Many women in America become pregnant without planning on doing so. In fact statistics show that about 49% of pregnancies are unplanned among women in America. Research shows that about 48% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 have had at least one unplanned pregnancy. It has been estimated that about 43% of women in America will have at least one abortion before the age of 45.
How is Abortion defined?
Abortion is defined as a fetus being taken from the body before it is fully developed. The fetus at this point would be unable to survive outside of the mother’s womb.
There is such a thing as spontaneous abortion. This type of abortion occurs naturally and they are more commonly known to most of us as a miscarriage.
Roe vs. Wade
Roe vs. Wade was a landmark case with the Supreme Court in 1973. In this case abortion was made legal by not allowing states the right to regulate early abortions.
There are still people who oppose this ruling but have been unsuccessful in their attempts to have the ruling overturned.
Partial Birth Abortion
Partial birth abortion is something that has sparked the attention and caused controversy among people for years. In the medical community this term is not commonly used. This type of abortion is considered to be a late term abortion.
There are many local, state and national level pro-life groups that continue seeking legislation that would make abortion a crime. On the others side there are pro-choice groups that are working hard to ensure that women maintain the right to an abortion if she would choose to have one.
Types of Abortion
There are different types of abortions and methods that can be used, one of which is the use of Mifeprisone. This is a drug, known as RU-486; it combines with Misoprostal and it has been widely used in Europe for early abortions. This is also something that is now widely used in the U.S. Mifepristone blocks uterine absorption of the hormone progesterone, causing the uterine lining and any fertilized eggs to shed. Researchers in Europe report few serious medical problems associated with this method.
Some common side effects that are milder are:
- Cramping
- Abdominal pain
- Bleeding (heavy period)
Another type of abortion is called Vacuum Aspiration. This is a method that is performed in the 1st trimester. This type of abortion can be done up to 12 weeks from the start of a woman’s menstrual period. The procedure is done as an outpatient procedure with local anesthetic and it only takes about 15 minutes. Once the procedure is complete the woman stays in the hospital or doctors office for a few hours after to ensure that there are no complications.
D & C Dilation and Curettage
This procedure is very similar to the vacuum aspiration but it must be done in a hospital with general anesthesia. The procedure can be done between 8 and 20 weeks after the date of a woman’s last menstrual period. The procedure involves a sharp metal loop that attaches to a handle and is inserted and used to scrape uterine contents. This procedure runs a much higher risk of uterine perforation, infection and hemorrhage.
Induced Labor
This is a procedure that is done in the 2nd trimester. The most common form of this procedure is called Saline Induced Labor and it is usually done in a hospital. This procedure is done by sticking a fine tube through the abdomen and into the amniotic sac. Once this is done, amniotic fluid is removed and an equal amount of saline then goes through the tube. This process induces labor which causes the woman to miscarry within hours.
Prostaglandin Induced Labor
This is another type of induced labor and in this particular procedure a substance called prostaglandin is injected into the amniotic sac or into the vagina like a suppository. It has been said that induced labor is one of, if not the very, most common methods of abortion. This procedure is most common for women who are late into their 2nd trimester. This method beings more quickly and lasts less time than the saline induced labor.
Hysterotomy
This is a surgical method of abortion that is usually done between 16 and 24 weeks from the date of a woman’s last menstrual period. This procedure is quite rare but it can be useful if a physician decides other methods are not appropriate.
What comes with Abortion?
There are many things that come with abortion. There are many emotional and physical aspects that go in to an abortion and even a miscarriage.
The emotional aspects are much different than the physical ones when it comes to abortion. In a lot of cases women feel guilty after they have had an abortion. A lot of emotions are in turmoil and the many highs and lows of the emotional rollercoaster are expected because of the hormones changing in the body. Some women experience anger, sadness and frustration for years after. Everyone is different and how they handle things is different as well.
Negative psychological reactions to abortion are in most cases very rare, however some may suffer from emotional issues that are very similar to postpartum depression.
Danger of Abortion
Many researchers have pointed out that there is a greater risk of dying during childbirth than during a legal abortion.
According to the book, Marriage and Families, written by David H. Olsen, “a woman has a 1 and 500,000 chance of dying as a result of an abortion; this compares to a 1 and 14,300 chance of dying as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.”
After any abortion
After any abortion women are usually instructed to seek immediate medical attention if they experience:
- Elevated temperature
- Severe lower abdominal cramps or pain
- Heavy bleeding (more than period)
- If period doesn’t start at least six weeks after abortion
Prevention
Unplanned pregnancy and abortion can be 100% preventable by practicing abstinence. There are programs such as Planned Parenthood that help made contraception more easily available as well as providing young people with adequate education on sex instead of leaving it up to experience.
Knowing all the facts about abortion should make your decision on having or not having an abortion more clearly. If you or anyone you know has or is considering abortion you should contact you doctor, health department or in any case of an emergency contact your local hospital or 911.
It is important to remember that with any abortion, pregnancy labor or miscarriage there are risks and knowing the facts will help you if at any time you are faced with decisions such as these.
Disclaimer: The statements above are for general information only and should not be used as a basis for making a decision about abortion.
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