Des Moines, Iowa — Planned Parenthood of North Central States operates clinics in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and the Dakotas and, since Roe v Wade was overturned last summer, those clinics have seen a 13 percent increase in patients coming in from outside the five-state region.
Mazie Stilwell is Planned Parenthood’s director of public affairs in Iowa. She says there’s also been a 40 percent increase in second-trimester abortions since last June as patients travel farther and Iowa’s 24-hour waiting period for abortion took effect.
Supporters of abortion rights gathered for a rally at the Iowa Capitol Tuesday.
Republican lawmakers, including Governor Reynolds, have said they’re waiting for the Iowa Supreme Court to decide whether a ban on abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy that passed in 2018 may take effect before considering other abortion restrictions.
