Since Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election, requests for birth control and permanent sterilization procedures have dramatically increased across the United States. Many patients, concerned about the future of reproductive rights, are seeking long-term contraception and emergency contraception.

Dr. Clayton Alfonso, an OB-GYN at Duke University, reported receiving multiple requests from patients seeking to replace their IUDs and schedule permanent sterilization procedures shortly after the election. “All of them said the election was the reason they were making these choices now,” he shared.

This surge in demand isn't limited to Dr. Alfonso's practice. Doctors across the country have noted a rise in requests for IUDs, tubal ligations, and emergency contraception. One company reported a massive 966% increase in emergency contraception sales within just 60 hours after Trump's re-election.

The fear of restricted access to reproductive health services is palpable. Dr. Alfonso noted that although there was a similar uptick in patient concerns after Trump's 2016 election and the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, many patients seem more fearful this time around.

While anti-abortion groups are urging Trump to impose stricter regulations on abortion pills, it's still unclear what steps will be taken regarding contraceptive access during his second term. Trump had previously mentioned he was open to regulating contraception but later clarified on social media that he has “never and will never” support restricting birth control.

For some, the urgency to act is clear. Patients are seeking to replace their IUDs before the inauguration to “restart” their contraception clock, especially given the rising controversy over IUDs. Anti-abortion advocates argue that IUDs may prevent fertilized eggs from implanting in the womb, even though most experts believe they primarily work by preventing fertilization.

Mara Zupko, a 27-year-old patient, explained that she wanted to stockpile emergency contraception due to weight concerns with the over-the-counter version, Plan B. Zupko and her husband also decided that he would undergo a vasectomy. “We always kind of teetered on whether we wanted children or not,” she said. “But as the world has become scarier, we realized we didn’t want to bring a child into that environment.”

As the country braces for the upcoming administration, more women are taking steps to secure their reproductive futures in a landscape that feels increasingly uncertain.

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