| Abortion is a very controversial issue today.
But through education and better understanding of the facts, we can make more
informed decisions concerning abortion and pregnancy. This material represents a collection of facts
and statistics on abortion. They have been compiled from a wide range of medical
journals and publications to provide an up-to-date overview of abortion in
America.
How many abortions are performed in America?
One out of every 4 babies conceived in the
United States is aborted. In more than 14 metropolitan areas, abortions out
number live births. More than 30 million abortions have occurred since 1973.
Each year 1.5 million unborn babies die by abortion. (2)
Why are abortions performed?
Women choose abortion for many reasons, but the
most common reasons they report are relational problems with the father of the
child, worry about the responsibility, fear of financial liability, concern
about lifestyle changes, and fear of others discovering sexual activity. (3)
At what stage of fetal development are
abortions legal?
Under the Supreme Court's
decisions in Roe v. Wade, Doe v. Bolton, and Planned Parenthood v. Casey,
abortions may be performed for any reason (socioeconomic, failure of birth
control, personal choice) prior to viability (about 24 weeks of pregnancy) and
for any reason relating to the mother’s physical or psychological health
thereafter. In these cases (post-viability abortions), the term "health" has
been defined very broadly by the Court to include any matter that might affect a
woman's "sense of well-being." In effect, therefore, abortion is legal for any
"health" reason throughout pregnancy.
How are the different surgical abortion
procedures performed?
First Trimester (1 - 12 weeks)
1.Suction
Curettage- The abortionist dilates
(opens) the cervix with mechanical dilators or laminaria (a porous substance
that is typically inserted a day before the abortion). Overnight the laminaria
gradually dilates the cervix by soaking up fluid. The day of the abortion the
abortionist attaches tubing to a suction machine, and inserts the tubing into
the uterus, The suction created by the vacuum pulls the unborn baby’s body apart
and detaches the placenta from the wall of the uterus, sucking the fetal parts
and placenta into a collection bottle. (7)
2. Dilation
and Curettage (D&C, or sharp curettage)--This
method is not as common anymore for abortions, because it requires more dilation
and more time, and is considered less safe than suction curettage. (8) The
cervix is dilated, and a curette, or loop-shaped knife, is inserted into the
uterus to cut apart the unborn baby and scrape the uterine lining to detach the
placenta. All body parts and membranes are then scraped out of the mothers body.
Second Trimester (13-26 weeks)
1.Dilation
and Evacuation (D&E)--At this point in
pregnancy, the unborn baby’s body is too large to be broken up by suction, and
it will not pass through the tubing. (9) The cervix needs to be dilated more
than in a first-trimester abortion, and this is usually accomplished by
inserting laminaria a day or two before the abortion. The abortionist then
dismembers the body parts. The skull is crushed and the spine is broken to
facilitate removals. (10)
2. Saline,
Prostaglandin, and Urea Instillation--These
methods, more common during the 1970s and 1980s, are rarely used now, according
to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which reported that they accounted for
only 0.7 % or approximately 11,200 of all reported abortions in 1991.
In a saline abortion, the abortionist injects a concentrated salt solution
through the mother's abdomen into the amniotic sac surrounding the baby. The
fetus absorbs the solution, which causes burning, hemorrhage, edema, shock, and
eventually death. The saline also causes the uterus to contract and expel the
baby.
Prostaglandin abortions are performed by injecting a prostaglandin hormone
into the amniotic sac. The hormone stimulates uterine contractions to expel the
fetus, who has usually died, although a 1978 study showed that up to 7% of
babies aborted with prostaglandins showed signs of life. (11)
Urea abortions are similar to saline abortions but are not as effective. They
are thought to have fewer complications for the mother. Urea infusion is more
commonly combined with later-term D&E abortions to soften fetal tissues for
easier, safer, and less painful removal.
(12)
Second and Third Trimester
Dilation and Extraction (D&X)--Congressional
action in 1996 brought to light yet another procedure for aborting late-term
unborn babies. This technique, called D&X abortion, does not dismember the
fetus; rather, the fetus is delivered intact, without infusions.
As described and performed by abortion doctor Martin Haskell, D&X abortions
take three days to complete. In the first two days, the woman's cervix is
dilated with laminaria in two or more sessions, with medication given for
cramping. On the day of the procedure, the laminaria are removed, and the
patient is injected with Pitocin to induce contractions.
The abortion doctor next determines the fetus orientation in the uterus
through ultrasound, and locates the legs. Grasping a leg with large forceps, he
then pulls the leg into the vagina, and delivers the baby (live) up to the
baby’s head with his hands.
Next, the abortionist slides his hand up the baby’s back and hooks his
fingers over the shoulders of the baby. Then a pair of scissors are inserted
into the base of the skull to create an opening. Removing the scissors, he
inserts a suction catheter into the opening, and suctions out the skull
contents. (13) Minus its brains, the skull decompresses, and is easy to remove.
Finally, the abortionist removes the placenta with forceps and scrapes the
uterine walls with a suction curette. (14)
The above D&X procedure is
described as "Partial Birth Abortion" by Politicians and the Media.
What are the physical risks of
surgical abortions? (15)
First Trimester
Cervical tearing and laceration from the instruments.
Perforation of the uterus
by instruments. May require major surgery, including hysterectomy.
Scarring of the uterine lining,by
suction tubing, curettes, and other instruments.
Infection,
local and systemic (sepsis).
Hemorrhage and shock,
especially if the uterine artery is torn.
Anesthesia toxicity
from both general or local anesthesia, resulting in possible convulsions,
cardiorespiratory arrest, and in extreme cases, death. General anesthesia in
abortion has a two to four times greater risk of death than local anesthesia.
Retained tissue,
indicated by cramping, heavy bleeding and infection.
Postabortal syndrome,
referring to an enlarged tender, and soft uterus retaining blood clots.
Failure to recognize an ectopic pregnancy.
This could lead to the rupture of a fallopian tube and hemorrhage and resulting
infertility or death, if treatment is not provided in time.
Second Trimester
Infusion Methods
Adverse reactions
by the mother to the chemicals used in the abortion.
"Failed abortion,"
also known as "live birth."
Retained tissue,
including the placenta.
Uterine rupture,
with resulting severe pain and blood loss. May require major Surgery, including
hysterectomy.
Cervical laceration,
perforation, heavy bleeding or hemorrhage, and infection.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
Trapped fetal parts,
leading to possible damage to the uterus and nearby organs, such as the bowel
and bladder.
Laceration and perforation of the uterus and/or
cervix by fetal parts and/or the larger
instruments used in these mid-term abortions.
Greater risk of hemorrhage.
7. Warren Hern, Abortion Practices
(Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1990, pp. 108-117.
8. Stephen L. Corson, M.D., Richard J. Derman, M.D., M.P.H., and Louise B.
Tyler, M.D., eds., Fertility Control (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1985,
pg. 64.
9. Hern, op. cit., pg. 123.
10. Ibid., pg. 128.
11. W.K. Lee and M.S. Baggish, “ Live Birth as a Complication of Trimester
Abortion Induced with Intra-amniotic Prostaglandin F2a,” Adv. Planned Parenthood
(vol. 13, No.7, 1978). Quoted in Hern, Abortion Practice, pg. 183.
12. Hern, op. cit., pp. 124-125.
13. Martin Haskell, M.D., “ Second Trimaster Abortion: From Every Angle,” paper
presented at the Fall Risk Management Seminar at the National Abortion
Federation, September 13-14, Dallas, Texas.
14. Ibid.
1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers
for Disease Control, Morbidy and Mortality Weekly Report, March 22, 1996.
2. Alan Guttmacher Institute, “Facts in Brief: Abortion in
the United States,” August 31, 1994.
3. Aida Torres and Jacqueline Darroch Forrest, “Why Do Women
Have Abortions?” Family Planning Perspectives (vol. 20, No.4)
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