New reports on the status of the abortion industry indicate that abortion facilities in the United States have been closing at a record rate since 2011.

Bloomberg notes that since 2011, 58 abortion facilities–nearly 1 in 10–have either shut down or stopped offering surgical abortions. Some pro-life groups contend, however, that the figures are much higher as over 40 abortion facilities have shut down this year alone.

Reports outline that increasing regulations on abortion facilities have heavily impacted the closures. The pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute says that approximately 200 abortion restrictions have been passed since 2011. Nearly one-third of the closings since 2011 have attributed to new laws that make it difficult for abortionists to stay in business.

As previously reported, Planned Parenthood closed its Bryan, Huntsville, and Lufkin offices just last month in response to new Texas regulations calling for increased facility standards.

“In recent years, Texas politicians have created an increasingly hostile environment for providers of reproductive health care in underserved communities,” Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast President Melany Linton wrote in a statement. “While we believe the excessive and medically unnecessary requirements imposed on clinics providing early abortion are unconstitutional, we have made the difficult and practical decision to close Planned Parenthood Center for Choice in Bryan [and others] at this time rather than face the prospect of having to do so in the foreseeable future.”

However, not all closings are due to pro-life legislation, as a number of facilities have been forced to shut their doors due to serious violations uncovered by local health departments or the revocation of the abortionist’s license following the discovery of illegal activity.

Two facilities in Pennsylvania that were owned by abortionist Steven Brigham, who had been found to be operating an illegal late-term abortion facility in Maryland, shut their doors this year as Brigham was barred from practicing in the state. Kermit Gosnell’s “House of Horrors” in Philadelphia also closed in 2011 after being raided by investigators. Additionally, in Michigan and Ohio alone, 14 abortion facilities have closed over the past three years.

“Abortion numbers are down so there is less demand for Planned Parenthood,” Operation Rescue’s Troy Newman also noted to reporters. “Couple that with recent scandals involving Planned Parenthood that have resulted in increased disapproval of their abortion business and it’s easy to see why these clinics are closing on such a large scale.”

“While Planned Parenthood officials like to portray these closings as the end of the world for women, in reality, there are plenty of other competent health care providers who are not in business to sell them abortions that stand at the ready to assist women,” he added.

While pro-life citizens are jubilant that abortion facilities are closing at record rates, many note that there is much work left to be done as over 700 abortion facilities remain in the nation. Some also note that the courts are a significant obstacle in the fight for life, as all of the states that have passed heartbeat bills this year, including North Dakota and Arkansas, have seen the newly-enacted laws blocked by Republican and Democratic-appointed judges alike.

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