Patterns in Female Permanent Contraception After the Dobbs v. Jackson Ruling ID 2683406

INTRODUCTION: On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court reversed the constitutional right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson . We aimed to explore changes in interval female permanent contraception procedures before and after the Dobbs ruling. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of interval female permanent contraception procedures at a large academic center between June 24, 2019, and May 25, 2023, using relevant CPT codes. Procedure counts pre- and post-ruling were compared. Chi-squared and difference-in-mean-proportions tests were used to explore differences across periods by patient characteristics. Institutional review board approval was waived for this study. RESULTS: There were 913 procedures performed during the observation period: 611 in the 3 years pre-ruling (June 24, 2019 to June 23, 2022) and 302 in the 11 months post-ruling (June 24, 2022 to May 25, 2023). There was a 49.5% increase in procedures between the pre-ruling and post-ruling timeframes. A higher proportion of patients who identify as White underwent procedures post-ruling compared to non-White counterparts ( P <.001). Chi-squared testing indicated a relationship between insurance status and post-ruling procedures ( P <.001). The largest proportion of patients who had procedures post-ruling were privately insured. Patients who had procedures post-ruling had lower gravidity compared to those who had procedures pre-ruling ( P <.001). CONCLUSION: There was a significant increase in interval female permanent contraception procedures post-Dobbs ruling with significant differences found by race, insurance, and gravidity—notably, in a state without restrictive contraception or abortion legislation. As state abortion and contraception laws evolve, both state and national trends in female permanent contraception should be monitored.