ILLINOIS — Three years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Illinois has emerged as a critical access point for abortion care, while neighboring Iowa has drastically reduced services under tighter state restrictions.
The shift is a direct consequence of the 2022 Dobbs ruling, which removed federal protections for abortion and gave states the authority to regulate the procedure independently. Since then, the landscape of reproductive healthcare in the Midwest has dramatically changed — particularly between Illinois and Iowa.
Abortions Drop by 80% in Iowa Following Fetal Heartbeat Law
Planned Parenthood North Central States, which oversees services in Iowa, reports an 80% reduction in abortion procedures statewide. This steep drop is attributed to Iowa’s 2024 fetal heartbeat law, which bans most abortions after approximately six weeks — a stage when many individuals may not yet know they’re pregnant.
With tighter laws in place, hundreds of Iowa residents are now seeking abortion services across state lines, especially in Nebraska, where a 12-week limit is still in effect. Planned Parenthood in Nebraska saw a 68% patient increase, much of it due to the influx from Iowa.
Illinois Becomes a Regional Abortion Access Hub
In contrast, Illinois has seen a 47% increase in abortions since the Dobbs ruling. Planned Parenthood of Illinois revealed that one in four abortion patients now travel from out of state, a major jump from just 3–5% before 2022.
Illinois remains one of only 22 U.S. states that explicitly protect patients and providers traveling from other states for abortion services. This policy has turned Illinois into a safe haven for many across the Midwest, particularly those fleeing restrictions in Iowa, Missouri, and Indiana.
Quad Cities Offer Limited Options, Local Groups Step In
While no abortion clinics currently operate in the Quad Cities, organizations like Pregnancy Resources have increased their efforts to support pregnant individuals in the region — albeit without providing or referring for abortions.
Trisha Wilson, the group’s executive director, said the number of pregnant clients served annually remains stable (between 750 and 800). However, she noted a rise in patients who take mifepristone, a widely used medication for terminating early pregnancies.
“We’re having many more of those patients report complications from the abortion pill,” Wilson said. Side effects like cramping, nausea, and heavy bleeding are more common than with surgical abortions, though serious complications remain rare, according to UCSF Health.
New Programs Focus on Post-Abortion Support
In response to the evolving needs post-Dobbs, Pregnancy Resources launched a post-abortion medical screening service and a reproductive loss program. These complement their existing offerings, including parenting classes and material assistance.
“The most common thing that we hear from women who experience any abortion complication or reproductive loss is that they’re afraid. They feel very alone,” Wilson said.
She emphasized that the group’s goal is to help people make informed choices — not push them toward one outcome. “We want to help them make an informed decision, and we will support them whatever their decision is.”
Illinois Senators Back Federal Protection Legislation
On the third anniversary of the Dobbs ruling, Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth joined colleagues in backing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025. The proposed law would eliminate state-level restrictions, require health-based exceptions, and guarantee the right to travel across state lines for abortion care.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) described the current patchwork of laws as “creating chaos when it comes to accessing reproductive healthcare,” highlighting the urgent need for federal safeguards.
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