Abortion Rate Fell in 2007

The rate of legal abortion in the United States fell 2% in 2007, resuming a steady decline that began in 1998 but was interrupted by a small increase in 2006.

The new data were released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Feb. 24 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR Feb. 25, 2011;60[ss01]:1-39).

Among 49 reporting areas, there were 827,609 legal induced abortions in the United States in 2007. Reporting is not mandatory, and California, Maryland, and New Hampshire do not report abortion data to the CDC. Only 45 states and territories reported abortion numbers in every year since 1998, when CDC began collecting the data. Among those 45 reporting areas, there were 810,582 abortions in 2007.

Within those areas the overall abortion rate in 2007 was 16.0 abortions/1,000 women aged 15-44 years, representing a 2% decline from 2006. The abortion ratio was 231 abortions/1,000 live births, a 3% decline from 2006.

From 1998 to 2007, the total number of abortions in the 45 consistently reporting areas declined 6%, the abortion rate declined 7%, and the abortion ratio declined 14%.

In 2007, 48 areas reported data on the age of women who underwent abortions. Within those areas, women aged 20-29 years accounted for 56.9% of all abortions. Adolescents (19 years of age and younger) accounted for 16.7% abortions; the rate of abortions among adolescents was 10.7/1,000, and the abortion ratio was 337 abortions/1,000 live births. Women aged 18-19 years accounted for 62.3% of the abortions among adolescents.

In 2007, 42 areas reported gestational age. Within those areas 62.3% of all abortions were obtained at 8 weeks’ gestation or less, and 91.5% were obtained at 13 weeks or less. Only 1.3% of abortions were obtained at 21 weeks’ gestation or longer.

Since 1998, women have been obtaining abortions earlier in gestation. Among the areas consistently reporting these data, there has been a 14% increase in the number of abortions obtained at 8 weeks’ of gestation or less.

Since the Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone in September 2000, the proportion of medical abortions has increased 243%. In 2007, 13.1% of all abortions were performed by medical rather than surgical means.

The rate of legal abortion in the United States fell 2% in 2007, resuming a steady decline that began in 1998 but was interrupted by a small increase in 2006.

The new data were released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Feb. 24 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR Feb. 25, 2011;60[ss01]:1-39).

Among 49 reporting areas, there were 827,609 legal induced abortions in the United States in 2007. Reporting is not mandatory, and California, Maryland, and New Hampshire do not report abortion data to the CDC. Only 45 states and territories reported abortion numbers in every year since 1998, when CDC began collecting the data. Among those 45 reporting areas, there were 810,582 abortions in 2007.

Within those areas the overall abortion rate in 2007 was 16.0 abortions/1,000 women aged 15-44 years, representing a 2% decline from 2006. The abortion ratio was 231 abortions/1,000 live births, a 3% decline from 2006.

From 1998 to 2007, the total number of abortions in the 45 consistently reporting areas declined 6%, the abortion rate declined 7%, and the abortion ratio declined 14%.

In 2007, 48 areas reported data on the age of women who underwent abortions. Within those areas, women aged 20-29 years accounted for 56.9% of all abortions. Adolescents (19 years of age and younger) accounted for 16.7% abortions; the rate of abortions among adolescents was 10.7/1,000, and the abortion ratio was 337 abortions/1,000 live births. Women aged 18-19 years accounted for 62.3% of the abortions among adolescents.

In 2007, 42 areas reported gestational age. Within those areas 62.3% of all abortions were obtained at 8 weeks’ gestation or less, and 91.5% were obtained at 13 weeks or less. Only 1.3% of abortions were obtained at 21 weeks’ gestation or longer.

Since 1998, women have been obtaining abortions earlier in gestation. Among the areas consistently reporting these data, there has been a 14% increase in the number of abortions obtained at 8 weeks’ of gestation or less.

Since the Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone in September 2000, the proportion of medical abortions has increased 243%. In 2007, 13.1% of all abortions were performed by medical rather than surgical means.

The rate of legal abortion in the United States fell 2% in 2007, resuming a steady decline that began in 1998 but was interrupted by a small increase in 2006.

The new data were released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Feb. 24 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR Feb. 25, 2011;60[ss01]:1-39).

Among 49 reporting areas, there were 827,609 legal induced abortions in the United States in 2007. Reporting is not mandatory, and California, Maryland, and New Hampshire do not report abortion data to the CDC. Only 45 states and territories reported abortion numbers in every year since 1998, when CDC began collecting the data. Among those 45 reporting areas, there were 810,582 abortions in 2007.

Within those areas the overall abortion rate in 2007 was 16.0 abortions/1,000 women aged 15-44 years, representing a 2% decline from 2006. The abortion ratio was 231 abortions/1,000 live births, a 3% decline from 2006.

From 1998 to 2007, the total number of abortions in the 45 consistently reporting areas declined 6%, the abortion rate declined 7%, and the abortion ratio declined 14%.

In 2007, 48 areas reported data on the age of women who underwent abortions. Within those areas, women aged 20-29 years accounted for 56.9% of all abortions. Adolescents (19 years of age and younger) accounted for 16.7% abortions; the rate of abortions among adolescents was 10.7/1,000, and the abortion ratio was 337 abortions/1,000 live births. Women aged 18-19 years accounted for 62.3% of the abortions among adolescents.

In 2007, 42 areas reported gestational age. Within those areas 62.3% of all abortions were obtained at 8 weeks’ gestation or less, and 91.5% were obtained at 13 weeks or less. Only 1.3% of abortions were obtained at 21 weeks’ gestation or longer.

Since 1998, women have been obtaining abortions earlier in gestation. Among the areas consistently reporting these data, there has been a 14% increase in the number of abortions obtained at 8 weeks’ of gestation or less.

Since the Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone in September 2000, the proportion of medical abortions has increased 243%. In 2007, 13.1% of all abortions were performed by medical rather than surgical means.