Abortion is a controversial topic that generates strong feelings on all sides of the debate, with people making assertions about its morality and its medical safety without always having all the facts about abortion available to them. The following are five key facts about abortion that will help you make your own decision about whether or not it’s good or bad when the time comes to make your decision about whether or not you want to have an abortion in the first place.
1 in 3 Women Have Abortions
According to a report released by The Guttmacher Institute, Forty-two percent of pregnancies among American women are unplanned and nearly half of these are terminated by abortion. So that’s about 42% of all pregnancies in America ending with an abortion.
That’s over 3 million women every year that experience an abortion. And while these numbers are pretty shocking, they aren’t surprising. After all, studies show that 35% of women who have abortions do so because they weren’t planning on becoming pregnant and 47% report feeling unprepared to raise a child at that time in their lives.
Most Are Done Early
Many women are afraid of having an abortion later in their pregnancy, but a majority of abortions take place within 4 weeks. Only 10% of abortions occur after 8 weeks, according to Planned Parenthood. So if you choose to get an abortion, you don’t have to worry about taking it very late into your pregnancy. Statistics show that most women elect for one around week 5 or 6! That’s why doctors say that 97% of all abortions occur before 21 weeks!
You are probably aware that there are two types of abortions available. In order to get a medical abortion, you need to take some pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, either in combination or separately. The abortion pill is taken within 3 weeks of your first day of your last period. This works by blocking progesterone (responsible for keeping a pregnancy alive) so that an embryo cannot survive and grows out naturally. As an added benefit, it can also help with pain during cramps!
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92% of Women Say They Made the Right Decision
When asked if they would have an abortion again, 92% of women said yes. This data shows that, on a large scale, most women who undergo abortions do not regret their decision. The majority of these women are able to return to life as usual soon after their procedure. Note that these figures only include women who had positive experiences with abortion; those who did not were not included in survey results.
In general, after a woman receives an abortion, she can return to her normal life. She may feel uncomfortable for a short time and experience some bleeding, but these symptoms generally resolve quickly. If complications do occur, they’re generally minor and easily treated. These data illustrate that most women who have abortions feel satisfied with their choice.
Professional Medical Advice is Required in Many Situations: If you’re pregnant and considering an abortion, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your decision.
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Side effect of abortion?
The most common short-term side effects of abortion include bleeding, cramping, nausea and vomiting. Side effects vary depending on which method was used during your procedure. In most cases, complications are rare; however, you should be aware of them before making a decision about terminating your pregnancy. While it is ultimately up to you to decide what’s best for your body, it’s helpful to know all possible side effects of abortion before making a final decision.
Some Common Misconceptions
If you aren’t totally sure of where you stand on abortion, it’s important to look at both sides of a complicated issue. Here are five facts about abortion that might just help you decide for yourself.
Myth #1
Abortions cause mental health problems. This is a common argument made by pro-life groups that claim abortion causes mental health problems like PTSD, depression, and substance abuse. However, there’s no scientific evidence to support these claims.
Myth #2
Having an abortion can make it harder to get pregnant in the future. Some women also believe that having an abortion will cause infertility, but that’s not true either. Whether you’re using your own eggs (i.e., have had a hysterectomy) or a donor egg, there’s no difference between having an abortion and giving birth when it comes to fertility.
Myth #3
Abortions are never necessary. While it’s true that most abortions are performed due to personal choice, some women do experience medical complications during pregnancy which necessitate an abortion.
Myth #4
Abortions cause breast cancer. There’s no evidence to support claims that abortions cause breast cancer. In fact, current research shows a link between miscarriages and breast cancer. You can actually reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by having children in your 20s or 30s instead of waiting until you’re older for an abortion. These pregnancies will boost your breast tissue and make it more resilient to changes over time.
Myth #5
Abortions will ruin your body. There’s no evidence to support claims that abortions cause long-term damage to your reproductive organs. The only thing you might experience is some spotting and mild cramping after an abortion, and that usually subsides within a few days.
