South Middlesex Times

The repercussions of the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision in 2022 are extending beyond abortion access, affecting non-abortion reproductive services such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and family planning, according to a study by researchers from Rutgers Health and the University of Oklahoma.

Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health and senior author of the study, emphasized that the ruling has led to the loss of access to various non-abortion reproductive health services across the nation. Halkitis highlighted the impact on individuals seeking IVF treatments, stating, “Many people have to go through multiple rounds of IVF in order to have a baby, and it is already extremely costly and in short supply."

The study also highlighted the broader implications of the ruling on constitutional procreation rights, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals and single people seeking to have children. Halkitis noted, “Notably, the loss of these health care services takes away the constitutional procreation rights of various populations, including LGBTQ+ people who want to have children, single people who want children and others."

Junying “June” Zhao, an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma, pointed out the impact on Title X-funded programs, with approximately 1,000 entities losing federal funding following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Zhao emphasized the complex interplay between federal and state legislative mechanisms, stating, “The loss of funding in a particular state is not an isolated event."

Furthermore, the study shed light on the negative effects on clinics and programs providing family planning services, particularly to low-income individuals, due to restrictions imposed by some states' abortion laws. Halkitis stressed the importance of ensuring reproductive health care access for all, especially the most vulnerable, in the wake of these challenges.