Shares of television shows featuring abortion plotlines remained relatively stable this year, with 65 storylines appearing on various programs, according to the annual Abortion Onscreen report. However, the number of characters who underwent an abortion decreased by 14, from 51 in 2023 to 37 in 2025. This trend is part of a broader shift in the way television portrays reproductive health, with more stories reinforcing shame and stigma around abortion.

The report, compiled by Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, a research program based at the University of California San Francisco, analyzed 66 TV shows that featured abortion storylines in 2024. While the number of shows remained consistent with last year, the decrease in characters obtaining abortions is a notable trend. "We're seeing a shift towards more nuanced and complex portrayals of abortion, but unfortunately, that nuance often comes at the cost of characters' agency and autonomy," said Dr. Julia R. Steinberg, a researcher at the University of California San Francisco and lead author of the report.

According to the report, the majority of abortion storylines on television are still portrayed in a negative light, with characters often facing shame, guilt, and stigma. This trend is particularly concerning in the context of the ongoing global debate around reproductive rights. "The way we portray abortion on television has real-world implications for how people think and feel about the issue," said Dr. Steinberg. "When we see characters facing shame and stigma, it can perpetuate negative attitudes and reinforce barriers to access."

The decrease in characters obtaining abortions on television is part of a broader trend in the way reproductive health is portrayed on screen. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on more realistic and nuanced portrayals of abortion, but this shift has not necessarily led to more positive representations of the issue. "We're seeing a lot more complexity and nuance in abortion storylines, but that complexity often comes at the cost of characters' agency and autonomy," said Dr. Steinberg.

The Abortion Onscreen report is part of a broader effort to track and analyze the way reproductive health is portrayed on television. The report's findings have implications for the way we think about and discuss abortion, both on and off screen. As the global debate around reproductive rights continues to evolve, the way we portray abortion on television will remain an important issue.

In related news, the report's findings have sparked a renewed debate around the importance of accurate and nuanced portrayals of reproductive health on television. "We need to see more positive and empowering representations of abortion on television," said Dr. Steinberg. "Characters should be able to make their own decisions about their bodies and their reproductive health, without facing shame or stigma."