The Real Truths About Abortion

To begin with, abortion is a choice and has been legalized in many countries of the world. Whatever a female chooses to do with her body is entirely her choice. After all, it is her body.

Society today has tagged abortion a taboo, as it is widely believed that only “indecent” girls and women undergo this process. This is, however, not true. On the other hand, the internet is not even helping matters, as hosts of myths about abortion keep flying around, leaving people uninformed and confused.

Abortion is a process that immediately follows unwanted or unplanned pregnancies in most cases. There are myriads of reasons behind the intentional termination of pregnancies. Some of these reasons include rape, failed contraceptives, unavailable contraceptives, or even cases where pregnancies threaten the lives of women at a particular point in their lives.

In contrast to what religion and society preach, abortion is not as terrible as they paint it. Abortion is not only a safe process. It also helps you plan your life properly without you having to raise children you are not prepared to have.

Abortion should be based on every woman’s individual and unique circumstances. Thus, she should not be judged for any reason whatsoever because it is her choice. You being pro-life does not make pro-choice individuals lesser humans.

Abortion myths are established to make women desist from the act. They make this act seem risky. However, medically, the reverse is the case. Abortion is a safe process. All you need is an expert and the right abortion method suitable for your body.

Although, as safe as it might be medically, it is best to do it in moderation, as having it too many times can be dangerous for you.

This article is packed with myths about abortion and facts that debunk them. These truths can help you make knowledgeable decisions about abortion without your sense of thought beclouded by religious and societal beliefs.

In addition, this article can help you decide why you should or should not get an abortion, irrespective of the pressure from spouses, parents, friends, and religion.

Types of Abortion Procedures

Surgical Abortion

This is done through a process known as suction aspiration. It is mostly carried out between 6 to 12 weeks or more of pregnancy.

Medical Abortion

Medical abortion involves the use of prescribed pills, usually within 7 weeks of pregnancy. Some of these pills can be administered orally or can be inserted into the vagina.

Having known the different types of abortion procedures, you should also understand, learn and unlearn some of the beliefs you used to hold about abortion. Note that these facts are backed by medical research, and they are 100% accurate.

Abortion: Myths Versus Facts

Myth

Abortion is dangerous.

Fact

Yes, but that was in the past when abortion was still illegal, and women had to resort to dangerous means to terminate their unplanned pregnancies, thereby injuring themselves in the process. Today, abortion is legal.

You can easily walk into a hospital and request an abortion, and you will get it done through safe medical processes. Also, based on the degree of technological advancement in the world today, abortion has become safer and more seamless.

Except you are still living in the past, abortion is absolutely safe. It is best to have an abortion rather than carrying an unwanted pregnancy or birthing the child.

Myth

Abortion can cause future infertility, pregnancy complications, and even breast cancer.

Fact

This is just a lie told to keep women away from getting abortions, as up till today, research has still not been able to create a link or connection between abortion and breast cancer, infertility, or pregnancy complications like ectopic pregnancy.

Although all surgeries come with their own side effects, these side effects can be managed, and surgical abortion is not an exception.

Both women who have had abortions at some point in their lives and those who have never undergone the process can develop breast cancer, ectopic pregnancies, and infertility. In other words, it is feasible for you not to have had an abortion at all and still develop these health conditions. These health conditions can be the results of other factors other than abortion.

Myth

Abortion leads to emotional psychological problems or “post-abortion syndrome.”

Fact

Several studies have been hauled out to confirm this claim. However, none has been able to establish a link between abortion and adverse psychological and emotional effects.

In fact, studies carried out among young women who have had abortions for different reasons showed that they felt relief rather than emotional or psychological stress after the abortion. This is because they were not coerced into having the abortion. Rather, they made free and informed decisions.

Myth

You do not need an abortion if you use contraceptives adequately.

Fact

Research showed that almost 33 million women get pregnant every year, even after using contraceptives. In other words, no contraceptive is 100% effective.

Is it a condom? Condoms break when excessive pressure is applied to them. Is it morning pills? They sometimes become ineffective when you are ovulating. The only reliable contraceptive with less than 1% failure is IUD, emergency contraception. Nonetheless, this does not continually come in handy at all times.

Myth

Abortion is too expensive.

Fact

If that were true, the percentage of abortions per year would be insignificant. Abortion is quite affordable. It is something that can be done within your income. Although some factors determine how much money you will spend on getting an abortion.

Some of these factors include how far along the pregnancy has gone, pregnancy complications, abortion procedures involved, among others. Abortions become cheaper when you have health insurance, especially ones that provide coverage for abortions.

Myth

Abortion comes with excruciating pain.

Fact

It is a normal thing to experience cramps after an abortion. This is because you are inducing early labor. The procedures force or detach the fetus from the uterus, and this causes you to bleed and also experience cramps.

Some studies among women showed that abortion cramps are almost equivalent to major menstrual cramps. The cramps can persist for up to 2 days. The same goes for the bleeding. Bleeding from abortion can be heavier, with more blood clots than your normal menstrual blood flow.

This is because you are basically causing the miscarriage by yourself. During the process of bleeding, it is best to avoid alcohol, as it can tamper with the effectiveness of the abortion drugs.

Myth

Medical abortion can be reversed.

Fact

People believe that after the first abortion pill has been administered, the abortion process can be reversed after a progesterone injection. However, the truth is, be it medical or surgical abortion, once the process has begun, it cannot be reversed. This might just be a tactic of dissuading women from getting abortions.

Myth

Only a particular group of women have unwanted and unplanned pregnancies.

Fact

The belief is only unmarried women have unplanned pregnancies. This is, however, not true, as married women also have unplanned pregnancies. This could be as a result of a factor like a failed contraceptive.

Abortion is not meant for only a certain group of women. Both young and old, rich and poor, black and white, seek an abortion.

Myth

Home abortion is safe too. Taking large doses of vitamin C at home can trigger abortion.

Fact

If you are considering an abortion, it is best to consult a professional medical practitioner. No evidence had proven vitamin C to be an effective abortion medication. Taking enormous amounts of vitamin C can cause stomach upset like flatulence but will not induce abortion. To get an abortion using pills, try to get the right information from reliable sources, especially from medical experts.

Myth

A fetus can feel discomfort during an abortion.

Fact

Studies have shown that until the nervous system of the fetus, which takes about 24 weeks, begins to develop, the fetus cannot feel any pain. In other words, you are not inflicting pain on the fetus.

Research has shown that most abortions occur between 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy. This is a long time before the nervous system begins to develop.

Conclusion

Abortion is a choice. Deciding whether you should get it or not depends solely on your circumstance and choice. The myths above have been debunked by proper research, and these facts can help you through your decision-making process.