Abortion training available to medical students appears to be increasing for the first time in two decades. However, medical schools and hospitals remain quiet about their training programs, for fear of negative publicity or protests. While nearly half of the residency programs in the U.S. offer abortion training, according to the National Abortion Federation, residents often run into obstacles to obtaining it because of threats of violence, harassment, and discouragement from licensed obstetricians. The number of abortion providers has been on the decline since 1982. Medical Students for Choice was established to help increase the availability of abortion training to medical students.