# Is the abortion ban equating to higher birth rates? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 13, 2024, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246 "2024-04-13T22:10:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/1 "2024-04-13T22:10:44Z")
Simple question: Is the abortion ban (in some of the US states) equating to higher birth rates? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/2 "2024-04-13T22:13:02Z")
Simple answer, no. > **[Despite Bans, Number of Abortions in the United States Increased in 2023](https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/despite-bans-number-abortions-united-states-increased-2023)** > New findings from the [Monthly Abortion Provision Study](https://www.guttmacher.org/monthly-abortion-provision-study) show that an estimated 1,026,690 abortions occurred in the formal health care system in 2023, the first full calendar year after the US Supreme Court’s decision in _Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization_ overturned _Roe v. Wade_. This represents a rate of 15.7 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age,[\*](https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/despite-bans-number-abortions-united-states-increased-2023#) and is a 10% increase since 2020, the last year for which comprehensive estimates are available. It is also the highest number and rate measured in the United States in over a decade. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/3 "2024-04-13T22:25:58Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Simple answer, no. While I do appreciate that info, I did not see where that answered my simple question. It did answer a simple question I did not ask, namely has the number of abortions decreased in the US since the ban. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/4 "2024-04-13T23:01:42Z")
Sorry, try this cite. > **[U.S. Birth Rate 1950-2024](https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/USA/united-states/birth-rate)** > > Chart and table of the U.S. birth rate from 1950 to 2024. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100. - The current birth rate for U.S. in 2024 is **12.009** births per 1000 people, a **0.12% decline** from 2023. - The birth rate for U.S. in 2023 was **12.023** births per 1000 people, a **0.09% increase** from 2022. - The birth rate for U.S. in 2022 was **12.012** births per 1000 people, a **0.09% increase** from 2021. - The birth rate for U.S. in 2021 was **12.001** births per 1000 people, a **0.09% increase** from 2020. The answer therefore depends on your start and end dates. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/5 "2024-04-13T23:44:16Z")
Not yet, but if the pro-life people take on the Catholic view that contraception is murder, it may result ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/6 "2024-04-13T23:47:51Z")
That’s not the Catholic view. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/7 "2024-04-14T00:40:30Z")
sorry for my ignorance, but didn’t/does still the Catholic Church “ban/forbid” the use of contraceptives? What did they call or classify it as? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/8 "2024-04-14T00:48:03Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > sorry for my ignorance, but didn’t/does still the Catholic Church “ban/forbid” the use of contraceptives? Yes, but the church prohibits artificial birth control on the grounds that they feel that all sexual acts should be open to the possibility of procreation (and contraceptives reduce or entirely eliminate that possibility). While church policy holds that artificial birth control is intrinsically evil, for this reason, they do **not** actually say: > [@fedman1](#): > > contraception is murder You may consider that to be no difference, but it’s an important distinction in terms. > **[Christian views on birth control | Catholic Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_birth_control#Catholic_Church)** > > The Catechism of the Catholic Church specifies that all sex acts must be both unitive and procreative. In addition to condemning use of artificial birth control as intrinsically evil, non-procreative sex acts such as mutual masturbation and anal sex are ruled out as ways to avoid pregnancy. Casti connubii explains the secondary, unitive, purpose of intercourse. Because of this secondary purpose, married couples have a right to engage in intercourse even when pregnancy is not a poss ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/9 "2024-04-14T00:48:48Z")
The Roman Catholic view is that any interference with sexual intercourse leading to pregnancy is a sin. Birth control methods which prevent a fertilized embryo from developing are “murder.” Condoms and diaphragms which prevent the sperm and egg from uniting are not murder, but are nonetheless prohibited. ETA, and the other stuff **kenobi\_65** said. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/10 "2024-04-14T00:52:57Z")
Asked and answered! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/11 "2024-04-14T00:55:33Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Condoms and diaphragms which prevent the sperm and egg from uniting are not murder, but are nonetheless prohibited. As well as sexual activities other than penis-in-vagina intercourse (anal sex, oral sex, mutual masturbation, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/12 "2024-04-14T01:50:10Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The answer therefore depends on your start and end dates. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/13 "2024-04-14T02:02:18Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > As well as sexual activities other than penis-in-vagina intercourse (anal sex, oral sex, mutual masturbation, etc.) Isn’t the Roman Catholic Church okay with such activities as foreplay (between married couples), just not as a pregnancy-avoiding substitute for intercourse? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/14 "2024-04-14T08:34:39Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Isn’t the Roman Catholic Church okay with such activities as foreplay (between married couples), just not as a pregnancy-avoiding substitute for intercourse? Yes, and this was actually covered in the pre-wedding class we were required to take (classes?—and I forget the name; it’s been a while). You’re free to let your freak flag fly in foreplay, as long as you finish in her hoo-hah. They may have used different words, though. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/15 "2024-04-14T08:58:58Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > if the pro-life people take on the Catholic view that contraception is murder Just to clarify, what the Catholic Church decrees and what Catholics believe are not necessarily the same. The overwhelming majority of Catholic women use contraception at some point. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/16 "2024-04-14T13:45:57Z")
thanks for the corrections to my understanding of Church doctrine. But my post should have been directed to the Alabama decision re: embryos; with that mind-set, non-Catholic, it’s possible pro-lifers may take that position on birth control (we know they hate women). Remember how long it took for birth control to take hold thanks to Margeret Sanger, and America is primarily Protestant. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/17 "2024-04-14T15:47:55Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > But my post should have been directed to the Alabama decision re: embryos; with that mind-set, non-Catholic, it’s possible pro-lifers may take that position on birth control (we know they hate women). It’s possible, I guess, that some pro-lifers take that position because the Magic 8-ball told them to, but that’s not what the Catholic Church teaches. And as someone who voted pro-life for most of my adult life (no more!), I can tell you I don’t know anyone who thinks contraception amounts to murder, even those who think using them is a grave sin that will reserve a spot in hell for you. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/18 "2024-04-14T21:10:45Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > the pre-wedding class we were required to take My wife (she was raised Catholic, I wasn’t) were required to attend an ‘engagement encounter’ weekend at a church facility. We learned a whole buncha stuff that’s been covered in this thread. Back on topic, I find it interesting that the number of abortions increased, while the birth rate appears to be stable: slightly increasing over the past 3 years, while slightly dropping thus far this year. ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/19 "2024-04-14T22:54:54Z")
Honest question: does the Vatican think sex is okay between a married man and his wife of post-menopausal age? What about sex between man and wife where one party is known with certainty to be infertile? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246/20 "2024-04-14T23:00:16Z")
> [@whc.03grady](#): > > does the Vatican think sex is okay between a married man and his wife of post-menopausal age? What about sex between man and wife where one party is known with certainty to be infertile? My understanding is that it’s allowed, even encouraged. For one thing, the Catholic Church states that sex is meant for both procreation and “unity” – that is, to support the emotional connection between a married couple. As the Wikipedia article to which I’d earlier linked notes, in quoting Church policy: > [@](#): > > Nor are those considered as acting against nature who in the married state use their right in the proper manner although on account of natural reasons either of time or of certain defects, new life cannot be brought forth. For in matrimony as well as in the use of the matrimonial rights there are also secondary ends, such as mutual aid, the cultivating of mutual love, and the quieting of concupiscence which husband and wife are not forbidden to consider so long as they are subordinated to the primary end and so long as the intrinsic nature of the act is preserved. And, the Bible features several women who were considered barren, but then conceived, demonstrating (at least to believers) that God can make it happen. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-abortion-ban-equating-to-higher-birth-rates/1000246.md?page=2)