Conflation of Contraception and Abortion — Implications for Access to Contraceptives

( N Engl J Med . 2026 Jan 22;394(4):315–317. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp2514218) Recently, a decision was made by the United States administration that more than $10 million worth of contraceptives would be destroyed, with the justification being that they would “no longer supply abortifacient birth control under the guise of foreign aid.” This justification provides misinformation about contraception and its effects, which must be corrected. Generally speaking, attacks on contraception in the United States are unpopular; though this is the case overall, conflating abortion and contraception contributes to stigmatizing abortion. Spreading this misinformation could result in the restriction of access to contraceptives for millions, contributing to adverse outcomes for many.