Final answer:
The development of estrogen-based birth control led to greater reproductive autonomy for women but also increased debates on sexual morality and abortion rates, prompting legal and clinical regulations of abortions and reforms in paternity laws in the 1970s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correlation between the development of estrogen-based birth control and the subsequent increase in abortion rates in the years that followed is a complex issue involving social, medical, and legal factors. During the 1960s, the introduction of the contraceptive pill, which contained estrogen, provided women with greater control over their reproductive lives.
However, the availability and use of birth control also led to debates on sexual morality and the responsibilities that come with increased sexual freedom. As a result, there was an observed increase in abortion rates, as not all pregnancies were prevented by contraceptives, and not all users had equal access to them.
This trend highlighted the need for legal and clinical regulations of abortions as well as reforms in paternity laws. The 1970s saw significant changes in this regard, with the landmark decision of Roe v. Wade in 1973, legalizing abortion nationwide in the US.
This legal shift, along with the development of clinical guidelines for safe abortions, was aimed at protecting women's health and autonomy. Furthermore, paternity laws underwent reforms to better address the responsibilities of fatherhood in light of the changing social attitudes towards family planning and parenthood.