Individuals rely on birth control to treat a host of medical conditions. But birth control has become a hot-button issue, embroiled in political debates. And that worries some patients and providers about future access to the medications.

Advocates are concerned that the limited exceptions in Indiana’s abortion ban could go away or that access to birth control and other medical rights could be on the line. They also worry about a potential federal abortion ban now that President-elect Donald Trump will be in power and Republicans will control the U.S. Senate.

The individual terminated pregnancy reports contain information about Hoosiers who received legal abortions. It includes information about the person's pre-existing medical conditions, age, location, marital status and reason for the abortion. Medical providers fill out these reports, and if they don’t, they could lose their license and face misdemeanor charges.

The first National Eucharistic Pilgrimage since 1941 will culminate in a procession to the downtown St. John the Evangelist Church for a noon Mass on July 16.

Voices for Life, an anti-abortion group, filed a lawsuit last month against the Indiana Department of Health to regain access to individual terminated pregnancy reports. Two Indiana physicians who provide abortion care in the state filed a motion Tuesday to the group from obtaining the reports.

Abortion providers said a critical exception in Indiana's near-total abortion ban is vague and unclear which puts patient lives at risk. The first day of testimony in the latest legal challenge to the law largely focused on concerns around the health or life exception.

A group of abortion care providers is suing the state in a challenge against its near-total abortion ban. A three-day bench trial started Wednesday in Monroe County.

Thirteen states across the U.S., including much of the Midwest, introduced bills this year that could give some rights to embryos and fetuses usually associated with people. None passed, but people in the fertility world are concerned that lawmakers will try again and what that means for reproductive rights.

The latest national abortion count by the Society of Family Planning found an increase in the number of abortions in 2023 compared to the year prior. But the numbers vary by state with some seeing sharp decreases due to fresh restrictions and bans.

The Indiana Department of Health stopped sharing individual terminated pregnancy reports due to patient privacy concerns. But the attorney general and an anti-abortion group say this violates the states public records law. One legal expert said the requirements and privacy concerns create complicated gray areas for state officials to navigate.