It is vital to understand the abortion terminology, procedures, and risks involved with different types of abortion.
Medical Risks
Here are a list of medical risks that may occur with abortion:
- Puncturing of the uterus
- Hemorrhage, severe loss of blood and prolonged bleeding
- Infection if fetal or placental tissue is left behind in the uterus
- Blood loss
- Uterine infection
- Future infertility
- Nausea
- Pain
- Vomiting
- Heart Attack
- Diarrhea
- Severe anemia
- Liver damage
- Lung disease
- Cervical laceration
- Uncontrolled blood clotting
- Seizures
- Coma
- Detachment of anterior or posterior cervix
- Infection of the lining of the uterus
- Retained placenta
- Cervical trauma
- Hyperthermia
- Tachycardia
- Bronchoconstriction
- Rupture of uterus
- Death
Above information taken from: Abortion: Some Medical Facts, NRL Educational Trust Fund, 1996
Pain
Even with anesthesia, a majority of women have reported pain during abortions, with some women citing the pain as intense, severe, or very severe. Compared to other pain, researchers have rated the pain from abortion as more painful than a bone fracture, and about the same as cancer pain.
Injury
Besides the overwhelming list above, other organs can be damaged in abortion, such as the bladder and intestines. In 1996, over 250 women had died from LEGAL abortion.
Breast cancer
An abortion increases the risk of breast cancer, especially if the woman is under 18. One study showed that an abortion on a teen increased her chances of breast cancer by 800%. African American women are also at high risk for aggressive cancers associated with abortion.
Infertility
Abortions can leave scar tissue in the uterus that is damaging to the cervix and may leave a woman unable to have other babies, carry a pregnancy to term, or can make her susceptible to miscarriages.
Above information taken from the following sources: Phillip G. Stubblefield, M.D., et al, "Pain of first-trimester abortion: Its quantification and relations with other variables,: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vol. 133, No. 5 (March 1, 1979), p. 489 and 493.
Lawson, H. et al, "Abortion Mortality U.S., 1972-1987" American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vol. 171, No. 5 (November 1994), p. 1365-1352
Janet Daling, et al, "Risk of Breast Cancer Among Young Women: Relationship to Induced Abortion," Journal of the National Cancer Institute, I, Vol. 86, No. 21 (November 2, 1994), pp. 1584-1592.
Kahlenborn, Chris, M.D. "Breast Cancer Risk From Abortion" One More Soul brochure
Pyschological Risks
A survey of some women who had abortions found the following information:
- 28% attempted suicide
- 31% experienced suicidal feelings
- 60% commented that the decision to abort made their lives worse
- 94% regretted the decision to abort
Above information taken from: "Survey of Reaction to Abortion," The Post Abortion Review, Fall 1994, pp. 6-8.
It is necessary to not only consider the medical risks involved with abortion, but also the equally damaging psychological and emotional risks. Symptoms range from mild depression to suicidal tendencies, along with drug and alcohol addictions. Extreme feelings of guilt are common, along with anxiety and flashbacks to the abortion. It is important to look beyond the present and think about how you will remember your decision months or even years from now and what effect your decision will have on your life in the future.
Your Rights
NO WOMAN SHOULD BE MADE TO FEEL THAT ABORTION IS HER ONLY OPTION. NO WOMAN SHOULD BE MADE TO FEEL THAT KILLING HER CHILD WILL SOLVE HER PROBLEMS.
If you are considering abortion, you need to know your legal rights.
- You have the right to insist that your abortion be performed by a physician licensed to practice in your state.
- You have the right to verify that your physician has malpractice insurance to compensate you or a spouse/relative in case you are injured, killed, or sexually assaulted during the procedure.
- You have the right to know whether your physician has any pending or unpaid claims for medical malpractice, personal injury, or wrongful death.
- You have the right to insist that if you are injured you will be immediately transferred by ambulance to the nearest emergency facility.
- You have the right to seek financial compensation for injuries inflicted upon you by the clinic or doctor-even if you sign a document at the clinic saying you will not hold them responsible for such injuries.
Above information taken from: Life Dynamics Incorporated, PO Box 2226, Denton, TX 76202
If you still choose an abortion, be sure to protect yourself and ask the abortion provider these questions:
- Is whole blood available in case a transfusion is necessary?
- Do you have resuscitation equipment available?
- Are you equipped to treat convulsions or cardiac arrest?
- Is the doctor board certified?
- Does the doctor have hospital admitting privileges at the local hospital?
- Do they counsel about fetal development and will they show you your fetus using an ultrasound?
- Do they offer counseling for post-abortion trauma, emotional stress or depression?
NO PERSON other than the pregnant girl or woman can consent for an abortion. You cannot be forced to have an abortion by anyone, regardless of age or circumstance.
A coerced guilt-prompted abortion may produce long-term negative effects for the mother in months and years to come. It is important to weigh the consequences seriously before making that decision.
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