ABORTION

Abortion is the ending of pregnancy by the removal or forcing out from the womb of
a fetus or embryo before it is able to survive on its own. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in
which case it is often called a miscarriage. It can also be purposely caused in which case it is
known as an induced abortion. The term abortion most commonly refers to the induced abortion
of a human pregnancy. The similar procedure after the fetus may be able to survive on its own is
medically known as a "late termination of pregnancy".
Modern medicine uses medications or surgical methods for induced abortion. The two
medications mifepristone and prostaglandin are as effective as a surgical method in the first
trimester. While the use of medications may be effective in the second trimester, surgical
methods appear to have a lower risk of side effects. Birth control, including the
pill and intrauterine devicess can be started immediately after an abortion. Abortion in
the developed world has a long history of being among the safest procedures in medicinewhen
allowed by local law. Uncomplicated abortions do not cause either long term mental health or
physical problems.The World Health Organization recommends that this same level of safe and
legal abortions be available to all women globally.Unsafe abortions, however, result in
approximately 47,000 maternal deaths and 5 million hospital admissions per year globally.
An estimated 44 million abortions are performed globally each year, with slightly under
half of those performed unsafely.Rates of abortions have changed little between 2003 and
2008,after having previously spent decades declining as access to education regarding family
planning and birth control improved. As of 2008, forty percent of the world's women had access
to legal induced abortions "without restriction as to reason". There are; however, limits regarding
how far along in pregnant they can be performed.
Induced abortion has a long history. They have been performed by various methods,
including herbal medicines, the use of sharpened tools, physical trauma, and other traditional
methods since ancient times.The laws surrounding abortion, how frequently they are performed,
and their cultural and religious status vary a great deal around the world. In some contexts,
abortion is legal based on specific conditions, such as incest, rape, problems with the fetus,
socioeconomic factors or the risk to a mother's health.In many parts of the world there is
prominent public controversy over the moral, ethical, and legal issues of abortion. Those who
are against abortion generally state that an embryo or fetus is a human with the right to life and
may compare abortion to murder.Those who support abortion rights emphasize a woman's right
to decide matters concerning her own body as well as emphasising human rights generaly.