Abortion facts

One in three American women will have an abortion by age 45. Abortion is one of
the safest medical procedures provided in the United States and Canada today.
Get these and other facts about abortion.

Abortion myhts
For years, anti-choice proponents have used misinformation to mislead the public
about abortion and the women who choose it. More

Abortion has had a long and turbulent history in North America and the right to a
safe and legal abortion is not yet secure.

Patient Stories
Every woman's experience is unique. Here, read the stories of real women who have
chosen to let the world hear their voices. More
Unequal Access
Too many women face unnecessary barriers when seeking abortion services.
Sometimes these barriers are legal or economic - other times they are barriers of
culture or language. NAF works to ensure access to quality abortion care for all
women. More
Clinic Violence
Abortion providers offer quality care to women in the face of hostility, harassment,
and threats of violence. Reproductive health care providers are forced to undertake
comprehensive security measures to keep staff and patients safe. More
History of Abortion
Today, policies regarding legal abortion in the U.S. are being debated everywhere
from the halls of Congress to the street corners of our smallest towns. A better
understanding of the history of abortion in America can help provide a context for
making sound policy for the future.

Learn About Abortion

Procedures and Abortion Risks
http://www.pregnancycenters.org/abortion.html
Abortion is not just a simple medical procedure. For many women, it is a life
changing event with significant physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences.
Most women who struggle with past abortions say that they wish they had been told
all of the facts about abortion and its risks.

Our trained consultants are available 24/7 to answer your questions about abortion
and to connect you to local help. Call 1-800-395-HELP or e-mail us as at all hours.
You can also read the information below to learn more about abortion procedures
and the risks associated with abortion.
Abortion Procedures
Manual Vacuum Aspiration: up to 7 weeks after last menstrual period (LMP)

This surgical abortion is done early in the pregnancy up until 7 weeks after the
woman's last menstrual period. A long, thin tube is inserted into the uterus. A large
syringe is attached to the tube and the embryo is suctioned out.
Suction Curettage: between 6 to 14 weeks after LMP

This is the most common surgical abortion procedure. Because the baby is larger,
the doctor must first stretch open the cervix using metal rods. Opening the cervix
may be painful, so local or general anesthesia is typically needed. After the cervix is
stretched open, the doctor inserts a hard plastic tube into the uterus, then connects
this tube to a suction machine. The suction pulls the fetus' body apart and out of
the uterus. The doctor may also use a loop-shaped knife called a curette to scrape
the fetus and fetal parts out of the uterus. (The doctor may refer to the fetus and
fetal parts as the products of conception.).
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E): between 13 to 24 weeks after LMP

This surgical abortion is done during the second trimester of pregnancy. At this point
in pregnancy, the fetus is too large to be broken up by suction alone and will not
pass through the suction tubing. In this procedure, the cervix must be opened wider
than in a first trimester abortion. This is done by inserting numerous thin rods made
of seaweed a day or two before the abortion. Once the cervix is stretched open the
doctor pulls out the fetal parts with forceps. The fetus' skull is crushed to ease
removal. A sharp tool (called a curette) is also used to scrape out the contents of
the uterus, removing any remaining tissue.
Dilation and Extraction (D&X) (partial-birth abortion): from 20 weeks after LMP to
full-term

This procedure takes three days. During the first two days, the cervix is stretched
open using thin rods made of seaweed, and medication is given for pain. On the
third day, the abortion doctor uses ultrasound to locate the legs of the fetus.
Grasping a leg with forceps, the doctor delivers the fetus up to the head. Next,
scissors are inserted into the base of the skull to create an opening. A suction
catheter is placed into the opening to remove the brain. The skull collapses and the
fetus is removed.
RU486, Mifepristone (Abortion Pill) Within 4 to 7 weeks after LMP

This drug is only approved for use in women up to the 49th day after their last
menstrual period. The procedure usually requires three office visits. On the first
visit, the woman is given pills to cause the death of the embryo. Two days later, if
the abortion has not occurred, she is given a second drug which causes cramps to
expel the embryo. The last visit is to determine if the procedure has been
completed. RU486 will not work in the case of an ectopic pregnancy. This is a
potentially life-threatening condition in which the embryo lodges outside the uterus,
usually in the fallopian tube.
If an ectopic pregnancy is not diagnosed early, the tube may burst, causing internal
bleeding and in some cases, the death of the woman.
Consider the Risks of Abortion

Side effects may occur with induced abortion, whether surgical or by pill. These
include abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Abortion
also carries the risk of significant complications such as bleeding, infection, and
damage to organs. Serious complications occur in less than 1 out of 100 early
abortions and in about 1 out of every 50 later abortions. Complications may include:

Heavy Bleeding - Some bleeding after abortion is normal. However, if the cervix is
torn or the uterus is punctured, there is a risk of severe bleeding known as
hemorrhaging. When this happens, a blood transfusion may be required. Severe
bleeding is also a risk with the use of RU486. One in 100 women who use RU486
require surgery to stop the bleeding.

Infection Infection can develop from the insertion of medical instruments into the
uterus, or from fetal parts that are mistakenly left inside (known as an incomplete
abortion). A pelvic infection may lead to persistent fever over several days and
extended hospitalization. It can also cause scarring of the pelvic organs.

Incomplete Abortion - Some fetal parts may be mistakenly left inside after the
abortion. Bleeding and infection may result.

Sepsis A number of RU486 or mifepristone users have died as a result of sepsis

(total body infection).

Anesthesia Complications from general anesthesia used during abortion surgery

may result in convulsions, heart attack, and in extreme cases, death. It also
increases the risk of other serious complications by two and a half times.

Damage to the Cervix - The cervix may be cut, torn, or damaged by abortion
instruments. This can cause excessive bleeding that requires surgical repair.

Scarring of the Uterine Lining Suction tubing, curettes, and other abortion
instruments may cause permanent scarring of the uterine lining.

Perforation of the Uterus - The uterus may be punctured or torn by abortion

instruments. The risk of this complication increases with the length of the
pregnancy. If this occurs, major surgery may be required, including removal of the
uterus (known as a hysterectomy).

Damage to Internal Organs - When the uterus is punctured or torn, there is also a
risk that damage will occur to nearby organs such as the bowel and bladder.

Death - In extreme cases, other physical complications from abortion including

excessive bleeding, infection, organ damage from a perforated uterus, and adverse
reactions to anesthesia may lead to death. This complication is rare, but is real.
Consider Other Risks of Abortion
Abortion and Preterm Birth:

Women who undergo one or more induced abortions carry a significantly increased
risk of delivering prematurely in the future. Premature delivery is associated with
higher rates of cerebral palsy, as well as other complications of prematurity (brain,
respiratory, bowel, and eye problems).
Abortion and Breast Cancer:

Medical experts are still researching and debating the linkage between abortion and
breast cancer. Here are some important facts:
Carrying your first pregnancy to full term gives protection against breast cancer.
Choosing abortion causes loss of that protection.

A number of reliable studies have concluded that there may be a link between
abortion and the later development of breast cancer.

A 1994 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found: Among women
who had been pregnant at least once, the risk of breast cancer in those who had
experienced an induced abortion was 50% higher than among other women.
Emotional and Psychological Impact:

There is evidence that abortion is associated with a decrease in both emotional and
physical health. For some women these negative emotions may be very strong, and
can appear within days or after many years. This psychological response is a form
of post-traumatic stress disorder. Some of the symptoms are:

Eating disorders
Relationship problems
Guilt
Depression
Flashbacks of abortion
Suicidal thoughts
Sexual dysfunction
Alcohol and drug abuse
Spiritual Consequences

People have different understandings of God. Whatever your present beliefs may
be, there is a spiritual side to abortion that deserves to be considered. Having an
abortion may affect more than just your body and your mind -- it may have an
impact on your relationship with God. What is God's desire for you in this situation?
How does God see your unborn child? These are important questions to consider.
Explore Your Options

You have the legal right to choose the outcome of your pregnancy. But real
empowerment comes when you find the resources and inner strength necessary to
make your best choice. Here are some other options.
Parenting

Choosing to continue your pregnancy and to parent is very challenging. But with the
support of caring people, parenting classes, and other resources, many women find
the help they need to make this choice.
Adoption

You may decide to place your child for adoption. Each year over 50,000 women in
America make this choice. This loving decision is often made by women who first
thought abortion was their only way out.

Help Is Available

Facing an unexpected pregnancy can seem overwhelming. That is why knowing

where to go for help is important. Talk to someone you can trust - your partner, your
parents, a pastor, a priest or perhaps a good friend. Also, the caring people at your
pregnancy center are available to help you through this difficult time. To find a
pregnancy center near you, call 1-800-395-HELP.

HISTORY OF ABORTION
In the United States, the history of abortion goes back much farther than the 1973
Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, which made abortion legal and marked an
important turning point in public health policy. See also Legal Abortion in Canada
> Abortion Was Legal
> After Roe v. Wade
> Liberalization of Abortion
Laws

> Retreat from Roe v. Wade

> Roe v. Wade

> A Timeline of Reproductive

Rights

Abortion Was Legal

Abortion has been performed for thousands of years, and in every society that has
been studied. It was legal in the United States from the time the earliest settlers
arrived. At the time the Constitution was adopted, abortions before "quickening"
were openly advertised and commonly performed.

Making Abortion Illegal

In the mid-to-late 1800s states began passing laws that made abortion illegal. The
motivations for anti-abortion laws varied from state to state. One of the reasons
included fears that the population would be dominated by the children of newly
arriving immigrants, whose birth rates were higher than those of "native" AngloSaxon women.

Medical Practice
During the 1800s, all surgical procedures, including abortion, were extremely risky.
Hospitals were not common, antiseptics were unknown, and even the most
respected doctors had only primitive medical educations. Without today's current

technology, maternal and infant mortality rates during childbirth were

extraordinarily high. The dangers from abortion were similar to the dangers from
other surgeries that were not outlawed.

As scientific methods began to dominate medical practice, and technologies were

developed to prevent infection, medical care on the whole became much safer and
more effective. But by this time, the vast majority of women who needed abortions
had no choice but to get them from illegal practitioners without these medical
advances at their disposal. The "back alley" abortion remained a dangerous, often
deadly procedure, while areas of legally sanctioned medicine improved dramatically.

The Medical Establishment

The strongest force behind the drive to criminalize abortion was the attempt by
doctors to establish for themselves exclusive rights to practice medicine. They
wanted to prevent "untrained" practitioners, including midwives, apothecaries, and
homeopaths, from competing with them for patients and for patient fees.

The best way to accomplish their goal was to eliminate one of the principle
procedures that kept these competitors in business. Rather than openly admitting to
such motivations, the newly formed American Medical Association (AMA) argued
that abortion was both immoral and dangerous. By 1910 all but one state had
criminalized abortion except where necessary, in a doctor's judgment, to save the
woman's life. In this way, legal abortion was successfully transformed into a
"physicians-only" practice.

Back-Alley Abortions
The prohibition of legal abortion from the 1880s until 1973 came under the same
anti-obscenity or Comstock laws that prohibited the dissemination of birth control
information and services.

Criminalization of abortion did not reduce the numbers of women who sought
abortions. In the years before Roe v. Wade, the estimates of illegal abortions ranged
as high as 1.2 million per year.1 Although accurate records could not be kept, it is
known that between the 1880s and 1973, many thousands of women were harmed
as a result of illegal abortion.

Many women died or suffered serious medical problems after attempting to selfinduce their abortions or going to untrained practitioners who performed abortions
with primitive methods or in unsanitary conditions. During this time, hospital
emergency room staff treated thousands of women who either died or were
suffering terrible effects of abortions provided without adequate skill and care.

Some women were able to obtain relatively safer, although still illegal, abortions
from private doctors. This practice remained prevalent for the first half of the
twentieth century. The rate of reported abortions then began to decline, partly
because doctors faced increased scrutiny from their peers and hospital
administrators concerned about the legality of their operations.

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Liberalization of Abortion Laws

Between 1967 and 1973 one-third of the states liberalized or repealed their criminal
abortion laws. However, the right to have an abortion in all states was only made
available to American women in 1973 when the Supreme Court struck down the
remaining restrictive state laws with its ruling in Roe v. Wade.

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Roe v. Wade

The 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade made it possible for women to get
safe, legal abortions from well-trained medical practitioners. This led to dramatic
decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death.

The Roe case arose out of a Texas law that prohibited legal abortion except to save
a woman's life. At that time, most other states had laws similar to the one in Texas.
Those laws forced large numbers of women to resort to illegal abortions.

Jane Roe, a 21-year-old pregnant woman, represented all women who wanted
abortions but could not get them legally and safely. Henry Wade was the Texas
Attorney General who defended the law that made abortions illegal.

After hearing the case, the Supreme Court ruled that Americans' right to privacy
included the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a
woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference.

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After Roe v. Wade

The reaction to Roe was swift. Supporters of legal abortion rejoiced and generally
felt their battle was won. However, others faulted the Court for the decision. Those
opposed to legal abortion immediately began working to prevent any federal or
state funding for abortion and to undermine or limit the effect of the decision.

Some turned to measures directly aimed at disrupting clinics where abortions were
being provided. Their tactics have included demonstrating in front of abortion
clinics, harassing people trying to enter, vandalizing clinic property, and blocking
access to clinics.

As time passed, the level of anti-abortion violence escalated. Increasingly, clinic

bombings, physical attacks, and even murders endanger abortion providers and
create a hostile environment for women seeking abortions.

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Retreat from Roe v. Wade

Initially, the framework of Roe v. Wade was the basis by which the constitutionality
of state abortion laws was determined. In recent years, however, the Supreme Court
has begun to allow more restrictions on abortion.

For instance, the Supreme Court's ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992
established that states can restrict pre-viability abortions. Restrictions can be placed
on first trimester abortions in ways that are not medically necessary, as long as the
restrictions do not place an "undue burden" on women seeking abortion services.

Many states now have restrictions in place such as parental involvement,

mandatory waiting periods, and biased counseling. Only the requirement that a
woman involve her spouse in her decision was disallowed.

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A Timeline of Reproductive Rights

1821: Connecticut passes the first law in the United States barring abortions after
"quickening."

1860: Twenty states have laws limiting abortion.

1965: Griswold v. Connecticut Supreme Court decision strikes down a state law that
prohibited giving married people information, instruction, or medical advice on
contraception.

1967: Colorado is the first state to liberalize its abortion laws.

1970: Alaska, Hawaii, New York, and Washington liberalize abortion laws, making
abortion available at the request of a woman and her doctor.

1972: Eisenstadt v. Baird Supreme Court decision establishes the right of unmarried
people to use contraceptives.

1973: Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision strikes down state laws that made
abortion illegal.

1976: Congress adopts the first Hyde Amendment barring the use of federal
Medicaid funds to provide abortions to low-income women.

1977: A revised Hyde Amendment is passed allowing states to deny Medicaid

funding except in cases of rape, incest, or "severe and long-lasting" damage to the
woman's physical health.

1991: Rust v. Sullivan upholds the constitutionality of the 1988 "gag rule" which
prohibits doctors and counselors at clinics which receive federal funding from
providing their patients with information about and referrals for abortion.

1992: Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey reaffirms the

"core" holdings of Roe that women have a right to abortion before fetal viability, but
allows states to restrict abortion access so long as these restrictions do not impose
an "undue burden" on women seeking abortions.

1994: Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act is passed by Congress with
a large majority in response to the murder of Dr. David Gunn. The FACE Act forbids
the use of "force, threat of force or physical obstruction" to prevent someone from
providing or receiving reproductive health services. The law also provides for both
criminal and civil penalties for those who break the law.

2000: Stenberg v. Carhart (Carhart I) rules that the Nebraska statute banning socalled "partial-birth abortion" is unconstitutional for two independent reasons: the
statute lacks the necessary exception for preserving the health of the woman, and
the definition of the targeted procedures is so broad as to prohibit abortions in the
second trimester, thereby being an "undue burden" on women. This effectively
invalidates 29 of 31 similar statewide bans.

2000: Food and Drug Administration approves mifepristone (RU-486) as an option in

abortion care for very early pregnancy.

2003: A federal ban on abortion procedures is passed by Congress and signed into
law by President Bush. The National Abortion Federation immediately challenges the
law in court and is successful in blocking enforcement of the law for its members.

2004: NAF wins lawsuit against federal abortion ban. Justice Department appeals
rulings by three trial courts against ban.

What Is Abortion:
http://contraception.about.com/od/contraceptionfailure/a/aboutabortion.htm
An abortion is a procedure where a woman chooses to end her pregnancy.
Unintended pregnancy is a significant concern that affects thousands of people each
year. More than half of the 6 million pregnancies occurring each year in the United
States are unplanned. According to a study published in Perspectives on Sexual and
Reproductive Health, about 50% of the women faced with these unplanned
pregnancies were actually using contraception during the month that they
conceived. Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures performed in
the United States as approximately 1.3 million abortions performed each year. Data
indicates that more than 40% of all women will end a pregnancy by abortion at
some time in their reproductive lives.

Brief Background:
In 1973, the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade ruled that women have the right to an
abortion during the first 6 months (2 trimesters) of pregnancy, thereby legalizing
abortion. The court asserted that abortion is a fundamental right under the U.S.
Constitution and prohibiting abortion would violate the Due Process Clause of the
14th Amendment (which protects against state actions to deny the right to privacy,
including a woman's qualified right to terminate her pregnancy).

The court determined that a non-viable fetus (one that cannot survive outside the
womb) is not a person according to the terms set forth in section one of the
Fourteenth Amendment, so due process rights do not apply to the unborn. Since this
landmark court decision, numerous federal and state laws have been proposed or
passed. Abortion is one of the most controversial and legally active areas in the field
of medicine. In 2003, President George W. Bush signed the first federal ban on
abortion, which prohibits the procedure of an Intact Dilation and Extraction (D&X)
abortion. Although this ban is officially named the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of
2003," it is important to point out that the procedure is more accurately
acknowledged in the medical community as Intact D&X; "Partial birth abortion" is a
political term, not a medical one.

Abortion Facts - When Women Seek Abortion:

Approximately 88% of abortions are preformed within in the first trimester (3

months) of a pregnancy. Roughly 59% take place within the first eight weeks of
pregnancy, 19% in weeks 9 to 10, and 10% in weeks 11 to 12.

About 10% of abortions occur during the second trimester (6% in weeks 13 to 15
and 4% by week 20). After 24 weeks or pregnancy, abortions are only provided due
to serious health reasons (and account for less than 1% of total abortions). Earlier
abortions are easier, safer, and tend to be less expensive than abortions taking
place later in a pregnancy.

Some Abortion Demographics:

U.S. women, age 24 and younger, account for about for 52% of those who obtain an
abortion. This number is further broken down into: 19% of these abortions are
obtained by teenagers, and women age 20 to 24 account for 33% of these
abortions.

Approximately 60% of abortions are obtained by women who have had at least one
child.

Two-thirds of all abortions occur in women who have never been married.

Women of every social class and race elect to have an abortion: 78% of women who
have had an abortion report having a religious affiliation, 88% of women who obtain
abortions live in metropolitan areas, and 57% of women who seek abortion are
economically disadvantaged (living below the federal poverty level).

Of women obtaining abortions, 54% were using a birth control method during the
time they became pregnant. Many of these pregnancies resulted from condoms
breaking or being used incorrectly (49%) and due to women who missed taking their
birth control pills (76%).

Half of all women seeking a first abortion had not been using any type of
contraception when they conceived (despite agreement with their sexual partners
about not wanting to become pregnant).

Deciding to Obtain an Abortion:

It is important that a woman make a well-informed decision when she is considering
to obtain an abortion. Discussing ones options with trusted and supported friends
or family as well as early pregnancy counseling can be helpful in reaching a decision
that a woman feels the most right about. Women may have a choice between two
or more types of abortion procedures depending on how many weeks pregnant they
are. The safest time to have an abortion is 5 to 10 weeks after your last menstrual
period. In the past, there was concern that an abortion may increase a woman's risk
of breast cancer. More recent and carefully done studies, however, indicate that
there is no link between having an abortion and getting breast cancer later in
life.How Soon Do I Need To Make a Decision About My Unplanned Pregnancy?

Reasons Why Women Have Abortions:

The decision to have an abortion is generally decided by both diverse and
interrelated reasons. Most women who obtain an abortion usually cite numerous
reasons as to why they have chosen this route. Research has shown that the
following reasons are most frequently cited as to why a woman chose to have an
abortion (and the percentage of women who provided the reason):Having a baby
would dramatically change my life (74%)
I cant afford a baby (73%)
Didnt want to be a single mother or was having relationship problems (48%)
Having a child would interfere with my education (38%), work (38%) or ability to
care for my other child(ren) (32%)
Nearly four in 10 women said they had completed their childbearing
Women also cited possible problems affecting the health of the fetus (13%) or
concerns about their own health (12%)
32% of women say they were not ready to have a child (or another one)
Fewer than 1% report their main decision to be based on either their parents' or
partners' request
Having a baby would dramatically change my life (74%)
I cant afford a baby (73%)

Didnt want to be a single mother or was having relationship problems (48%)

Having a child would interfere with my education (38%), work (38%) or ability to
care for my other child(ren) (32%)
Nearly four in 10 women said they had completed their childbearing
Women also cited possible problems affecting the health of the fetus (13%) or
concerns about their own health (12%)
32% of women say they were not ready to have a child (or another one)
Fewer than 1% report their main decision to be based on either their parents' or
partners' request
In general, younger women often cite that they are unprepared for the transition to
motherhood, and older women consistently indicate that they are already
responsible for dependants and/or are past the childbearing stage in their lives.

Next Page: Abortion procedures: medication abortions, surgical abortions -- manual

vacuum aspiration, dilation and curettage, dilation and evacuation, induction
abortion, intact dilation and extraction (partial birth abortions).

ABORTION IS LEGAL.
http://www.fwhc.org/abortion/flyer.htm
It was made legal throughout the US in 1973 by a Supreme Court decision known as
Roe v Wade. This decision is based on a womans right to privacy regarding medical
matters including family planning. The Supreme Court allows some restrictions on
the practice of abortion. These restrictions vary from state to state.

ABORTION IS SAFE.

Since 1973, abortion has become the most often performed outpatient surgery.
Thousands of doctors across the country have learned to provide abortion using the
safest medical techniques. Today, abortion is about 10 times safer than giving birth.

MAKING YOUR OWN DECISION . . .

Becoming a parent is a very important decision that will affect the rest of your life.
Its essential to make your own decision. No one else has the right to tell you what
to do. Listen to your own heart.

If you - or someone you know - is pregnant, its a good idea to talk about it with
someone you trust. Talk with a friend, parent, teacher, relative, or call a clinic. (In
Washington, it is NOT necessary to have your parent's permission.)

Once you have made your decision, believe in yourself for making a good decision.
Abortion is the right of every woman.

WHAT ABOUT PARENTS?

In Washington state, parents permission is NOT required for a minor to obtain

abortion, pregnancy tests, birth control methods, or tests for sexually transmitted

infections, including HIV/AIDS. It is also not necessary to notify a parent before or

after the procedure or test.

When teens feel they cannot tell their parents, they have compelling reasons, such
as mentally ill or chemically dependent parents, family violence or incest. Laws
cannot mandate good family communications. Desperate teens seek illegal abortion
or even commit suicide rather than tell their parents. Parental consent laws are bad
medicine and bad legislation. Responsible parents open the doors of communication
themselves; they do not expect government to do it for them. Parental
consent/notice laws are a form of parents abdicating responsibility to the
government to curb the decisions teens may make.

STATE ASSISTANCE

In Washington state, if you are pregnant and low income, you may qualify for
"Medical Assistance" -- regardless of your age, and regardless of whether you want
to give birth or get an abortion. Contact your local DSHS, to sign up for Medical
Assistance for pregnant women.

COST

The cost of an abortion depends on the stage of pregnancy and which clinic is
providing services. First trimester procedures run about $500-1000. Second
trimester procedures cost $600-10,000. Many insurance plans cover abortion. In
Washington, abortion is covered by the state medical assistance. State Medicaid
coverage varies from state to state.

INSURANCE

Abortion is covered under many insurance plans. The clinic can help by verifying
coverage and other paperwork. It may not be necessary to obtain a referral from a
primary care physician before setting up an abortion appointment.

RISKS

Abortion is very safe. It is safer than giving birth and safer than receiving an
injection of penicillin. Like all medical procedures, there are some risks with
abortion, but the risk is comparatively minimal.

Potential complications from the abortion procedure include

incomplete abortion - which means the procedure needs to be repeated (a minor
complication)
infection - which is easily treated with antibiotics
perforation of the uterine wall - for which the treatment may be nothing, to surgical
repair in a hospital, depending on the severity.

Less than 1% of all abortion patients experience a major complication, such as

serious pelvic infection, hemorrhage requiring a blood transfusion or unintended
major surgery. The risks associated with abortion increases with the length of
pregnancy. Hysterectomy is exceedingly rare.

The risk of death associated with childbirth is about 10 times as high as that
associated with abortion.

Unless you have a complication during or after the abortion, abortion has no impact
on your future ability to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term.

Question: Why is Abortion

Legal in the United States?
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/abortion/f/abortion_legal.htm
Answer: During the 1960s and early 1970s, U.S. states began to repeal their bans
on abortion. In Roe v. Wade (1973), the U.S. Supreme Court stated that abortion
bans were unconstitutional in every state, legalizing abortion throughout the United
States.

For those who believe that human personhood begins during the early stages of
pregnancy, the Supreme Court's decision and the state law repeals that preceded it
may seem horrific, cold, and barbaric. And it is very easy to find quotes from some
pro-choicers who are completely unconcerned about the bioethical dimensions of
even third-trimester abortions, or who have a callous disregard for the plight of
women who do not want to have abortions, but are forced to do so for economic
reasons.

As a member of the pro-choice movement, I have committed to the idea that

abortion should be legal. But even I have doubts, significant doubts, about where
my movement is sometimes headed. As we consider the issue of abortion--and all
American voters, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, have an obligation to
do so--one question dominates: Why is abortion legal in the first place?

In the case of Roe v. Wade, the answer boils down to one of personal rights versus
legitimate government interests. The government has a legitimate interest in
protecting the life of an embryo or fetus (see "Does a Fetus Have Rights?"), but
embryos and fetuses do not have rights themselves unless and until it can be
determined that they are human persons.

Women are, obviously, known human persons. They make up the majority of known
human persons. Human persons have rights that an embryo or fetus does not have
until its personhood can be established. For various reasons, the personhood of a
fetus is generally understood to commence between 22 and 24 weeks. This is the
point at which the neocortex develops, and it is also the earliest known point of
viability--the point at which a fetus can be taken from the womb and, given the

proper medical care, still have a meaningful chance of long-term survival. The
government has a legitimate interest in protecting the potential rights of the fetus,
but the fetus itself does not have rights prior to the viability threshold.

So the central thrust of Roe v. Wade is this: Women have the right to make decisions
about their own bodies. Fetuses, prior to viability, do not have rights. Therefore,
until the fetus is old enough to have rights of its own, the woman's decision to have
an abortion takes precedence over the interests of the fetus. The specific right of a
woman to make the decision to terminate her own pregnancy is generally classified
as a privacy right implicit in the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments, but there are
other constitutional reasons why a woman has the right to terminate her pregnancy.
The Fourth Amendment, for example, specifies that citizens have "the right to be
secure in their persons"; the Thirteenth specifies that "{n}either slavery nor
involuntary servitude ... shall exist in the United States." Even if the privacy right
cited in Roe v. Wade were dismissed, there are numerous other constitutional
arguments that imply a woman's right to make decisions about her own
reproductive process.

If abortion were in fact homicide, then preventing homicide would constitute what
the Supreme Court has historically called a "compelling state interest"--an objective
so important that it overrides constitutional rights. The government may pass laws
prohibiting death threats, for example, despite the First Amendment's free speech
protections. But abortion can only be homicide if a fetus is known to be a person,
and fetuses are not known to be persons until the point of viability.

In the unlikely event that the Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade (see
"What if Roe v. Wade Were Overturned?"), it would most likely do so not by stating
that fetuses are persons prior to the point of viability, but instead by stating that the
Constitution does not imply a woman's right to make decisions about her own
reproductive system. This reasoning would allow states to not only ban abortions,
but also to mandate abortions if they so chose. The state would be given absolute
authority to determine whether or not a woman will carry her pregnancy to term.

There is also some question as to whether or not a ban on abortions would actually
prevent abortions. Laws criminalizing the procedure generally apply to doctors, not
to women, which means that even under state laws banning abortion as a medical
procedure, women would be free to terminate their pregnancies through other
means--usually by taking drugs that terminate pregnancies but are intended for

other purposes. In Nicaragua, where abortion is illegal, the ulcer drug misoprostol is
often used for this purpose. It's inexpensive, easy to transport and conceal, and
terminates the pregnancy in a manner that resembles a miscarriage--and it is one of
literally hundreds of options available to women who would terminate pregnancies
illegally. These options are so effective that, according to a 2007 study by the World
Health Organization, abortions are just as likely to occur in countries where abortion
is illegal as they are to occur in countries where abortion is not. Unfortunately, these
options are also substantially more dangerous than medically-supervised abortions-resulting in an estimated 80,000 accidental deaths each year.

In short, abortion is legal for two reasons: Because women have the right to make
decisions about their own reproductive systems, and because they have the power
to exercise that right regardless of government policy.

Types of Abortion Procedures

http://www.fwhc.org/abortion/ab-procedures.htm
During an abortion, the pregnancy is removed from the uterus. The options vary
depending upon upon the stage of pregnancy. During the appointment, clinic staff
will explain the procedure, risks, medications, options, and what to expect
afterward.

Note: weeks are measured since last menstrual period (LMP).

Medical Abortion (also called Mifepristone, Misoprostol, RU486, Non-surgical

Abortion, the Abortion Pill, or Medication Abortion):
The Abortion Pill is an option up to 8 weeks LMP. Prescription Mifepristone is taken in
pill form at the clinic. It causes the end of the pregnancy. Then 24-72 hours later,
the woman uses Misoprostol to cause the uterus to contract and expel the tissue. A
follow-up appointment is required to make sure the abortion is complete.
Occasionally more than one follow-up appointment is necessary. To use this method,
women must live within 2 hours of a hospital. Some women prefer Medical Abortion
because the process feels more natural and private; they can decide where they are
when they go through the experience, such as staying home for the weekend. Side
effects of the second medication include cramping, bleeding, diarrhea, nausea, etc.

Vacuum Aspiration:
In the first trimester, usually 6 to 13 weeks, vacuum aspiration is the procedure
used to empty the uterus. This traditional first trimester abortion involves three
main steps: (1) an injection to numb the cervix, (2) insertion of a soft flexible tube
through the cervix into the uterus, (3) suction created by an aspirating machine to
remove the pregnancy from the uterus. It is done in an outpatient clinic, doctor's
office or hospital and takes less than five minutes to complete the actual procedure.

IPAS Syringe - Early Abortion with Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA):

As soon as the pregnancy can be detected by ultrasound (typically 4-5 weeks), an
abortion can be performed using a manual aspiration device called the IPAS Syringe.
Similar to the suction aspiration procedure, the IPAS system consists of thin flexible
tubing, but instead of using a machine to create suction, the suction is created by a

handheld syringe. The procedure usually takes less than 5 minutes to complete.
Aftercare is the same as with suction aspiration. Availability of this procedure is
based upon doctor's discretion. Abortion by syringe is sometimes referred to as the
quiet abortion.

D & E (Dilate and Evacuate):

From 13 to 24 weeks, Cedar River Clinics use the Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
procedure. Appointments are made for 2-3 consecutive days. On the first day, an
ultrasound (sonogram) is performed to determine the size of the fetus. Then, the
abortion procedure is begun by numbing the cervix with injections and inserting
dilators into the cervix. Overnight these dilators gently expand, opening the
entrance to the uterus. The next day, the cervix is again numbed, the dilators are
removed, and the doctor uses special instruments to evacuate the uterus and
remove the pregnancy. The final step is suction using the aspirating machine. In
more advanced pregnancies, additional dilators are inserted on the second day and
the fetus is removed on the third day. The medical procedure lasts about 10-15
minutes.

Sedation for pain management:

At Cedar River Clinics, anesthesia sedation is an option for either first and second
trimester procedures. With sedation, the woman is unconscious during the
procedure (5 to 15 minutes) and afterward she has no memory of the events.
Anesthesia is administered intravenously, through an IV in the arm, by a licensed
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. It is fast-acting and consciousness quickly
returns when the procedure is over. Afterward, the client relaxes for 1-2 hours
before she can leave the clinic and she must not drive afterward. Several
medication options are available to help make the abortion as comfortable as
possible.

All abortion patients at Cedar River Clinics have access to a 24-hour hotline to call if
there are questions or concerns between appointment days or after the abortion
procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions http://www.fwhc.org/abortion/faq.htm

About Abortion Appointments

How long does it take?

The actual abortion procedure takes only 5-10 minutes for first trimester
procedures, and 15-20 minutes for second trimester procedures, depending on
gestation.

However, the abortion appointment will last 3-5 hours and will include paperwork,
blood draw, laboratory tests on blood and urine, ultrasound examination, counseling
about options, birth control, what to expect during and after the abortion,
understanding the medications as well as the abortion procedure and giving
informed consent, answering all your questions, taking medications or receiving
injections, a pelvic examination followed by the medical procedure, and recovery.
For second trimester D&E's, appointments will be made on 2 or 3 consecutive days.
After the procedure there is in-clinic recovery time of 20-30 minutes for first
trimester procedures and about an hour for second trimester procedures. Women
who opt for sedation will have a longer in-clinic recovery period the day of their
procedure.

What about counseling?

Everyone having an abortion has the opportunity to have all of their questions
answered. The clinic will also provide information about birth control, sexually
transmitted infections, and referrals to additional resources as needed. If a woman
is not completely ready for an abortion, she will not have an abortion that day.

What if I am undecided?

If a woman is undecided, counselors are available for a more-involved "options

counseling" session. If you are undecided, ask for "options counseling" when you
call to make an appointment. There is a separate fee for this service.

An excellent resource for women who are undecided or not yet ready to make their
decision is Pregnancy Options. Website covers all three options -- parenting,
abortion, and adoption. Offers emotional "tools" to get clear about how you feel in
an easy-to-read format with room for writing, drawing and doodling.

You can also call "Backline" (888-493-0092) a service where you can talk on the
phone with a trained volunteer to explore all your options.

Will I have pain?

The pain a woman feels during abortion comes from muscle cramps, similar but
stronger than menstrual cramps. Relaxing before and during the procedure will help
reduce pain. Depending upon the clinic, clients will work with the Registered Nurse
Anesthetist and Medical Doctor to choose from a range of anesthesia sedation
options. Sedation helps the woman's muscles relax during the procedure thereby
reducing cramping.

If a woman chooses sedation, she must have someone else drive her home.

How should I prepare for an abortion appointment?

Do not use street-drugs for 24-48 hours before your appointment because it could
cause a serious interactions with the operative medications if you have other drugs
in your system. Avoid aspirin or alcohol for 24 hours prior to your appointment
because they thin the blood and may increase bleeding.

Dress in comfortable 2-piece clothing; preferably short sleeved top because your
blood pressure will be monitored. Do not eat for 2 hours before your appointment.

Can I bring a friend or my partner with me?

We encourage you to bring a support person with you to the clinic. Out of concern
for security, legal issues, and liability, support persons may not be allowed in some
parts of the clinic. Ask when you are there.

Are there picketers at the clinic? Will I be safe?

In Renton, our clinic is located within a medical/dental complex. Picketers are not
allowed within the interior parking lots or sidewalks, so you can drive in and park
without coming in close contact with pickets. Most days there is a single picketer,
Sara. She is an older woman with 1-2 large signs near the entrance to the parking
lot, but a long way from the door to the building. What to do if you see protesters at
the clinic.

In Yakima, frequently there are 3-8 picketers on public sidewalks.

In Tacoma, the door is locked beyond the front entry. You will be "buzzed" in after
showing picture identification. There are occasionally pickets who must stay on
public sidewalks.

Uniformed security guards may be present. Do not be alarmed. They are for your
safety -- as well as ours. The guard will will not allow anyone to enter the building
unless they have an appointment or they accompany someone with an
appointment. They inspect all purses and bags. DO NOT bring guns or weapons with
you. Weapons will be confiscated by the guards.

What about after the abortion?

A normal period should begin in 4-8 weeks. Ovulation can occur at any time after
the abortion so birth control is needed to prevent pregnancy. If you are using birth

control pills, a backup method is recommended for the first 4 weeks (one cycle) of
pills..

To reduce risk of infection in the first 1-2 weeks after an abortion

do not have intercourse or douche
do not take a tub bath or go swimming
avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting (over 15 pounds)
avoid alcohol, aspirin and marijuana which may cause heavier bleeding
do not use tampons until your next period

If you experience heavy bleeding, call the clinic. Heavy bleeding is defined as when
you soak a maxi-pad in less than one hour, for 2 hours in a row.

Some women experience breast engorgement caused by the pregnancy hormones.

This is normal. To help this go away, bind the breasts tightly with an ace bandage
for several days. Do not touch or simulate the nipples (don't let water pound on
them when taking a shower). Engorgement should go away within a few days to a
week. Any stimulation such as touching will increase milk production.

We have a 24-hour hotline for abortion clients. We encourage you to call if you have
questions or problems.

Schedule a post-abortion checkup at the clinic or with your regular health care
provider for 2-3 weeks after your abortion.

Will the clinic give me birth control to use for the future?

The counselors at the clinic discuss your health status and give you options such as
birth control pills, Depo Provera, and condoms. For other methods of birth control,
such as diaphragm, cervical cap, IUD, you may make an appointment to come back
to the clinic at a later time after the abortion.

See our birth control page for more info about each option.

What if I have trouble coping emotionally after the abortion?

If you desire a post-abortion counseling session, just call the clinic to schedule an
appointment. This is included in the original fee for abortion.

There are several additional resources for women who wish to explore their postabortion emotions in a safe space. Check out these websites: Peace After Abortion,
After Your Abortion.

There exists a national talkline Exhale at 866-439-4253 -call to talk with a trained
professional who will listen to your worries and answer your questions.