After the Nov. 5 presidential election, online searches for “birth control” surged, along with concerns about potential bans on the medication.
At 4 a.m. on Nov. 6, following news that Republican candidate Donald Trump had won against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, Google searches for “birth control” more than doubled, according to Google Trends.
The states where the term was searched the most were all ones that Trump carried: West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Indiana. These states have implemented near-total bans or severe restrictions on abortion.
Along with searches for “birth control,” related terms such as “Is birth control being banned?” and “Is Trump going to get rid of birth control?” saw significant spikes in interest, highlighting public concern over the future of reproductive rights.
This increase in search activity reflects widespread anxiety about potential changes in healthcare policy following the election results.