Pregnancy Information Digest » Abortion

Some Abortion Debate Facts

Editor — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:30:06 +0000

There are two major sides to every argument, and when we are talking about abortion debate facts, it is no different. Pro-Choice is a term used for those who are essentially pro-abortion. There are many levels of Pro-Choice activism, including those people who would not choose to have an abortion themselves, but do think that the expectant mother has a right to choose what happens to her own body. The major question that Pro-Choice advocates address is the question of women's rights. They believe that a woman has the right to choose whether or not she gives birth. Pro-Choice advocates are in favor or abortion being available on demand, and usually, at any time during the pregnancy. This is especially true when it comes to therapeutic abortion, or abortion in cases of rape or incest.

Pro-Life is a term used to describe those people who are basically against abortion. When discussing abortion debate facts, it is important to remember that there are many levels to this side as well. Some people may consider themselves Pro-Life even if they are in favor of certain types of abortion: for example, therapeutic abortion or abortion in cases of rape or incest. These people do not believe that abortion should be available on demand, but would protect the mother's physical and mental health. The major question Pro-Life advocates are concerned with is "what are the rights of the unborn child?" This leave a lot of room for interpretation, depending on when one believes that life begins. The majority of Pro-Lifers believe that life begins at conception and therefore no type of abortion should be allowed. Many Pro-Lifers believe that religion plays greatly into the realm of abortion debate facts. For example, Christians believe the Bible states that God know a person's soul before they are born. They believe that if God knows a soul, that soul is a human being, and God dictates in the Bible that people should not kill each other; therefore, abortion is murder.

Aside from the question of rights, there are other abortion debate facts that should be discussed. For example, even when abortion was illegal in the United States – before the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade which essentially made abortion legal – women still sought out abortions. Since the procedures were illegal, they were not regulated by the government or the medical community. This posed a great problem for the women seeking abortions. They had to look to what are commonly deemed as "back-alley abortionists". This term refers to someone not medically licensed who practices abortion procedures in an unsafe environment. This is extremely dangerous, and many women died before abortion was regulated.

What Are Some Methods Of Abortion?

Editor — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:45:10 +0000

Generally speaking, there are three major methods of abortion: Spontaneous, Induced, and Herbal. In addition, you can also consider self-inflicted abortion as a method, but as this is not popular and not necessary in modern times, I do not consider it as one of the major methods of abortion. Self-inflicted abortion is often done with a sharp object, often a coat hanger, which is inserted by the expectant mother into her own cervix. This is extremely dangerous, not reliable and sometimes even deadly.

Herbal abortion is the oldest of the methods of abortion. Like self-inflicted abortion, Herbal abortion is not very safe, and often does not produce any effect other than a very sick pregnant woman. Many different herbs have been used over the hundreds of years people have been using this method of abortion, including tansy, pennyroyal, black cohosh, silphium – which is now extinct – birthwort, and even herbs that modern people use daily: dill, marjoram, thyme, parsley, lavender, and juniper. These herbs are referred to as "abortifacient", which means simply that they can cause abortion.

The most commonly known and used methods of abortion are surgical. Early-term abortions can be performed by one of three surgical procedures: Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA), Electric Vacuum Aspiration (EVA), and Dilation and Curettage (D&C). MVA uses a syringe to suction out the tissue; EVA uses an electric pump to suction the tissue out. D&C uses a sharp curette to clean the walls of the uterus once the cervix has been opened. Later-stage methods of abortion are Dilation and Evacuation (D&E), Hysterectomy Abortion, and the controversial Intact Dilation and Extraction (IDX), or Partial Birth Abortion. D&E is performed opening the cervix and cleaning out the uterus with instruments and suction. A Hysterectomy Abortion is essentially a cesarean section that terminates a pregnancy. IDX involves dilating the cervix, using forceps to grasp and turn the fetus into breech position, and then withdraw the fetus until just the head is left inside the cervix. The head is then collapsed by suctioning the brain matter out of the skull through a small incision made at the base of the skull. This method of abortion is currently banned under the Partial Birth Abortion Ban law that was passed by Congress and signed into effect by President George W Bush in 2003. The US Supreme Court is currently examining the legal validity of this law because it does not provide for cases where the health of the mother is in jeopardy.

Chemical methods of abortion are done by a combination of drugs that effectively terminate the pregnancy. Methotrexate or mifepristone is used, and is followed by one of two types of prostaglandin. The type used depends on where the procedure is taking place. In the US, misoprostol is commonly used; in the UK and in Sweden, gemeprost is used.

Pro Abortion Is Pro-Choice

Editor — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:00:07 +0000

In the war between those who are pro abortion, or Pro-Choice, and those who are anti abortion, or Pro-Life, the most important thing to remember is that not everyone who is pro abortion is against having children. On the contrary, there are many pro abortion people who would not have an abortion themselves, but consider themselves Pro-Choice because they believe that every woman has the right to choose for herself whether or not she gives birth. Pro abortion or Pro-Choice people are primarily concerned with women's rights. The major question about abortion that they consider when arguing for abortion rights is "does a woman have the right to choose what happens to her own body?" Overwhelmingly, their belief is yes.

The primary issues that pro abortion people concentrate on – aside from the woman's right to choose – are the effect on the crime rate and back-alley abortions. Economists have studied the crime rate in the United States for decades. But the most interesting recent data shows that the crime rate has dropped dramatically since the legalization of abortion is 1973 with the Supreme Court's ruling on Roe vs. Wade. There is a direct correlation between the decreased crime rate and this legal precedent. It seems that as poverty stricken women are able to access abortion procedures, unwanted and therefore unloved children have been prevented.

The biggest of these issues for pro abortion people is the issue of back-alley abortions. The term is slang, and refers to any abortion performed in unsafe environments, and/or performed by unlicensed practitioners. These are incredibly dangerous procedures for the woman, and until the legalization of abortion, many women died from these practices of from trying to give themselves an abortion. IN the 1950s and 1960s, there were about 1.2 million illegal abortion performed, and of these, a large percentage caused serious damage to the woman. Since the advent of legalized abortion, the rate of death from abortion procedures has dropped dramatically. Today, abortions are one of the safest medical procedures a person can have.

Many pro abortion advocates feel that women who do not want to raise a child should not be forced to do so because that can be incredibly hurtful to the child emotionally. Children who grow up in unloving homes tend to have more psychological problems than those who know they are loved and wanted. Also, many women who become pregnant unexpectedly may be financial unstable, and this can also cause a lot of problems for both the child and the mother.

History of Abortion – What Is the History of Abortion?

Editor — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 03:00:06 +0000

Abortion is not a new concept. In fact, abortion has been around for hundreds of years. The history of abortion begins with the ancient Greeks and Romans, and, of course, continues even today. Early abortions were performed in rather frightening and unscientific ways. These ways primarily dealt with herbs – dubbed "abortifacient" – sharp objects, and even by placing severe pressure on the expectant mother's abdomen.

Abortifacient herbs were used for hundreds of years, and some people still use them today, although this is not recommended because of the possibility of physical danger to the woman. These herbs were also not guaranteed to work, and sometimes the user would get ill, but the herbs would fail to cause an abortion. In the 11th century, a missal on herbal remedies was written, and in it were listed the herbs that can cause abortion; thus the beginning of abortifacient herbs in the history of abortion. Herbs listed in this book were black and white hellbore, pennyroyal, Italian catnip, sage, savory, cyperus, and soapwort. Of these, recently there are two cases of death caused by pennyroyal. Other herbs such as birthwort, rue, tansy, opium, worm fern, and silphium (which is now extinct) were also used. Some people even used iron sulphate and iron chloride. Some of the most interesting remedies used herbs that modern people use everyday, sometimes even in food: egg, dill, marjoram, thyme, parsley, lavender and juniper.

The history of abortion continues with the development of current methods of abortion. The curette, which is a sharp implement used to clean the walls of the uterus, was initially invented in France in the 18th century. The process of dilation and curettage has been used since the 19th century. Vacuum-type implements were developed in the 19th century, but were only used in Japan, China, and the former Soviet Union until the mid-20th century when the process was introduced in the United States and Britain. In the late 20th century, drugs like mifepristone were developed to chemically produce an abortion.

The legal history of abortion is somewhat complicated. Abortion laws established by the church in early times concentrated on the point in the pregnancy called the "quickening"; this term commonly referred to the time when the expectant mother can feel the baby move for the first time. After the quickening, abortion was considered taboo, and was considered illegal. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, clergymen, doctors, and others interested in social reforms began to make movements to ban abortion altogether. The 20th century brought the legalization of abortion in most Western countries, but this was, and still is, the subject of great debate and controversy. In the United States, abortion during the first trimester (or the first 12 weeks) of pregnancy was deemed legal by the Supreme Court in 1973 in the famous court case Roe vs. Wade, beginning a new phase in the history of abortion.

Abortion Facts Abortion Facts, Not Fiction

Editor — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 23:30:07 +0000

When it comes to abortion facts, it is often very difficult to determine what information is true and what is false. Real abortion facts begin with the medical community. In medical terminology, abortion is serrated into different categories: Spontaneous Abortion and Induced Abortion. Spontaneous Abortion, or miscarriage, as it is commonly called, is the natural expulsion of the embryo or fetus from the uterus by the mother's body. This can happen because of genetic or physical abnormalities. Induced abortion is further separated into the sub-categories Therapeutic Abortion and Elective Abortion. Therapeutic Abortion is exactly what it sounds like: the extraction of an embryo or fetus for medical reasons to prevent harm from coming to the mother, or in cases of diagnosed deformities or problems with the unborn child. Elective Abortion is what is commonly debated. It is the choice of the expectant mother for any number of personal reasons.

There are numerous methods of abortion, including surgical, chemical and even herbal abortions. Abortion facts dictate that the most common in modern times are the surgical and chemical abortions, although until the 20th century, herbal abortions were the prominent, and sometimes the only, option for a woman who wished to have an abortion. Surgical methods are both diverse and complicated and they are often under much political and legal scrutiny. Manual Vacuum Aspiration, Electric Vacuum Aspiration, and Dilation and Curettage are early-term abortion options. Later-term options include Dilation and Evacuation, Hysterectomy Abortion, and Intact Dilation and Extraction, which is also known as Partial Birth Abortion and has been subject to legal precedents, especially the partial Birth Abortion Ban, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2003.

When discussing abortion facts, you must also think about chemical abortions. Chemical abortion is performed by combining drugs to end a pregnancy. Methotrexate or Mifepristone is followed by one of two types of prostaglandin, either misoprostol or gemeprost, to terminate the pregnancy.

From the legal standpoint, abortion facts are plentiful. The Christian church used to decide whether or not an abortion could be done by whether or not the movement of the fetus had occurred. By the 18th and 19th centuries, social reformers and clergymen wanted to place a complete ban on abortion. IN the 20th century, most Western countries had legalized abortion, most notably the controversial 1973 court case Roe vs. Wade, decided by the US Supreme Court, legalized early-term abortions. The passing of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban in 2003 was prefaced by the law being passed by Congress two other times, but being vetoed by President Bill Clinton.

Pro-Life: Against Abortion

Editor — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 19:00:29 +0000

The term "Pro-Life" is central to the debate of the validity of abortion. Pro-Lifers are generally against all types of Induced Abortion, both Therapeutic Abortion and Elective Abortion. They feel that human life begins at conception, and that every stage of this life, from embryo to fetus to newborn, has a right to life.

People who are against abortion believe that more growth and change in physicality occurs in the gestational period before birth than occurs throughout the rest of a person's life. Within the first three weeks, basic biological set up for the brain, spinal cord and nervous system begin to develop and the heart begins to beat. In the next few weeks, the baby forms limbs, lungs, eyes, musculature, and eventually begins to move. At five months, the mother can feel the baby kick; at six months, the baby can hear; at seven months, the baby's eyes open and it can see. They are also against abortion because they believe it can be painful for the baby.

With all of the growth and change listed above, Pro-lifers believe that the baby is also developing a soul and a consciousness that will be destroyed by abortion. The issue of the existence of a soul is commonly brought up by those who are against abortion. Many Pro-Lifers believe in God and in the creation of a person's soul at the moment of conception.

Pro-Lifers who are Christian believe that the Bible reinforces their beliefs against abortion. Christians use Bible verses to build logic behind their belief system. For example, the Bible teaches not to destroy innocent life (Genesis 9:6, Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 27:25a, Proverbs 6:16-19). Many claim that the Bible states that unborn babies are human life in books like Luke and Genesis. The books of Luke and Jeremiah state that God knows a person's soul before they are born. Therefore, an unborn child must be human life because God knows the child, and it is against God's will to destroy human life.

Pro-Lifers are against abortion even in the case of rape or incest. While they believe that these are despicable crimes and the perpetrators should be punished, they feel that the unborn children created by these crimes should not be punished. These are innocent byproducts of sexual crimes.

They do not feel that abortions should be funded in any way by the government. This includes the funding for clinics like Planned Parenthood. People who are against abortion sometimes commit violent acts of aggression aimed at abortion clinics. Abortion doctors have been killed, and clinics have been destroyed because of fanatical Pro-Lifers. Most Pro-Lifers feel these people are wrong to kill in order to prevent abortions.

Abortion Issues: Social Concerns And Debates

Editor — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:45:05 +0000

Abortion issues stem from a variety of concerns. There are two major questions at the heart of all abortion debate: the question Pro-Life advocates – or those opposing abortion – concentrate on is, "When does life begin?" This is central issue of their argument against abortion. Pro-Lifers believe that life begins at conception and therefore abortion should be considered murder. Pro-Choice advocates – or those who support abortion – are concerned with the question, "Do women have the right to choose whether or not they have an abortion?" Pro-Choice advocates believe that abortion is a women's rights issue and that all women should be free to choose what happens to her body. This debate is incredibly fierce because of the political, social, and moral implications of abortion. Religious Right leaders tend to be Pro-Life, while Feminists tend to be Pro-Choice. But there are many, many exceptions to this statement. In fact, most people fall somewhere in the middle on this particular debate.

There are other abortion issues that are major points of discussion in the abortion debate. These are social issues about the procedure of abortion itself, its effects on society, and highly biased preferences that sometimes lead to choosing abortion.

The first of these is the existence of what are commonly known as "back-alley abortions". This term refers to an abortion performed outside the medical community and not in safe ways. For example, women who are looking to get an abortion in a country where abortion is illegal may resort to finding an abortion provider who is not a trained medical professional. They may find a trained medical professional who is willing to do the procedure, but only in an unsafe and unclean environment such as a home or even a storage space. Sometimes these people will perform abortions in a way that is not medically proved effective. The term back-alley abortion can also refer to something the woman does to herself to produce an abortion, such as use a coat hanger to scrape her uterine walls.

Another of these abortion issues is the recent study done by economists that the tremendous drop in the crime rate is due to the legalization of abortion with the famous court case Roe vs. Wade in 1973. Many people argue that this study is biased against race, but nonetheless, the data are accurate.

The final of these abortion issues is sex-selective abortion. In many countries, particularly Asian countries, the advent of the prenatal ultrasound and the knowledge of what sex a child will be before its birth brought about abortions due to the sex of the fetus. Many cultures favor male children, and in these countries sex-selective abortion was very common before the initiation of laws preventing them.

What Are Some Facts About Abortion?

Editor — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:15:05 +0000

In order to keep the facts about abortion straight, the medical field provides specific terminology for the processes of abortion. Abortion is separated into two categories: spontaneous abortion and induced abortion. Spontaneous Abortion is more commonly referred to as miscarriage. A Spontaneous Abortion happens when trauma occurs and accidentally affects the embryo or fetus, causing the mother's body to expel it. This is due to natural causes such as genetic problems or disease.

The second category, Induced Abortion, is further separated into two sub-categories: Therapeutic Abortion and Elective Abortion. Therapeutic Abortion is done only to benefit the health of the mother. There are many different reasons that this might be an option for an expectant mother. Some women opt to terminate a pregnancy when the fetus has been found to have a congenital defect that would greatly hinder its development or even end in imminent death. A woman who is expecting multiple births may have to reduce the number of births in order to preserve her own health. These facts about abortion are often misunderstood.

The second sub-category of Induced Abortion is Elective Abortion. Most facts about abortion are greatly skewed because of this type of abortion. Elective Abortion is any abortion that is done for another reason and is the choice of the pregnant woman.

There are three kinds of abortion procedures: Surgical, Chemical, and Herbal. The kind of Surgical Abortion procedure used depends on the duration of the pregnancy. Abortions performed in the first twelve weeks, or trimester, can be done by MVA (Manual Vaccuum Aspiration), EVA (Electric Vacuum Aspiration), or Dilation and Curettage. Between the fifteenth and twenty-sixth weeks of a pregnancy, Dilation and Evacuation can be used. Through the second trimester, techniques such as induced miscarriage (drugs injected into the amniotic fluid), Intact Dilation and Extraction, or a Hysterectomy Abortion can be performed. These are the most misconstrued facts about abortion.

Many people looking for facts about abortion do not know about the option of Chemical or Herbal Abortions. The most common and effective Chemical Abortion method is using either methotrexate or mifepristone, and following that with prostaglandin – there are two available types of this drug: misoprostol is used in the United States, and gemeprost is used in the United Kingdom and Sweden. Misoprostol can be used alone, but it is not as effective as the use of the two drug regimen.
Facts about abortion using herbs are limited, but Herbal Abortions are possible, and are mostly used in folk medicine. Historically, herbs such as tansy, pennyroyal, black cohosh and the extinct silphium were used, but are very dangerous and can cause organ failure and death. Before Roe vs. Wade made abortion legal in the United States – and even nowadays in other countries – knitting needles and clothing hangers were used to cause massive trauma to the uterus and induce miscarriage.

Anti Abortion: What It Means To Be Pro-Life

Editor — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:30:04 +0000

Anti Abortion people are commonly referred to as "Pro-Life". This nickname has to do with their belief that life begins at conception. Since those who are anti abortion believe that life begins at conception, they feel that abortion is essentially murder and should not be legal for any reason. However, as with any other heated political debate that has religious and moral implications, there is a lot of "gray area" between Pro-Life and Pro-Choice. For example, some people consider themselves Pro-Life, but are in favor of abortion if the pregnancy endangers the mother.

Christians often are anti abortion. These people draw on messages in the Bible to back their Pro-Life arguments. Certain books of the Bible, like Luke and Jeremiah, claim that God knows all souls before they are born. They interpret this to mean that if God knows someone before birth, then that person is alive the moment he or she is conceived.

Anti abortionists also believe that the most a person will grow and change is when they are in the womb. Before birth, a human being develops all of their physical attributes like arms, legs, a spine, a brain, and the ability to feel pain. Fetal pain is a huge debate that also is important to those who are anti abortion. Pro-Lifers believe that the fetus can feel pain during the first trimester of pregnancy. Thus, an abortion would be painful for the unborn child. However, many other professionals suggest that the fetus cannot feel pain until the second of third trimester. This means that abortions performed in the first, or even early in the second trimester, do not cause the fetus to feel any pain.

While the Supreme Court of the United States declared abortion legal with the precedent-setting Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973, states are allowed to ban late term abortions as long as the mother's health is provided for. Essentially, this means that states that have residents who are primarily anti abortion have placed bans on late-term abortions. Currently, there is a ban on one late-term abortion procedure, Intact Dilation and Extraction, called the Partial Birth Abortion Ban. This ban does make provisions for circumstances when the mother's health is at risk, so the Supreme Court is debating the validity of the law.

Anti abortion proponents claim that even abortion in the case of rape or incest should be illegal because the fetus is not at fault. They also are against abortion clinic being funded by the government. In fact, many anti abortionists are so passionate that they will kill abortion doctors or bomb abortion clinics. This is by no means represents the average Pro-Lifer, but rather a very small percentage.

What Is An Abortion Pill?

Editor — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:00:09 +0000

An abortion pill is defined by the dictionary as, "a drug taken orally to induce abortion, especially early in pregnancy." The term "abortion pill" commonly refers to the drug Mifeprex, an abortifacient made up of the combination of two FDA approved medications: mifepristone and misoprostol. This abortion pill works during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy to cause a chemically induced miscarriage.

Mifepristone is also known as RU-486 and was developed in France. The drug works by blocking progesterone, a hormone that helps maintain pregnancy. If this hormone is not present, the uterus will begin to shed the lining, dependant on the woman, sometimes bleeding will occur. Mifepristone is taken orally in an abortion clinic. After this drug is taken, the clinic will provide a second drug called misoprostol. Misoprostol is taken between 24 and 72 hours after Mifepristone has been taken. Misoprostol causes the uterus to contact, thus causing a miscarriage. Many women prefer this type of abortion because it allows them the ability to be at home and in private when the miscarriage occurs. It also lets the woman have a little control over the situation, which some women find helpful.

A small amount of bleeding may occur when a person takes the first part of the abortion pill, Mifepristone. The amount of bleeding varies greatly from woman to woman. Some women do not even experience any bleeding from the first drug, while others experience period-like blood flow. Cramping and bleeding will occur with the second part of the abortion pill, Misoprostol. Sometimes this happens within 20 minutes of taking the drug. Regardless, 6 to 8 hours after taking the Misoprostol, cramping is experienced – often in waves, and sometimes very severely. Some women have side effects including vomiting and diarrhea. Clots are usually expelled, but it is impossible to see the embryo because it is too small.

It is necessary to have a follow-up appointment at the abortion clinic two weeks after the abortion pill is administered. This appointment will involve an exam to be sure the abortion has occurred. Although the abortion pill is between 95% and 97% effective, a small percentage of women have to have a follow up surgical abortion procedure to complete the abortion. This surgical procedure involves dilation the uterus and using suction to get rid of the remaining tissue.

As with any medical procedure, there are risks to using the abortion pill. Blood transfusions have been needed to replace lost blood due to excessive bleeding, but this is not at all common.

How to Deal with Teenage Pregnancy – Abortion and the Choice to Terminate a Pregnancy

Editor — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:45:05 +0000

The discovery of being pregnant can be a very traumatic event for a teen. There are a variety of options available to a young girl in this situation, each with its own emotional consequences. One option which many pregnant adolescents choose with a heavy heart is the termination of their teenage pregnancy. Abortions cause many teens to suffer in silence, often alone and ashamed of sharing their choice with others. Adults must make sure that a pregnant teen is not pressured into choosing an abortion and that she receives all the necessary emotional support when terminating her teenage pregnancy.

Abortion consists of ending a pregnancy before the unborn child can live outside the mother. An abortion can be either spontaneous, called a miscarriage, or it can be deliberate (induced). Before 1973, induced abortions were illegal; the case of Roe vs. Wade, however, forced the Supreme Court to confirm a woman's right to choose to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

The safest abortions are done in the first trimester of pregnancy, which corresponds to the first 12 weeks (weeks are calculated from the woman's last menstrual period). There are a few different types of abortion, and the specific type performed on a particular teen depends on how far in the pregnancy she is.

The earliest type of termination of a teenage pregnancy – abortion – that can be done is called a medical abortion, which can be done within the first nine weeks of pregnancy. Two different drugs may be used, methotrexate or mifepristone (RU486), followed by another drug called misoprostol. This type of abortion does not require any type of surgery, but takes longer to work, requiring several visits to the doctor or clinic. There is often quite a bit of cramping and bleeding at home; indeed, the combination of these two drugs has the effect of causing the uterus to expel the fetus. This procedure is unsuccessful approximately 10% of the time, causing a woman to turn to the second major type of abortion, the surgical abortion.

The most common type of termination of teenage pregnancy – abortion – is vacuum aspiration, a surgical procedure in which an anesthetic is given to the woman to manually extract the fetus from her uterus. This procedure can be performed within the first trimester of pregnancy. For this procedure, the cervix is gently dilated about a quarter-inch and a narrow tube is inserted through the vagina, then the cervix, and into the uterus. The contents of the uterine lining are then vacuumed out. The procedure lasts a few minutes and more often than not the woman returns home the same day.

As with all pregnancies, teenage pregnancy abortions in the second trimester (beginning the 13th week of pregnancy) are rare, though they do occur; prostaglandin is given in a clinic and this results in uterine contractions which can last several hours. Abortions after the 24th week of pregnancy, or the third trimester, are only performed if the fetus is severely deformed or if the mother's life is in danger.

What Are Some Abortion Methods?

Editor — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:30:08 +0000

There are many different induced abortion methods. The one chosen for a woman depends on her personal preference and on how far along the pregnancy is. There are two basic types of induced abortion methods: surgical and chemical. Surgical abortions involve surgical procedures. Chemical abortions are done by administering abortifacient drugs to the woman. Herbal abortions are a possibility and they were very popular up until the 19th century when surgery and anesthetic were invented. However, herbal abortion methods are not safe, nor are they regulated by the medical community.

There are several different surgical abortion methods. During the first trimester, there are three major surgical procedures: Manual Vacuum Aspiration, Electric Vacuum Aspiration, and Dilation and Curettage. Manual Vacuum Aspiration, or MVA, uses suction to remove the embryonic tissue through a syringe after the cervix has been dilated. Electric Vacuum Aspiration is similar, except an electric pump is used to remove the tissue. Dilation and Curettage is when the doctor dilates the cervix and then uses a sharp instrument called a curette to scrape the uterine walls, a process which removes the embryo.

During the second trimester, the common abortion methods used are Dilation and Evacuation, Hysterotomy, and Intact Dilation and Extraction. Dilation and Evacuation – also called D&E – is when the cervix is dilated and then instruments are used to scrape the uterine walls and suction is used to remove the embryonic tissue. Hysterotomy is essentially a cesarean section, but the end result is an aborted fetus. The most controversial of all abortion methods is Intact Dilation and Extraction. This procedure is done by dilating the cervix, turning th fetus to breech position with forceps, and making a cut at the base of the skull. A suction device is then inserted into the cut, removing the brain tissue from the skull. This method is also called Partial Birth Abortion.

The most commonly talked about of abortion methods is probably the "abortion pill". The abortion pill is actually the combination of two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone – sometimes referred to as RU-486 – stops the action of progesterone in the pregnant woman's body. This cause the uterus to slough off the embryo and bleeding may occur. Then a dose of misoprostol is given, which causes a miscarriage by beginning cramping and contractions. The abortion pill only is available in the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. It is a very safe procedure, and is 95% effective. In very few cases, it is sometimes necessary for the woman to come back and have a follow up surgical procedure to complete the abortion process.

Abortion Statistics: What's In A Number?

Editor — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:30:04 +0000

Considering the moral and legal arguments of abortion, statistics show that the numbers of women having abortions are very great. It would seem that even though many countries have made, or are trying to make abortion illegal, women will still seek out alternatives, sometimes at the risk of their own lives. Abortion statistics tell us a lot about the effectiveness of making abortion illegal.

According to abortion statistics, every year 46 million women have an abortion. Of these 46 million women, 26 million will have their procedures in a country where abortion is illegal. But the other 20 million women seek out abortions in countries where abortion is illegal. In the entire world, 26% of pregnancies are terminated by induced abortion. For example, in the Netherlands, 10.6% of pregnancies are aborted. This is a relatively low number compared to Russia, where 62.6% of all pregnancies are terminated.

By using abortion statistics, we can also learn about when abortions are commonly performed. In the United States, for example, most abortions – about 86.7% – are performed in the first trimester, or the first 12 weeks of gestation. 9.9% of abortions are done between 13 and 20 weeks, and only 1.4% of all abortions in the US are done at 21 weeks or later. In England and in Wales, 87.6% of all abortions performed were done in the first trimester. 10.7% were done between 13 and 19 weeks. Only 1.5% of abortions occurred at or after the 20 week mark.

Abortion statistics also provide us with information about how abortions are performed. In the United States, 91.3% of abortions were performed by vacuum aspiration procedures like Manual Vacuum Aspiration, Electric Vacuum Aspiration, Dilation and Curettage, and Dilation and Evacuation. 5.2% were done by using mifepristone, a chemical abortion method. 0.8% were done by intrauterine instillation, and 1.5% by hysterectomy or hysterotomy. In the United States in 2000, there were 2200 Intact Dilation and Extraction abortions performed; these made up approximately 0.17% of all abortions performed that year in the US. In England and Wales, the methods varied slightly. 76% used vacuum aspiration methods like Manual Vacuum Aspiration and Electric Vacuum Aspiration. 4% used Dilation and Evacuation. Chemical abortions made up 19% of abortions, and 1% were done by feticide. Feticide is defined as an intentional kick or puncture to the abdomen to produce a miscarriage.

These numbers are obviously only meant to represent the reported pregnancies and abortions done in the countries listed above. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to know how many women yearly seek alternative means of abortion like back-alley abortions and herbal abortions.

What Is Abortion, Anyway?

Editor — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:30:06 +0000

Abortion is typically defined as the discharge or removal of an embryo or fetus from the woman's body. This can be involuntary, such as in Spontaneous Abortions. A voluntary abortion, or Induced Abortion, is subcategorized into two separate types: Therapeutic Abortion and Elective Abortion. Induced Abortion can be a choice made by the woman because she does not wish to be pregnant, or because the pregnancy endangers her health or mental well-being.

When asking "what is abortion?" it is important to specify what type of abortion you want to discuss. Spontaneous Abortion, or miscarriage, happens naturally as the body's way of getting rid of something unhealthy for the expectant mother. Sometimes this will happen because of genetic problems or malformations of the fetus. Therapeutic Abortion is usually recommended by a doctor in cases of pregnancy that will harm the expectant mother. Induced Elective Abortion is a choice that is made for personal reasons. The woman may feel she is mentally or emotionally unfit to be a mother, or she may not be able to support a child in another way.

The question "What is Abortion" extends to the different types of abortion procedures as well. There are surgical, chemical and herbal abortions available, though herbal abortions are not very reliable, nor are they very safe. Generally, herbal abortions are not used in modern times. Surgical abortions are the most common and most widely-known. During the first trimester of pregnancy, abortion can be done by Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA), Electric Vacuum Aspiration (EVA), or Dilation and Curettage. MVA and EVA use suction to remove the embryo; MVA uses a syringe to remove the tissue, and EVA uses pump. Dilation and Curettage requires the opening of the cervix, and then the insertion of a sharp curette to scrape the uterine walls. Later on, abortion can be done by Dilation and Evacuation, Intact Dilation and Extraction (also called Partial birth Abortion), and by Hysterectomy. Dilation and Evacuation uses instruments and suction to remove the tissue after the cervix has been dilated. Intact Dilation and Extraction involves a medical process where the fetal brain matter is removed so the head collapses to make it easier to remove the fetus. A Hysterectomy Abortion is basically a cesarian section procedure.

Chemical abortions involve the combination of drugs to result in the termination of the pregnancy and generally what is abortion. The use of methotrexate or mifepristone is combined with either misoprostol – commonly used in the US – or gemeprost – commonly used in the UK and Sweden. Most people do not get this information when they ask "what is abortion".

"What is abortion" also applies to the law. Most Western countries have legalized early-term abortions in the first trimester. The Partial Birth Abortion Ban in the United States prevents the use of Intact Dilation and Extraction in later-term pregnancies, although this law is currently before the US Supreme Court because it does not provide for the health of the mother in Therapeutic Abortion cases.

How Long Has Abortion Been Around?

Editor — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 09:00:08 +0000

The answer to the question, "How long has abortion been around" is surprising. Contrary to popular belief, abortion was not invented with the Roe vs. Wade court decision. In fact, since the ancient Greek and Roman times, abortion has been a common procedure and, until the late 18th and early 19th centuries, abortion was actually legal in most parts of the world. The Greek and Roman philosophers wrote extensively about abortion, and many agreed with its practice. Some even wrote treatises on abortion, its benefits, and even discussed what abortifacient (or abortion causing) herbs to use and how to use them. Abortions in this time were not very different from ones that happen today, only now abortion is legalized and regulated by the government and medical community, making it a much safer practice. This is only the beginning of the answer to how long has abortion been around.

In Southeast Asia, massage abortion has been practiced for centuries. This is when pressure is used on the belly to cause abortion. The earliest representation of this is from 1150 AD in a carving in Cambodia. Records of abortions in the 12th century exist in Japan. English women used many different practices in the middle ages. Most common were exercise and using a girdle, which was tightened to place pressure on the abdomen.

It is important when answering the question how long has abortion been around to discuss the start of the abortion bans. In the 19th century, the advent of anesthetic, surgical knowledge and sanitary medical practices made abortion a safer option for a woman, but this coincided with the beginning of bans on abortion. Abortions were even advertised in newspapers. These advertisements were rather vague, offering things like abrotifacient herb pills as a lady's "remedy".

The question of how long has abortion been around lead us to Victorian Era United States, where a woman named Ann Lohman, commonly known as Madame Restell, was a famous abortionist. During a time when abortions were illegal, she was a primary target for law enforcement. She had clinics in both Boston and Philadelphia, and she advertised her services. Her discreet ads stated that she sold pills to help regulate a woman's menstrual cycle. She also addressed married women, asking if the expansion of a family was worth the problems it can cause, both financially and emotionally. Madame Restell was arrested and scheduled to be tried in 1878, but she committed suicide on the day of her trial.

Abortion Laws: National and International

Editor — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:30:05 +0000

Abortion laws are those legislations which describe whether or not the practice of abortion is allowed in certain places, and how it can be practiced. As the technical details vary greatly from country to country, I will be focusing on general details for general geological areas.

Abortion laws were discussed in discourse all the way back to the ancient Greek and Roman times in the writings of such people as Plato and Aristotle, who favored abortion in certain circumstances, and Hippocrates who completely disagreed with the practice. Certain writers of this time period even discussed different abortifacient herbs – or herbs that cause abortion – and how to use them. Religion has always played a major role in the legalization or banning of abortion. Many Catholic popes have declared abortion a "sin against marriage". In the 1800s, Western countries began making abortion illegal because of moral dilemmas and because the practice of abortion at that time was so dangerous. However, abortions did not decrease due to the bans. This is a major reason why in the 20th century legislation was passed in many countries legalizing the practice of abortion. Most countries now have legalized abortion procedures that are safer than other medical treatments available.

International abortion laws are difficult to uphold due to individual country's laws. However, the United Nations, as well as other international organizations, has instituted a number of legislations regulating abortion and dealing with women's rights. One such legislation is the 1994 Programme of Action, which states that abortion should not be used as a practice of family planning. It also recognizes that in countries where abortion is legal, those practices should be safe. In other words, this legislation helps make sure that abortion procedures are medically regulated and practiced by licensed professionals. Another of the international abortion laws states that women have the right to make a decision about her body without being coerced or punished. This legislation is called the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action.

Individual countries ultimately make their own abortion laws. In Africa, most countries allow Therapeutic abortion, but in cases of rape, socio-economic factors and fetal defects, abortions are not allowed. On demand abortions are illegal in almost every country. In Asian countries like China, North Korea and Cambodia, all abortions are legal. In Japan, abortions are only legal in the first and second trimester, and on demand abortion are not allowed. In Europe, most countries have relaxed abortion laws, except for in Malta and Vatican City, where all abortions are illegal. Ireland, San Marino, and Andorra allow for therapeutic abortions only. In the Middle East, only Bahrain allows all types of abortion; most countries provide for the health of the woman. In Canada and the United States, all types of abortion are legal, though on demand abortions are a bit more restricted in the US.

What Is The Definition of Abortion?

Editor — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 01:00:20 +0000

Speaking technically, the definition of abortion as written in The American Heritage Dictionary is the, "termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a fetus that is incapable of survival. Any of various procedures that result in such termination and expulsion." Of course, this is a very stiff definition of abortion, as the topic itself is quite volatile when speaking politically, legally, or morally.

The definition of abortion is not limited to terms of induced abortion, but also can be defined in terms of spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage. Spontaneous abortion happens when the woman's body rejects the embryo or fetus for any number of reasons. This is an accidental process, over which the mother has no control. Some of the reasons for spontaneous abortion depend on when the miscarriage occurs. Most spontaneous abortions happen within the first two weeks of pregnancy, and are due to abnormalities of the embryo. Spontaneous abortions during the second and third trimesters are often due to problems with the mother's body. Some of these problems could be hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, or another disease of the endocrine system; cervical or uterine irregularities; or emotional difficulties. Sometimes, the mother's immune system won't recognize the embryo and will expel it believing it is foreign tissue. Only about 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage.

The most commonly referred to definition of abortion is Induced Abortion. Induced abortion is the willful choice of the woman. This choice can be made for a multitude of reasons, but in general, there are two types of Induced Abortion: Therapeutic Abortion and Elective Abortion. Therapeutic Abortion is done for medical reasons. Often, this definition of abortion is not considered, but it is very prominent. If the woman's doctor fears that the pregnancy or birth will great endanger the woman's physical or mental health, the pregnancy can be terminated. Elective Abortion is when the woman decides for her own personal reasons to terminate the pregnancy. There are many, many reasons that a woman could choose this option, including, but not limited to: financial problems, immaturity, cultural or religious concerns – especially if she is not married or very young – and not being on good terms with the father. Also, victims of sexual assault or abuse often choose to terminate a pregnancy that is the result of this abuse.

There are two basic types of induced abortion procedures: surgical and chemical. Surgical procedures depend on the stage of gestation. The basic surgical abortion procedures are Manual Vacuum Aspiration, Electric Vacuum Aspiration, Dilation and Curettage, Dilation and Evacuation, Intact Dilation and Extraction, and Hysterotomy. Chemical abortions are done by early induction of labor due to the administration of abortifacient drugs.

The Timing Of Various Abortions

Editor — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:45:08 +0000

The timing of various abortions is extremely important. This is true for both the choice of procedure used in the abortion, and when considering the legality of the abortion procedure in certain countries. Certain abortion procedures can only be done at a certain time during the gestational period. And certain procedures, according to new legislation in the United States, are prohibited. Also, the major debate about abortion, "When does life begin", is central to the question of the timing of various abortions.

During the first twelve weeks of pregnancy – called the first trimester – surgical abortions can be done by Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA), Electric Vacuum Aspiration (EVA), and Dilation and Curettage (D&C). Chemical abortion can be performed by using mifepristone. In the second trimester, which is weeks 13 through 27, the timing of various abortions is more important. Abortion during this time can be done by D&C for the first few weeks of the second trimester. Also, Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) can be used, as well as the "late-term" abortion methods like hysterotomy, Intact Dilation and Extraction (IDX), and Early Induced Labor (also called Induced Miscarriage).

The question of the timing of various abortions comes into play when considering late-term abortion. It is difficult to define "late-term" abortion, as it is not a medically recognized term. In fact, it has more to do with the question of the viability of the fetus. All pregnancies are different, so different fetuses are viable at different stages of the pregnancy. The basic rule is that most fetuses are not viable before the 20th week of pregnancy, and most fetuses are viable after the 27th week of pregnancy. The time between the 20th and the 27th week of gestation becomes a touchy subject when looking at the timing of various abortions. The United States Supreme Court case, Roe vs. Wade stated that state governments can enforce more restrictions on late-stage abortions than they can on early-stage abortions, provided that the state law allows for concerns of the mother's health. Currently, there are 16 states that have bans on late-term abortions. Most late-term abortions are done because of fetal abnormalities, or because the mother was unable to get an abortion earlier because of financial reasons or because she was not aware that she was pregnant. For late-term abortions due to fetal abnormality, Early Induction of Labor or IDX is used, although IDX is currently illegal in the US. The ban on IDX is under debate in the United States Supreme Court right now. For elective late-term abortions, D&E is typically used.

The main questions at the heart of the debate about the timing of various abortions often have to do with fetal pain. Certain groups hold that the fetus can feel pain in the first trimester of gestation. Others maintain that fetal pain is not felt until the neurological receptors have developed fully, and this does not occur until the second or third trimester.

What Are Some Abortion Methods?

Editor — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:15:12 +0000

The Epidemic Of Teens Abortion

Editor — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:15:06 +0000

Teens abortion has been declining over the last several decades. In the 1970s, the rate of teens abortion went up, but this rate stabilized in the 1980s. Since the 1980s, teens abortion rates have declined considerably, especially in the 1990s. The rate of teens abortion was about 26.5 in 1000 teenagers as of 1990, but this was reduced by 45% to only 14.5 per 1000 teens in 2000.

The incidence of a teens abortion depends greatly on their race. A teen who is black is more likely to have an abortion than a white teen or a Hispanic teen. There are 14.8 abortions per 1000 white teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 19, and 30.3 per 1000 Hispanic teens. However, there are 57.4 abortions per 1000 black teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 19.

The older a teenager gets, the more likely she is to have an abortion if she becomes pregnant unexpectedly. 14.5 per 1000 teens between the ages of 15 and 17 have an abortion. Only 0.9 per 1000 teens under the age of 15 have an abortion. But a whopping 37.7 per 1000 teens between 18 and 19 have abortions.

The reasons teenagers have abortions vary as greatly as the reason why adults have abortions. Mostly, a teens abortion results from an unexpected and unplanned pregnancy. Teens often feel that they are too young to become parents. Or, sometimes they feel that an unplanned pregnancy will greatly interfere with their social life. Sometimes a teens abortion can be because she wants to complete her education and go on to college. Many teens are concerned about the financial difficulties a child brings. Social factors that cause a teen to seek abortion can be related to religious upbringing, family concerns, and cultural stigma.

The medical effects of teenage parenthood can be considered even more detrimental to the teenager than abortion itself. There is a high incidence of premature birth in teenage girls, and of low birth weight. Bad nutritional habits on teenage girls can take a toll on the fetus. Malnutrition due to efforts at weight loss during pregnancy – including but not limited to starvation, purging, and dieting – cause problems not only with the mother, but also with the unborn child. There are often complications with the births of children to teenage girls, and in developed countries this can usually be remedied by cesarean section. However, in underdeveloped countries, complications such as eclampsia and obstetric fistula are possibilities. Also, the rate of infant mortality and maternal mortality are much greater in teen pregnancies.

Abortion – To Be Or Not To Be

Editor — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 09:30:15 +0000

Dictionary.com defines abortion as "the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy; any of various surgical methods for terminating a pregnancy, especially during the first six months." But the technical definition of abortion does not begin to touch on the emotional and moral aspects of this medical procedure.

Abortion is commonly thought of as voluntary, but it can also describe both natural occurrences in a pregnant woman's body and beneficial medical choices made to protect the pregnant woman. A spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, is the involuntary discontinuation of a pregnancy by the mother's body because of a number of reasons: malformations of the fetus and genetic problems are just two of these reasons. Therapeutic abortion describes any surgical procedure performed to end a pregnancy for the benefit of the mother's health.

Induced or voluntary abortion, however, is a choice that a woman makes for herself. There are many methods of induced abortion: surgical, chemical, and even herbal. The surgical options vary depending on the duration of the pregnancy. Manual Vacuum Aspiration or Electric Vacuum Aspiration is common during the first trimester, or the first twelve weeks. From about the fifteenth to the twenty-sixth week, Dilation and Evacuation, or D & E, is used. D & C, or Dilation and Curettage is also used at this time. Late-term abortion can be performed by Intact Dilation and Extraction – also called Intrauterine Cranial Decompression, or partial birth abortion – or by a Hysterectomy Abortion.

Chemical abortion is also an option. This is performed by combining drugs to terminate the pregnancy. First methotrexate or mifepristone is given, followed by one of two drugs depending on where the procedure is done: misoprostol is used in the United States; gemeprost is used in the United Kingdom and in Sweden.

In 1973, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of voluntary abortion in the famous Roe vs. Wade case. This case is vital to the rights of women choosing abortion because it provides that right in the first six months of a pregnancy. Between 1995 and 2000, congress tried several times to pass a bill that would ban abortion in the last trimester of pregnancy. President Bill Clinton vetoed this bill. However, the bill was passed and signed into effect by President George W. Bush in 2003, but was declared unconstitutional in 2004 because it lacked the important allowance of a late-term therapeutic abortion. Since the 1970s, many state legislatures have passed stricter laws on abortion to try and persuade the United States Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade. In 1992, the importance of Roe vs. Wade was reiterated by the Supreme Court.

Partial Birth Abortion Intact Dilation and Extraction or Partial Birth Abortion

Editor — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 07:40:48 +0000

The phrase "Partial Birth Abortion" is not a medical term, but rather was formed as political terminology, referencing the Partial Birth Abortion Ban, a political debate between Pro-Life and Pro-Choice groups in the mid-1990s. The medical term for the main procedure referred to by the phrase Partial Birth Abortion is Intrauterine Cranial Decompression. This procedure is commonly known as Intact Dilation and Extraction, or IDX.

IDX or Partial Birth Abortion is a complicated procedure, the initial stages of which begin 2-3 days before the actual procedure is performed. Sticks of absorbent seaweed called laminaria tents are inserted into the cervix. As the laminaria tents absorb fluid, they swell and dilate the cervix. Using forceps, the doctor takes the fetus' leg and uses it to move the fetus into breech position. Most of the body of the fetus is extracted from the cervix, leaving the head inside – thus the advent of the term Partial Birth Abortion. The doctor then makes and incision in the base of the skull, through which the brain matter is suctioned using a catheter. The fetus' head collapses and makes it easier for the head to come out of the woman's body. The walls of the uterus are scraped using a curette.

Late-term abortion procedures like IDX (Partial Birth Abortion), Dilation and Evacuation, and induction of labor are very, very rare. The reasons for having an abortion between the 20th and 24th weeks of pregnancy are varied, but most women have them after the doctors inform them that the fetus is abnormal or has a malformation. IDX is chosen above other procedures because it prevents the woman from having to experience labor or scarring surgery. Sharp instruments are only used to make the incision and to scrap the uterine walls. Also, if the fetus is aborted because of hydrocephalus, the normal size of the skull would not be able to pass through the birth canal.

Legally speaking, the Partial Birth Abortion Ban was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2003. Previously, Congress had tried to pass this law twice before, but it was vetoed both times by President Bill Clinton. The current law prohibits Partial Birth Abortion, but does provide for the physical and mental well-being of the mother, should she be in danger. It does not, however, provide the option for abortion in instances of life-threatening situations. Thus, the Supreme Court is looking into the Partial Birth Abortion Ban law as it is currently written.