Study finds patients prefer single-visit abortion care
New research presented at the 2025 ACOG Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting reveals that mandatory in-person consent and waiting periods in Ohio create significant delays and barriers to abortion access.
Study finds patients prefer single-visit abortion care | Image Credit: © freshidea - © freshidea - stock.adobe.com.
Patients prefer the full abortion process to take place over a single health care encounter, according to a recent study presented at the 2025 American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from May 16 to May 18, 2025.
Ohio’s in-person consent law
Currently, in-person consent is mandatory to receive an abortion among individuals residing in Ohio. This restricts telemedicine use among patients attempting to undergo abortion, alongside creating a 24-hour delay from consent to abortion.
Therefore, investigators conducted a trial to determine patient perspectives surrounding the requirement for in-person consent and the 24-hour waiting period. Patients of 4 freestanding abortion clinics in northeast Ohio attending abortion consent encounters were recruited into the analysis.
Data was obtained through 2 self-reported online surveys about patient perceptions. Topics included the harm, burden experiences, benefits, and treatment delays linked to the regulations. The surveys were also used to obtain qualitative comments.
Survey data highlights delays and patient burden
Nearly 300 patients underwent screening, with 198 included in the final analysis. This population had similar demographics to those among state abortion patients, and 80% stated they preferred completing the abortion process in a single encounter.
A median duration between consent and abortion of 3 days was reported, with an interquartile range of 2 to 7. Thirty-two percent of patients experienced a delay of over 7 days between consent and the abortion procedure, and 6% experienced a delay of over 14 days.
Finding the delay somewhat or very bothersome was reported by 52% of participants, vs 20% who reported the delay was not bothersome. Thirty-one percent of patients reported the delay was harmful, while 23% reported it was beneficial.
Barriers and harms linked to consent regulations
Being prevented from receiving an abortion because of these requirements was reported by 4% of participants. Increased expenses, logistical barriers, and physical and psychological harm that occurred during the waiting period were reported as qualitative themes.
This highlighted a preference for abortion to be obtained in a single encounter. Investigators concluded that waiting periods risk potentially delaying care for weeks, and regulations increase barriers to access, leading to adverse health impacts.
“These findings inform public policy and support advocacy for evidence-based health care policy post-Dobbs,” wrote investigators.
Adolescents disproportionately affected by abortion restrictions
Multiple barriers already limit abortion access among US women, especially teenage girls, as 2 in 3 of this population reside in states with abortion bans or restrictions.2 A study published in 2025 highlighted a significant impact of Dobbs on adolescents across the country.
There were 10,666,913 US girls aged 13 to 17 years included in the analysis, 24% of whom resided in states with full abortion bans and another 24% in states with restrictions based on gestational age. Additionally, a significant rise in young patients facing abortion restrictions was reported when including states requiring parental involvement.
Overall, residing in a state with at least 1 type of abortion restriction was reported among 66% of the study population. This highlighted a need for health care providers to understand barriers patients may encounter when seeking abortion care.
"Minors are often targeted by restrictive policies and less able to use routes to abortion care common for adults–traveling to another state or using telehealth–leaving them disproportionately impacted," said Laura Lindberg, PhD, professor, Rutgers School of Public Health. "Without access to abortion, these girls have lost the ability to control their lives and their futures."
References:
- Brant AR, Mitchell JA, Yao M, et al. Patient perceptions of Ohio’s mandatory 24-hour waiting period and in-person consent. Presented at: 2025 ACOG Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting. Minneapolis, MN. May 16-18, 2025.
- Ebert M. Abortion access limited for majority of US teen girls. Contemporary OB/GYN. April 10, 2025. Accessed May 12, 2025. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/abortion-access-limited-for-majority-of-us-teen-girls.
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