Since 1973, a woman’s right to an abortion has been protected by the Supreme Court. However, the court has also declared that states may impose certain kinds of regulations that limit access to surgical abortions. According to the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, a majority of states currently enforces at least one of the following restrictions: 24- to 48-hour waiting periods before women can undergo the procedure, counseling emphasizing the drawbacks of abortion, obligations for minors to notify their parents or obtain their consent before having an abortion, and bans on the procedure at public facilities.

Those who support these restrictions maintain that such statutes reflect the average American’s concerns about abortion. Gallup polls, for example, reveal that more than 70 percent of Americans support a prohibition on abortion after the first trimester of pregnancy—including 46 percent of those who identify themselves as strongly pro-choice. While most citizens believe that abortion should be available during the first three months of pregnancy, many also agree that a woman should not have an abortion to avoid inconveniences such as interruptions to her education or career. Regulations on abortion, some argue, make it less likely that a woman will make a rushed or misguided decision.

Critics, however, point out that restrictions can force women to delay their abortions until later in pregnancy when the potential health risks are greater. “We’re seeing an increase of second-trimester procedures because young women are delaying telling their parents,” says clinician Susan Hill. Others contend that no one should have the right to interfere with a choice that is ultimately up to the woman. As commentator Elizabeth Schulte argues, “Passing even one restriction strengthens the idea that women shouldn’t be allowed to make this decision by themselves, even though they must live with the consequences of an unwanted or dangerous pregnancy.”

The question of restrictions on abortion rights has generated some of the most fervent dialogue in the ongoing abortion debate. The authors of the following chapter of