Advocacy around abortion in a politically charged climate

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To examine the evolving role of clinician advocacy in abortion care and to highlight key domains through which obstetrician-gynecologists can influence policy, clinical practice, and patient outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS: Increasing state-level abortion restrictions have significantly altered the landscape of reproductive healthcare in the USA. Emerging evidence demonstrates worsening barriers to care, delays in treatment, and increased morbidity, particularly for marginalized populations. Clinicians are responding through a range of advocacy strategies, including interpersonal communication, institutional policy development, engagement with professional societies, and the use of research to inform policy. Community-engaged research and near real-time data initiatives have been especially valuable in documenting the impacts of legal changes and amplifying patient-centered perspectives. SUMMARY: In the post-Dobbs era, advocacy continues to be an integral component of obstetric and gynecologic practice. Multilevel engagement - from clinical interactions to institutional and policy reform - is essential to mitigating harm and promoting equitable access to evidence-based care. Strengthening clinician advocacy, particularly in partnership with affected communities, will be critical to addressing disparities and shaping a more equitable reproductive healthcare system.