AbortionAbortion

The term "abortion" actually refers to any premature The term "abortion" actually refers to any premature expulsion of a human fetus, whether naturally expulsion of a human fetus, whether naturally spontaneous, as in a miscarriage, or artificially spontaneous, as in a miscarriage, or artificially

induced, as in a surgical or chemical abortion. Today, induced, as in a surgical or chemical abortion. Today, the most common usage of the term "abortion" applies the most common usage of the term "abortion" applies

to artificially induced abortionto artificially induced abortion

The First TrimesterThe First Trimester Takes place from 1-14 weeks Takes place from 1-14 weeks

of gestation.of gestation. Within this trimester you will Within this trimester you will

find the most rapid rate of find the most rapid rate of growth and development growth and development taking place. taking place.

By the end of the 1st trimester, By the end of the 1st trimester, your son or daughter will have your son or daughter will have grown to 3.4 inches (8.7 cm) grown to 3.4 inches (8.7 cm) long and weigh about 1.5 long and weigh about 1.5 ounces (43 grams). ounces (43 grams).

Your infant will develop Your infant will develop everything from limbs to vital everything from limbs to vital organs. organs.

(Photo at 7 weeks)(Photo at 7 weeks)

The abortion techniques for the The abortion techniques for the first trimesterfirst trimester

Surgical:Surgical:• Suction AspirationSuction Aspiration• Dilatation and CurettageDilatation and Curettage

Chemical:Chemical:• RU 486RU 486• MethotrexateMethotrexate

The Second TrimesterThe Second Trimester

This takes place from This takes place from weeks 15-28.weeks 15-28.

All of baby's major All of baby's major organs have formed organs have formed by the 15th week of by the 15th week of pregnancy.pregnancy.

Eyebrows and Eyebrows and fingernails form.fingernails form.

(Photo at 21 weeks)(Photo at 21 weeks)

Abortion techniques for the Abortion techniques for the second trimestersecond trimester

Surgical:Surgical:

1.1. Dilatation and Dilatation and EvacuationEvacuation

The Third TrimesterThe Third Trimester Takes place from 29-42 Takes place from 29-42

weeks of gestation.weeks of gestation. Babies born this trimester Babies born this trimester

have a great chance of have a great chance of survival with all major survival with all major organs functioning.organs functioning.

By the end of this By the end of this trimester your baby will trimester your baby will be approximately 7 be approximately 7 pounds in weight and pounds in weight and about 20 inches long.about 20 inches long.

(Photo at 33 weeks) (Photo at 33 weeks)

Abortion techniques for 2Abortion techniques for 2ndnd-3rd -3rd trimestertrimester

ChemicalChemical::

1.1. Salt PoisoningSalt Poisoning

(photo)(photo)

2.Urea2.Urea

3.Prostaglandins3.Prostaglandins

Abortion techniques for 2Abortion techniques for 2ndnd-3rd -3rd trimestertrimester

SurgicalSurgical::

1.1. Partial-Birth AbortionPartial-Birth Abortion

2.2. HysterotomyHysterotomy      

     

Partial-Birth AbortionPartial-Birth Abortion

HysterotomyHysterotomy

At 6 months of gestation.At 6 months of gestation.

Is Abortion SafeIs Abortion Safe?? Despite the use of local anesthesia, a full 97% of woman having Despite the use of local anesthesia, a full 97% of woman having

abortions reported experiencing pain during the procedure. abortions reported experiencing pain during the procedure. Compared to other pains, researchers have rated the pain from Compared to other pains, researchers have rated the pain from

abortion as more painful than a bone fracture, about the same as abortion as more painful than a bone fracture, about the same as cancer pain, though not as painful as amputation.cancer pain, though not as painful as amputation.

The use of more powerful general anesthetics can reduce the pain, The use of more powerful general anesthetics can reduce the pain, but significantly increases the risk of cervical injury or uterine but significantly increases the risk of cervical injury or uterine perforation.perforation.

Some other examples are bleeding, hemorrhage, inflammation of Some other examples are bleeding, hemorrhage, inflammation of the reproductive organs, bladder or bowel perforation, and serious the reproductive organs, bladder or bowel perforation, and serious injury as well as permanent infertility.injury as well as permanent infertility.

Overall, woman who have abortions face an increased risk of Overall, woman who have abortions face an increased risk of ectopic (tubal) pregnancy and a more than doubled risk of future ectopic (tubal) pregnancy and a more than doubled risk of future sterility. sterility.

Increase in breast cancerIncrease in breast cancer

For woman under 18 with no previous For woman under 18 with no previous pregnancies, having an abortion after the 8pregnancies, having an abortion after the 8 thth week increased the risk of breast cancer 800%.week increased the risk of breast cancer 800%.

Woman with a family history of breast cancer Woman with a family history of breast cancer fared even worse.fared even worse.

All woman who took part in the study who had All woman who took part in the study who had abortions before the age of 18 and had a family abortions before the age of 18 and had a family history of breast cancer themselves got cancer history of breast cancer themselves got cancer before age 45.before age 45.

Psychological ConsequencesPsychological Consequences

56% of woman who had abortions felt 56% of woman who had abortions felt guilty about it.guilty about it.

26% mostly regretted the abortion.26% mostly regretted the abortion.

In The United States Alone:In The United States Alone:

The num. of abortions per year is 1.37 The num. of abortions per year is 1.37 Million.Million.

The num. of abortions per day is ~3,700The num. of abortions per day is ~3,700Who’s having abortions (age)?-Who’s having abortions (age)?-52% of woman obtaining abortions are 52% of woman obtaining abortions are

younger than 25;woman aged 20-24 younger than 25;woman aged 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions; teenagers obtain 32% of all abortions; teenagers obtain 20% and girls under 15 account for obtain 20% and girls under 15 account for 1.2%.1.2%.

Who’s having abortions (race)?Who’s having abortions (race)?

While white woman obtain 60% of all While white woman obtain 60% of all abortions, their abortion rate is well below abortions, their abortion rate is well below that of minority woman. Black woman are that of minority woman. Black woman are more than 3 times likely as white woman more than 3 times likely as white woman and Hispanic woman are roughly 2 times and Hispanic woman are roughly 2 times as likely.as likely.

Why do woman have abortions?Why do woman have abortions?

1% of all abortions occur because of rape 1% of all abortions occur because of rape or incest.or incest.

6% of abortions occur because of potential 6% of abortions occur because of potential health hazards regarding either the mother health hazards regarding either the mother or childor child

93% of abortions occur for social reasons 93% of abortions occur for social reasons (i.e. the child is unwanted or inconvenient)(i.e. the child is unwanted or inconvenient)

At what gestational age are At what gestational age are abortions performed?abortions performed?

52% of all abortions occur before the 952% of all abortions occur before the 9 thth week of week of pregnancy.pregnancy.

25% happen between the 925% happen between the 9thth and 10 and 10thth week. week. 12% happen between the 1112% happen between the 11thth and 12 and 12thth week. week. 6% between weeks 13 and 156% between weeks 13 and 15 4% happen between the 164% happen between the 16thth and 20h week. and 20h week. 1% of all abortions( 16, 450/yr.) happen after the 1% of all abortions( 16, 450/yr.) happen after the

2020thth week of pregnancy. week of pregnancy.

Alternatives to abortionAlternatives to abortion

Throughout the United States there are Throughout the United States there are nearly 3,000 Crisis Pregnancy Centers nearly 3,000 Crisis Pregnancy Centers staffed by volunteers ready to provide real staffed by volunteers ready to provide real help to woman facing unplanned or help to woman facing unplanned or untimely pregnancies.untimely pregnancies.

To find help you can look in the Yellow To find help you can look in the Yellow Pages under the heading “Abortion Pages under the heading “Abortion Alternatives” or you can call, toll-free, Alternatives” or you can call, toll-free, 1(800) 848-LOVE1(800) 848-LOVE any time day or night. any time day or night.