Iowa has a relatively low abortion rate compared to the rest of the United States. And in recent years it has dropped 40 percent. Officials have also seen a decrease in the rate of teenage births in the state and one Planned Parenthood official said this is not the result of more abortions.

“When people have access to comprehensive sex education and the full spectrum of contraception, there’s a strong correlation with decreased abortion rates ,” Planned Parenthood Medical Director Jill Meadows said.

Part of the birth controls Meadows attribute to the decrease in abortions is long-lasting contraceptives, such as IUDs and contraceptive implants.

“These methods are more expensive as a general rule,” Meadows said. “With the Affordable Care Act and the Iowa Medicaid Waiver for Family Planning, that helps offset those costs.”

Daily Iowan TV has the full story.