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Abortion rights. Abortion. According to a new study from the Gutmacher Institute, abortion is at its lowest levels since the Supreme Court found that women were citizens, that they own their own bodies, and that the Constitution protected a woman's right to make

her own reproductive choices, including the right to terminate a pregnancy, which the Supreme

Court found way, way back in 73, 1973.

Abortion rates right now as low as they were in 1973.

And it's not abstinence education, which numerous studies and the Palin family have shown

to be a failure,

kids who've had abstinence-only sex ed are actually likely to get pregnant and likely

as contract in STI than kids who've had comprehensive sex education.

Because, as it turns out, telling kids that condoms don't work and they shouldn't bother

makes them less likely to use condoms when they inevitably

decide to have sex. No one could have predicted. And it's not restrictions on access to abortion

rammed through state legislatures by Republican majorities after 2010 and 2012. This data comes from

way, way back in 2011, the most recent year for which we have at this data set. And it shows there were fewer

than 17 abortions for every 1,000 women in 2011, again, the lowest rate since 1973.

Credit goes to increased access to contraceptives, particularly newer, safer, longer-lasting

IUDs, intrauterine devices that women have been opting for in ever-growing numbers. IUDs have

much lower failure rates than the pill and condoms because unlike the pill, you can't forget

to take your IUD one morning. And unlike condoms, your IUD can't break. And it also can't be

removed by some sneaky rando asshole halfway through sex. So yay, abortion rates way, way down, or they were in

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