Breaking News: TV Portrayals of Abortions Plummet, Shameful Storylines Dominate

A new report reveals a significant decline in TV characters obtaining abortions, with only 37 characters undergoing the procedure in 2025, a 14% drop from 2023. This comes as TV shows continue to feature abortion-related plotlines at a steady rate, with 65 such storylines in 2025 and 66 in 2024.

According to the Abortion Onscreen report from Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, a research program at the University of California San Francisco, the decrease in TV characters obtaining abortions is a concerning trend. The report highlights a shift towards more shameful and stigmatizing portrayals of abortion on television.

TV shows like The Pitt and Call the Midwife have featured abortion-related storylines, but the focus has shifted towards the emotional and psychological impact on characters, rather than the procedure itself. This shift in narrative has sparked concerns among reproductive health advocates.

The Abortion Onscreen report is an annual analysis of abortion on television, providing a snapshot of how the issue is represented on screen. The report's findings have sparked debate among TV critics and reproductive health advocates.

This is a developing story.