MCI’s Dobbs Decision Anniversary Blog Post

It has been one year since The U.S. Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade, restricting Americans’ reproductive freedoms in a way that has not been seen for generations. Following the Dobbs decision that ushered in this curtailment of reproductive rights, there has been fear and speculation about what further steps might be taken to restrict individual reproductive autonomy. 

As a nonprofit committed to the vision of “Reproductive Autonomy for All”, the impact of the Dobbs decision directly opposes our belief that everyone benefits from an increased number of contraceptive products and access to a full range of reproductive health care options. 

Rather than only lament what was lost, it is worth noting that in these challenging times there have been signs of action:

• Vasectomies rose by nearly 30% in the 3 months after Roe v. Wade was overturned, and interest in male contraceptive methods also increased
• Conversations about the impact of overturning Roe v Wade on all people have helped reframe this as a universally shared challenge
• Interest in permanent contraception in general peaked following the Dobbs decision
• Proactive legislation was passed in multiple states to ensure access to contraception and other family planning services

There is a lot of work to be done to repair the damage that restricting people’s reproductive freedoms has had. We at MCI continue to commit our efforts to champion the cause of “Reproductive Autonomy for All” with a specific focus on contraceptive equity, so that individuals and partners can work together to ensure that their reproductive goals are achieved. 

Additionally, we feature different ways that you can get involved in supporting our vision of “Reproductive Autonomy for All” on our website and encourage everyone to consider how best they can engage with their family, friends, and elected officials to share information and accurate messaging around the demand for and status of male contraception. And please reach out to us with any questions about our work or any suggestions for how we can have greater impact.

Together we can and will change the world for the better!