Women's Health Policy

ABORTION IN THE U.S.

KFF infographic explaining who regulates mifepristone, showing four entities and their roles: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves and regulates medications for safety and effectiveness; state legislatures pass laws that can restrict or protect access; courts rule on legal cases affecting regulation; and Congress can pass federal legislation influencing regulation.

Louisiana v. FDA: Access to Mifepristone

Louisiana sued the FDA in October 2025, claiming the FDA’s 2023 regulatory change eliminating the requirement that mifepristone be dispensed in-person—allowing it to be mailed or dispensed at retail pharmacies—harm the state's ability to enforce its abortion ban. This brief reviews the Louisiana v. FDA case and provides an overview of the other pending litigation involving mifepristone, as well as the mounting tension between states seeking to protect abortion and those banning the provision of abortion.

CONTRACEPTIve care IN THE U.S.

An Update on Medicaid, Title X and Planned Parenthood

This brief provides an update on Planned Parenthood clinic closures and participation in the Title X program amid substantial policy changes resulting in funding reductions. These changes include the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the withholding of federal Title X funding to Planned Parenthood clinics.

SELECTED RESOURCES

Over-the-Counter Oral Contraceptive Pills

In July 2023, the FDA approved Opill, the first daily oral contraceptive pill to become available over the counter (OTC) without a doctor’s prescription. This issue brief provides an overview of OTC oral contraceptives and laws and policies related to insurance coverage.

featured

A promotional image for the the KFF Health Policy 101 Issues in Women’s Health chapter

Health Policy Issues in Women’s Health

Examine the core health coverage and access issues —shaped by federal and state policies—that affect women’s health today, including health coverage and costs, reproductive health services, maternal health, mental health, and intimate partner violence.

State Profiles for Women’s Health

Explore the latest national and state-specific data and policies on women’s health. Topics include health status, insurance and Medicaid coverage, use of preventive services, sexual health, maternal and infant health, and abortion policies. Many indicators provide state-level information for women of different racial and ethnic groups.

The essentials
  • Women’s Health Insurance Coverage

    This factsheet reviews major sources of coverage for women residing in the U.S., discusses the ACA's impact on coverage, and the coverage challenges that many women continue to face.
  • Medicaid Coverage for Women

    This data note presents key data points describing the current state of the Medicaid program as it affects women, including eligibility, reproductive health, chronic conditions, and more.
  • Dobbs: What are the Implications for Racial Disparities?

    This analysis examines the implications of the Dobbs decision and state restrictions on abortion coverage for racial disparities in access to care and health outcomes.
  • State Health Facts: Women's Health Indicators

    Information on women’s health status, utilization of services, health insurance coverage, family planning and childbirth, and abortion statistics and policies.
  • Key Facts on Abortion in the United States

    This report answers some key questions about abortion in the United States and presents data collected before the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Stay informed.

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441 - 450 of 875 Results

  • National Survey of Women About Their Sexual Health

    Report

    A public education partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation and SELF magazine, the : Take Charge of Your Sexual Health, shows that the stigma associated with STDs silences women, making it more difficult for them to get the information they need. Report:

  • National Survey of Americans and Health Care Providers on Emergency Contraception – Toplines/Survey

    Other Post

    1997 Kaiser Family Foundation Survey of Americans on Emergency Contraception Conducted for the Henry J. Kaiser Family FoundationBy Princeton Survey Research Associates Topline (pdf) Methodology Survey of Americans on Emergency Contraception The 1997 Kaiser Family Foundation Survey of Americans on Emergency Contraception examined public knowledge and attitudes regarding unplanned pregnancy and contraception, with a particular focus on emergency contraceptive pills. The survey, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates for Kaiser Family Foundation, consisted of telephone…

  • Sex in the 90s: 1998 National Survey of Americans on Sex and Sexual Health – Toplines/Survey

    Other Post

    Sex In The 90s:Kaiser Family Foundation/ABC Television 1998 National Survey of Americans on Sex and Sexual Health Methodology:The Kaiser Family Foundation and ABC Television 1998 National Survey of Americans on Sex and Sexual Health is a random-sample telephone survey of 1,204 adults 18 and older living in the United States. It was designed by staff at the Foundation and Princeton Survey Research Associates (PSRA) and conducted by PSRA between April 24 and May 10, 1998.…

  • Another Gender Gap?  Men’s Role in Preventing Pregnancy

    Report

    A chart pack, press release, and Q&A prepared for a briefing held in New York on March 19, 1997, co-sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the National Press Foundation and The Alan Guttmacher Institute. This briefing focused on men's role and responsibility in preventing pregnancy. A survey of men's and women's perceptions about men's role and responsibility when it comes to preventing unplanned pregnancy was released as part of this briefing and is also available,…

  • Survey on Public Knowledge and Attitudes on Contraception and Unplanned Pregnancy in the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands

    Other Post

    G. Emergency Contraceptive Pills, or Morning-After Pills G1. If a woman has just had sex and thinks she might become pregnant, is there anything that she could do in the next few days to prevent pregnancy, or not? Asked only in the U.S. USA18+ Yes, there is something 36% No, there is not anything 47% Too late to prevent pregnancy (Vol.) 1% Not sure/Refused 17% G2. Have you ever heard of morning-after pills, also called…

  • Health Care and the 2004 Elections: Women’s Health Policy

    Issue Brief

    Women's Health Policy Download a printable .pdf of Health Care and the 2004 Elections: Women's Health Policy. IssueBackgroundReproductive HealthImproving Insurance Coverage and Affordability of CareBalancing Work and Family Health Care NeedsLong-Term CareClinical ResearchAssessing Candidate Positions Issue Health care is a major issue for women. Their greater health needs, longer lifespans, lower incomes, roles in their family’s health as mothers and caregivers, and reproductive health needs make their relationship with the health care system complex. Historically,…

  • Toplines/Survey: HTML format

    Other Post

    Kaiser Family Foundation Survey on Teens and Sex: What They Say Teens Today Need to Know, And Who They Listen To Final Topline: Teenager Interview June 24, 1996 Conducted for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundationby Princeton Survey Research Associates Number of Interviews: 1,510 teenagers age 12-18 Margin of Error: plus or minus 3 percentage points Dates of Interviewing: March 28 - May 5, 1996 Introduction: Hello, my name is __________ and I'm calling for…