the US with total abortion bans, and anyone who aids an illegal abortion is sued for wrongful death.
Map of abortion restrictions: Credit Wikimedia Commons
But that isn’t all…
The effects
The maternal mortality rate in Texas since the 2021 ruling has skyrocketed by 56% compared to 11% across the rest of the US. The main cause for this is sepsis from miscarrying in the second trimester.
The new findings show that mental distress has risen by 6.8% since the ruling in 2021. The fact that this was most common amongst young women was not surprising. Around 65% of women accessing abortions were teenagers or in their 20s, and 87% were unmarried. This tells us what we need to know about who is trying to access abortions, as it is mainly women without the means to raise a child who access this healthcare.
A change in terminology
There hasn’t just been a change in the rules but also a societal shift in terms of how pregnancy is discussed, and it’s truly dystopian.
Following the heartbeat law, fetuses and embryos are referred to as “unborn children.” This term is now used to describe early stages, right up into birth, almost erasing the science of pregnancy. It’s not just this that is damaging…
The use of “heartbeat” is medically misleading, as many medical and reproductive experts say an embryo does not have a developed heartbeat at 6 weeks.
The future
It’s no secret that America’s current president has questionable views towards women, and this extends to his views on abortion, which certainly haven’t been consistent. Trump has changed his stance many times, however, there is no denying his involvement in the anti-abortion movement. This leaves unanswered questions in terms of abortion in the US.
The future is uncertain, but what is certain is that women will continue to die if the laws in Texas don’t change.
