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Abortion

Abortion for Contraception

Although most abortions are performed for birth control, they are by no means contraceptive. Abortion involves ending the life of a developing human being by a number of surgical and medical techniques.

On the right is a photo of a living fetus at 6 weeks. Medical abortions occur 5-7 weeks into pregnancy, counted from the first day of a woman's last period. Most surgical abortions occur between 6-13 weeks. The child's beating heart and can be seen on a clinic ultrasound device. By this time the mother has missed her period and may be experiencing symptoms of morning sickness.

Abortion as Birth Control

Using abortion as birth control means that abortion is being used as a back-up method to ineffective or improperly used contraception, or no contraception is being used at all. Of women having abortions,

• 46% did not use contraception during the month they became pregnant
• 8% never used a method of birth control
• 47% have had at least one previous abortion

Although there are situations in which abortion is in response to health concerns of the mother or fetus, or in response to pregnancy arising from abuse, the majority of abortions are obtained for social and financial reasons. The primary reasons given for choosing abortion are given below.

• 75% say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or other responsibilities
• about 75% say they cannot afford a child
• 50% do not want to be a single parent or are having problems with their husband or partner

Using abortion as birth control is not healthy physically or psychologically, and is not a mature or responsible approach to sex. Women obtaining abortions are at higher risk for reproductive tract infections, including HIV/AIDS and PID. If you are using abortion as birth control, you are encouraged to rethink your sexual decisions. You might wait on sex until you find a relationship where you could continue a pregnancy should one occur.

Source: AGI, Facts in Brief, Induced Abortion, Revised 1/2008.