DIY Abortion: The State-Sanctioned Slaughter of 25,135 Image-Bearers
The Ohio Department of Health recently released its 2025 Induced Abortion Report, and the numbers are a devastating indictment of the state’s current legal and cultural landscape. Since the passage of the radical and deceptive November 2023 Issue 1, the culture of death has entrenched itself in our state. According to official records, over 25,000 babies were killed in Ohio abortions last year alone. This represents a staggering 15% increase in the killing of unborn children compared to the previous year.
But behind every statistic is a story, and for some, there is a second chance. Watch Sierra’s powerful story to see how Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) is offering hope and saving lives in the midst of this crisis.
Behind these clinical data points are 25,135 empty cribs. These were unique image-bearers of God: the future scientists, inventors, and entire family trees whose voices, love, and breakthroughs will now never shape the future of Ohio.
As CCV noted in our Vital Signs report, this surge was the predictable result of enshrining a "right" to abortion with virtually no limits in our state constitution.
The report unmasks the brutal reality of the abortion industry's expansion. Nearly 60% of these deaths were caused by chemical abortion pills, often dispensed with minimal medical oversight, turning bathrooms into DIY abortion clinics. We have warned that the rise of mail-order abortion drugs presents a new, dangerous challenge that is harder to regulate and far more hazardous for women. Even more harrowing, the data shows a rise in late-term procedures. 293 children were killed after 20 weeks, the threshold of viability with modern medicine.
BREAKING: Abortion Was the Leading Cause of Death Worldwide in 2025, Killing 73 Million People https://t.co/cL0dpibdmk pic.twitter.com/Qk6iiKNvL9
— LifeNews.com (@LifeNewsHQ) January 2, 2026
The abortion lobby promised that the amendment was about "safety" and "moderation." The ODH report proves that that was a lie. Instead, Ohio has become a destination for death, with thousands of out-of-state residents traveling here to exploit our lack of protections.
The Data of Death: Breaking Down the 2025 Abortion Report Numbers
Total Loss of Life: A total of 25,135 unborn children were killed in Ohio in 2025.
The Post-Issue 1 Surge: Ohio saw a 15% increase in abortions in a single year.
Abortion Tourism: Out-of-state residents accounted for 5,243 abortions, meaning 20.9%—more than one in five—of all procedures in Ohio were performed on non-residents.
The DIY Abortion Crisis: 59.1% of all abortions (14,866) were committed using chemical pills like Mifepristone, often with zero medical oversight.
Heartbeats Silenced: A fetal heartbeat was detected in 4,480 cases before the child’s life was taken. For the remaining 19,651 procedures, the industry either failed to test or failed to report the presence of a fetal heartbeat.
Late-Term Brutality: There were 2,278 abortions performed at 13 weeks gestation or later, a stage where these children feel excruciating pain.
The "Emergency" Myth: Despite claims that abortion is "healthcare" for mothers, only 0.4% (101 cases) were even claimed by the industry to be a medical necessity or emergency.
Targeting Minorities: Where race was reported, nearly 49% of Ohio abortions were performed on Black mothers, continuing the disproportionate targeting of the Black community, which makes up approximately 14% of Ohio’s population.
The Marriage Gap: Where marital status was reported, approximately 89% of women who obtained abortions in Ohio were unmarried.
Children Having Abortions: 560 girls under the age of 18 obtained abortions in Ohio.
The Cycle of Death: Where reported, approximately 67% of Ohio women had already undergone one or more prior induced abortions.
While activists celebrate "access," the abortion industry is fueling a growing culture of death in our neighborhoods. CCV remains committed to unmasking these lies and restoring the right to life for every Ohioan. We will not stop until the disastrous Issue 1 amendment is repealed and the Church is fully equipped to protect the most vulnerable among us.
There is Hope After the First Pill
While the abortion industry pushes DIY abortion, many women regret their decision immediately after taking the first chemical abortion pill. It is not too late. If you or someone you know has taken the first pill and changed your mind, there is an effective process to save your baby. Watch Sierra’s powerful story on CCV’s YouTube channel to see how Abortion Pill Reversal changes lives. For immediate help, visit AbortionPillReversal.com or call 1-877-558-0333.
Photo: “Embryo week 9-10” by lunar caustic, CC BY 2.0
For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org. For media inquiries, email media@ccv.org.
As Ohio's largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel.
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