Since the landmark Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in June 2022, the landscape of abortion rights in the United States has dramatically shifted. The decision overturned Roe v. Wade, which had guaranteed a nationwide right to abortion. As a result, abortion laws are now largely determined by individual states, leading to a patchwork of regulations ranging from full bans to severe restrictions.

As of 2025, abortion is banned in 14 states, and many others have imposed strict regulations on when and how it can be obtained. Legal penalties for both providers and individuals seeking abortions vary significantly across these states, creating a confusing and sometimes dangerous environment for those in need of reproductive healthcare.

States Where Abortion is Banned or Severely Restricted

In states where abortion is banned outright, the penalties are severe. These states include:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Idaho
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • North Dakota
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin

In these states, performing an abortion can lead to criminal charges against healthcare providers, including potential felony charges and lengthy prison sentences. Some states have exceptions only for cases where the mother’s life is at risk, while others allow abortion in cases of rape or incest, but these exceptions vary widely and are often difficult to access in practice. Many of these states have set “trigger laws” that immediately went into effect after Dobbs, automatically banning abortion or severely limiting access.

Penalties for Seeking an Abortion

While penalties for obtaining an abortion are less severe for individuals, they can still face legal consequences in certain states, especially if they attempt to circumvent abortion laws. For example, in Texas, where abortion is heavily restricted after six weeks, there have been instances where individuals seeking abortions were investigated by authorities, and laws are being enforced through civil lawsuits filed by private citizens.

In some of these states, women can be prosecuted for self-managed abortions if they take measures like ordering abortion pills online or traveling out of state to obtain a legal abortion. These women can face charges such as conspiracy or solicitation to perform an abortion.

Impact of Abortion Bans on Adolescents

Adolescents, in particular, face unique challenges when it comes to accessing abortion care, and the consequences of these bans can be particularly dire. Research conducted by the Guttmacher Institute sheds light on the specific difficulties adolescents face in states with abortion restrictions.

“We found that compared with adults, adolescents were more likely to have a second-trimester abortion. Adolescents are generally less likely to have an income and to know they are pregnant, which can contribute to delayed care,” says Doris W. Chiu, research associate at the Guttmacher Institute. “With abortion currently banned in 14 states and highly restricted in many others, post-Dobbs gestational bans are only pushing reproductive health care further out of reach for young people.”

Key findings from the Guttmacher Institute’s research on adolescents and abortion include:

  • 66% of adolescents reported that someone had driven them to the facility, compared with 48% of adults. This highlights the additional logistical challenges young people face, especially if they lack access to transportation or financial resources.

  • 54% of adolescents reported paying out of pocket for their abortion, with an average cost of $499. Given that many adolescents have limited financial independence, this cost is often a significant barrier, contributing to delays in obtaining care.

  • 54% of adolescents delayed expenses or sold something to help cover the costs of the abortion, compared with 46% of adults. This suggests that adolescents are more likely to face financial hardships that delay or prevent them from obtaining timely care.

  • 70% of adolescent respondents wanted to have their abortion sooner. However, the combination of financial and logistical barriers often means they are forced to wait longer than they would prefer.

  • 19% of adolescents who wanted their abortion sooner did not know where to get their abortion, compared with 11% of adults. This points to the lack of accessible information and resources, especially for young people who may not be aware of the legal complexities in their state.

  • 57% of adolescents who wanted their abortion sooner reported not knowing they were pregnant, compared with 43% of adults. Adolescents are more likely to be unaware of their pregnancy until later in the process, which further complicates access to timely care.

The Cycle of Poverty and Generational Impoverishment

Beyond the immediate physical, emotional, and financial burdens that young people face when seeking an abortion, there is a more profound societal impact to consider—one that can perpetuate cycles of poverty for generations. Teenage pregnancy, particularly in the context of limited access to abortion, can trap young mothers in a cycle of poverty that is difficult to escape.

Teenagers who become pregnant often lack the resources and support systems necessary to raise a child, let alone provide for their own future. Without access to safe and legal abortion services, many young people are forced to continue their pregnancies despite their inability to care for a child, resulting in long-term economic consequences.

Young mothers are less likely to finish their education, limiting their ability to pursue stable, well-paying jobs. They often face discrimination in the workplace due to their status as young mothers, and many struggle to access affordable childcare, which exacerbates their financial struggles. As a result, these young mothers and their children are more likely to experience generational poverty. The children of teenage mothers are more likely to face lower educational outcomes, poorer health, and financial hardship themselves, perpetuating the cycle of poverty across generations.

This dynamic is especially concerning in states where abortion access is restricted or banned. When adolescents are unable to make choices about their reproductive health, the consequences often extend beyond their own lives, affecting their children and future generations. A lack of access to abortion services exacerbates existing inequalities, particularly among low-income families and communities of color, making it even more difficult for young people to break free from cycles of poverty.