Women in the United States haven't always had the right to an abortion. Before 1973, individual states were allowed to decide whether abortion would be legal within their borders. In 1973, Federal law has protected a woman's right to choose an abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. When governments restrict access to abortions, people are compelled to unsafe abortions, particularly those who cannot afford to travel or seek private care. This shows that criminalizing abortion does not stop abortions, it just makes abortion less safe. Unsafe abortions are the third leading cause of maternal deaths worldwide.