A new peer-reviewed study by researchers at Resound Research for Reproductive Health explores how Texas’ Senate Bill 8—commonly known as the “6-week ban”—created urgent and often insurmountable obstacles for people seeking abortion care.
While the law prohibits abortion after embryonic cardiac activity is detected, many participants in the study discovered they were pregnant early but were still unable to get in-state care. Why? The answer lies in the everyday realities of recognizing a pregnancy, confirming a pregnancy, navigating facility practices, and dealing with the law’s ambiguous language.
The research team interviewed over 100 people in Texas between 2021–2022 and found that:
Many people needed time to confirm their pregnancy or felt uncertain about next steps.
Logistical barriers—such as travel, time off work, and childcare—further compressed the already short timeline.
The way facilities and the public interpreted the law as a “6-week” cut-off created additional confusion and distress.
This research emphasizes the need for clearer public messaging around regulations, more accessible pregnancy confirmation services, and a deeper understanding of how time pressures affect reproductive decisions.
📖 Read the full study in Sexuality Research and Social Policy
