Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy associated with the death and expulsion of the embryo or fetus from the womb. In medical science, the term abortion refers to both natural/accidental terminations of pregnancy (a spontaneous abortion or a miscarriage), as well as deliberate pregnancy termination (induced abortion). Abortion induced because the pregnancy poses a health risk to the gravida (pregnant woman) is known as therapeutic abortion, while abortion induced at the request of the gravida is known as elective abortion. A pregnant woman Human pregnancy refers to the process by which a human female carries a live offspring from conception until childbirth. ... Embryos (and one tadpole) of the wrinkled frog (Rana rugosa you beezie). ... Fetus at eight weeks A fetus (alternatively foetus or fœtus) is an unborn human offspring from the end of the 8th week of pregnancy (when the major structures have formed) until birth. ... Miscarriage is the lay term for the natural or accidental termination of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or the fetus is incapable of surviving. ... A pregnant woman, or gravida Human pregnancy refers to the process by which a human female carries a live offspring from conception until it develops to the point where the offspring is capable of living outside the womb. ...

Methods of inducing abortion

Depending on the gestational age of the developing offspring, abortion can describe a number of different ways to destroy and remove the embryo or fetus from the womb.

Chemical abortion

Chemical abortion is a method used to induce abortion by ingesting drugs, usually during the first nine weeks of pregnancy. Very soon after a sperm and ovum fuse, the Morning-after pill can be taken as an abortifacient to prevent the resulting embryo from implanting in the uterus, thereby aborting any further development of the embryo. Further into the pregnancy chemical abortion is accomplished by administering either methotrexate or mifepristone (RU-486) followed by administration of misoprostol. Approximately eight percent of these abortions require surgical follow-up, usually by vacuum aspiration (See below). Methotrexate may also treat undiagnosed or concomitant tubal pregnancies, which occur in about two percent of all patients who desire to terminate their pregnancy. About 10 % of abortions in the United States and Europe are induced in this way. A chemical abortion is a type of abortion in which a drug is used to induce the abortion, rather than a surgical procedure. ... The morning-after pill, or emergency contraception, is a pill regimen that a woman can take up to three days after she has had sexual intercourse to prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg in her uterus. ... An abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion. ... Embryos (and one tadpole) of the wrinkled frog (Rana rugosa you beezie). ... Methotrexate (abbreviated MTX; formerly known as amethopterin) is an antimetabolite drug used in treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. ... Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid. ... Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid. ... Misoprostol is a prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) analogue used for the treatment and prevention of stomach ulcers. ...

Surgical abortion

In the first fifteen weeks, suction-aspiration or vacuum abortion are the most common methods, replacing the more risky dilation and curettage (D & C). Manual vacuum aspiration, or MVA abortion, consists of removing the fetus or embryo by suction using a manual syringe, while the Electric vacuum aspiration or EVA abortion method uses suction produced by an electric pump to remove the fetus or embryo. From the fifteenth week up until around the eighteenth week, a surgical dilation and evacuation (D & E) is used. D & E consists of opening the cervix of the uterus and emptying it using surgical instruments and suction. David Johnson [T|C] 21:33, 21 Apr 2005 (UTC) Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Dilation and curettage is a gynaecological procedure performed on the female reproductive system. ... Manual vacuum aspiration is a form of abortion using a manual vacuum. ... Fetus at eight weeks A fetus (alternatively foetus or fœtus) is an unborn human offspring from the end of the 8th week of pregnancy (when the major structures have formed) until birth. ... Embryos (and one tadpole) of the wrinkled frog (Rana rugosa you beezie). ... A syringe consists of a plunger fitted to a tube with a small opening on one end used either to inject or suck out a liquid. ... A form of abortion using electric vacuum aspiration. ... A pump is a mechanical device used to move liquids or gases. ... Fetus at eight weeks A fetus (alternatively foetus or fœtus) is an unborn human offspring from the end of the 8th week of pregnancy (when the major structures have formed) until birth. ... Embryos (and one tadpole) of the wrinkled frog (Rana rugosa you beezie). ... Dilation and evacuation is a form of abortion using dilation and evacuation. ... Categories: Anatomy stubs | Reproductive system | Gynecology ... Female internal reproductive anatomy The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of most mammals, including humans. ...

Dilation and suction curettage consists of emptying the uterus by suction using a different apparatus. Curettage refers to the cleaning of the walls of the uterus with a curette. Dilation and curettage (D & C) is a standard gynaecological procedure performed for a variety of reasons, such as examination. These abortions are usually done before 12 weeks. ... Female internal reproductive anatomy The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of most mammals, including humans. ... In surgery, the use of a curette to remove tissue by scraping or scooping. ... Female internal reproductive anatomy The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of most mammals, including humans. ... Noun A spoon-shaped surgical instrument for cleaning a diseased surface. ... Dilation and curettage is a gynaecological procedure performed on the female reproductive system. ...

As the fetus grows, other techniques must be used to induce abortion in the third trimester. Premature delivery of the human fetus can be induced with prostaglandin; this can be coupled with injecting the amniotic fluid with caustic solutions containing saline or urea. Very late abortions can be brought about by the controversial intact dilation and extraction (intact D & X) which requires the surgical decompression of the fetus's head before evacuation and is controversially termed "partial-birth abortion". A hysterotomy abortion, similar to a caesarian section but ending with a dead fetus, can also be used at late stages of pregnancy. Fetus at eight weeks A fetus (alternatively foetus or fœtus) is an unborn human offspring from the end of the 8th week of pregnancy (when the major structures have formed) until birth. ... For the term trimester used in academic settings, see Academic term The human gestation period of approximately 40 weeks between the time of the last menstrual cycle and delivery is traditionally divided into three periods of three months, or trimesters. ... A prostaglandin is any member of a group of lipid compounds that are derived from fatty acids and have important functions in the animal body. ... The amniotic sac is a tough but thin transparent pair of membranes, which hold a developing embryo (and later fetus) until shortly before birth. ... In medicine saline is a solution of sodium chloride in sterile water, usually for intravenous infusion. ... Urea Urea is an organic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen, with the formula CON2H4 or (NH2)2CO and the structure shown right: Urea is also known as carbamide, especially in the recommended International Non-proprietry Names (rINN)in use in Europe e. ... Intact dilation and extraction is a surgical technique which can be used for partial-birth abortion or the removal of a dead fetus after a late-term miscarriage, in which the patients cervix is dilated and fetus extracted in substantially one piece. ... Partial-birth abortion (PBA) is a term used to refer to a specific type of late-term abortion, clinically known as intact dilation and extraction (IDX or Intact D&X). ... Hysterotomy abortion is a form of abortion, similar to a caesarian abortion. ... A caesarean section (cesarean section AE), is a surgical incision through a mothers abdomen (laparotomy) and uterus (hysterotomy) to deliver one or more fetuses. ...

Herbal abortion

Early in the pregnancy, herbs can be used as abortifacients. Two complimentary herbs that work together are black and blue cohash. One strengthens the uterus and the other induces contractions. Other herbs harmful to pregnancy are angelica, parsley leaf and root, tansy, rue, and cotton root bark. A high-dose regimen of vitamin C can also be used. These methods can be dangerous, have low success rates and are not approved by the medical community. [1] (http://www.sisterzeus.com/Hsp1shlp.htm) Many herbal recipes were compiled and published in medieval times allegedly by Peter of Spain. An abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion. ... Species See text Angelica is a genus of the Umbilliferous family Apiaceae, with about 50 species of tall perennial herbs 1-2 m tall with large bipinnate leaves and large compound umbels of white or greenish-white flowers. ... Species Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)is a bright green, biennial herb that is very common in Middle Eastern, European, and American cooking. ... Species Including: Tanacetum bipinnatum Tanacetum camphoratum Tanacetum corymbosum Tanacetum douglasi Tanacetum horonense Tanacetum parthenium Tanacetum pathenium Tanacetum vulgare Common tansy, Tanacetum vulgare Tansy can refer to any species of the genus Tanacetum (Asteraceae), but more usually means Tanacetum vulgare, sometimes called common tansy or garden tansy, while the other Tanacetum... Species See text Rue (Ruta) is a genus of strongly scented evergreen subshrubs 20-60 cm tall, in the family Rutaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia and southwest Asia. ... Species See text The cotton plant is a tropical and subtropical shrub of the Genus Gossypium (Family Malvaceae). ... Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient essential for life and is used by the human body for many purposes. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

Traumatic abortion

Trauma to the womb by putting pressure on the woman's abdomen can cause abortion of the fetus. The impact required to cause a miscarriage carries a risk of injury to the woman, the likelihood of abortion being induced is low, and there is potential criminal liability for those assisting. [2] (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/06/AR2005060601411.html)

Health risks

Complications

• Even in regulated legal clinics, there is a small risk of serious complications from the most common surgical abortion procedures. These risks include perforated uterus, septic shock, sterility and death.

• The exact risk and type of complications depend on the abortion method as well as the clinical and hygienic conditions. Studies have found that in developed countries where abortion is legal, the risk of serious physical complications of an abortion is less than one percent. In countries where abortion is illegal, this percentage is much higher, although the exact figure is unknown. This is likely due to the inherently dangerous nature of unregulated illegal surgery by doctors of dubious skill. Use of "traditional medicine" methods (overdoses of various drugs, inserting various objects into uterus) for abortions is also dangerous. Serious complications from abortions done outside of professional clinics may include infections, bleeding, and in many cases lead to death.

Female internal reproductive anatomy The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of most mammals, including humans. ... Septic shock is a serious medical condition causing such effects as multiple organ failure and death in response to infection and sepsis. ... Sterility is the quality or state of being unable to reproduce. ... Death is either the cessation of life in a living organism or the state of the organism after that event. ...

Physical health

• Premature Birth: A study appearing in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology by Dr. Caroline Moreau of the Hôpital de Bicêtre in Paris recently revealed a substantially greater chance of premature birth for the next baby after an aborted pregnancy. Overall, women who had had an abortion were 40 % more likely to have a very pre-term delivery (less than 33 weeks) than those without such a history. The risk of an extremely premature baby - one born at less than 28 weeks - was raised even more sharply, by 70 %. Abortion appeared to increase the risk of most major causes of premature birth, including premature rupture of membranes, incorrect position of the fetus on the placenta, and spontaneous early labor. The only common cause of premature birth not linked to abortion was high blood pressure. Earlier studies had shown an increased risk of preterm birth associated with abortion, but had failed to establish a conclusive link. [3] (http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/05/15/nabort15.xml)

• Main Article: Abortion-Breast Cancer (ABC) hypothesis

The Abortion-Breast Cancer (ABC) hypothesis posits an association between having an abortion and a higher risk of developing breast cancer. The proposed mechanism is based on the increased estrogen levels found during early pregnancy, which initiate cellular differentiation (growth) in the breast in preparation for lactation. The ABC hypothesis states that if the pregnancy is aborted before full differentiation in the third trimester, then more "vulnerable" undifferentiated cells would be left than prior to the pregnancy, resulting in an elevated risk of breast cancer. The majority of interview-based studies have indicated a link – some are statistically significant – but there is debate as to their reliability.

The most recent meta-analysis of 53 epidemiological studies published by Dr. Beral et al. in The Lancet in March 2004 found no ABC link; those findings have been disputed by Dr. Brind, a leading scientific advocate of the ABC hypothesis. Nevertheless, gaps and inconsistencies remain in the research as the "ABC link" continues to be a politicized issue.

• A specific complication that can arise, especially with repeated abortions by a dilatation and curettage, is the development of Asherman syndrome.

Premature birth (also known as preterm birth) is defined medically as birth occurring earlier than 37 completed weeks of gestation. ... The Abortion-Breast Cancer (ABC) hypothesis is based on the fact that during early pregnancy, hormone levels increase significantly. ... Breast cancer is cancer of breast tissue. ... Estrogens (or oestrogens) are a group of steroid compounds that function as the primary female sex hormone. ... A pregnant woman Human pregnancy refers to the process by which a human female carries a live offspring from conception until childbirth. ... Cellular differentiation is a concept from developmental biology describing the process by which cells acquire a type. The morphology of a cell may change dramatically during differentiation, but the genetic material remains the same, with few exceptions. ... sprankton a noun a disease you get from chewing to much penis sprankton a noun a disease you get from chewing to much penis sprankton a noun a disease you get from chewing to much penis sprankton a noun a disease you get from chewing to much penis sprankton a... A breastfeeding infant Breastfeeding is the practice of a woman feeding an infant (or sometimes a toddler or a young child) with milk produced from her mammary glands, usually directly from the nipples. ... A hypothesis (= assumption in ancient Greek) is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. ... For the term trimester used in academic settings, see Academic term The human gestation period of approximately 40 weeks between the time of the last menstrual cycle and delivery is traditionally divided into three periods of three months, or trimesters. ... Breast cancer is cancer of breast tissue. ... In statistics, a result is significant if it is unlikely to have occurred by chance, given that a presumed null hypothesis is true, but is not improbable if the null hypothesis is false. ... A meta-analysis is a statistical practice of combining the results of a number of studies. ... Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to control of health problems (Last 2001). ... The Abortion-Breast Cancer (ABC) hypothesis is based on the fact that during early pregnancy, hormone levels increase significantly. ... The Lancet is a British medical journal, published weekly by the Lancet Publishing Group. ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dr. Joel Brind is a pro-life born again Christian and a leading scientific advocate of the Abortion-Breast Cancer (ABC) hypothesis. ... Dilation and curettage is a gynaecological procedure performed on the female reproductive system. ... Ashermans syndrome , also called uterine synechiae, presents a condition characterized by the presence of scars within the uterine cavity. ...

Mental health

• Research has been carried on the question of whether abortion is associated with increased risk of clinical depression, but the results are mixed.

• According to one study of 1,884 women conducted by the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, women whose first pregnancy ended in abortion are 65 % more likely to be diagnosed with clinical depression around eight years later.

• Another study of 2,525 women revealed that women who had an abortion were more likely to report depression or lower satisfaction with their lives. However, they also often reported rape, childhood physical and sexual abuse, and violent partners. After controlling for the history of abuse, partner characteristics, and background variables, abortion was not related to poorer mental health (Denious, J. & Russo, N. F. (2000). The Socio-Political Context of Abortion and its Relationship to Women's Mental Health. In J. Ussher (Ed.). Women's Health: Contemporary International Perspectives (pp. 431-439). London: British Psychological Society.).

• A study in the Medical Science Monitor (http://www.medscimonit.com/medscimonit/index.php) stated that, "Consistent with previous research, the data here suggest abortion can increase stress and decrease coping abilities, particularly for those women who have a history of adverse childhood events and prior traumata." In the study, 65 % of post-abortive American women and 13.1 % of Russian women experienced multiple symptoms of increased arousal, re-experiencing, and avoidance associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the study, 14.3 % of American and 0.9 % of Russian women met the full diagnostic criteria for PTSD. (Vincent Rue, Priscilla Coleman, James Rue, David Reardon (2004). Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and Russian women. Med Sci Monit, 2004; 10(10): SR5-16).

Clinical Depression is a health condition of depression with mental and physical components reaching criteria generally accepted by clinicians. ... The word depression can mean: A decrease of functional activity in behavior patterns. ... Child abuse is the physical or psychological mistreatment of a child by his or her parents (including adoptive parents), guardians, or other adults. ... Spousal abuse is the term applied to the specific form of domestic violence, where physical or sexual abuse is perpetuated by one spouse upon another. ... The Scream, the famous painting commonly thought of as depicting the experience of mental illness. ... Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is a term for the psychological consequences of exposure to or confrontation with stressful experiences, which involve actual or threatened death, serious physical injury or a threat to physical integrity and which the person found highly traumatic. ...

Abortion law

Main Article: abortion law Abortion has been a controversial subject throughout history due to the moral and ethical issues that surround it. ...

Abortion has been a controversial subject throughout history due to the moral and ethical issues that surround it. Morality is a system of principles and judgments based on cultural, religious, and philosophical concepts and beliefs, by which humans determine whether given actions are right or wrong. ...

Both Human rights and constitutional rights are major issues. A human right to self-determination, regardless of gender, is recognised by most countries, often in their constitution. A human right to life is recognized by all countries. 25 countries have officially recognized this right being from the moment of conception in the "American Convention on Human Rights" (http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/Treaties/b-32.htm), which the United States has signed, but not ratified. Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... An organizations constitution defines its form, structure, activities, character, and fundamental rules. ... The term right to life is a political term used in controversies over various issues that involve the taking of a life (or what is perceived to be a life). ...

Historically, some cultures have offered legal protection to unborn human offspring. Abortion has been banned and otherwise limited. Almost two thirds of the world's women currently reside in countries where abortion may be obtained for some reasons. Abortion laws vary widely by country, with some countries allowing nearly total liberalization (extreme examples being the United States and Russia), and others banning abortion under any circumstances. In the United States, the Supreme Court has held that state laws restricting abortion contradict an implied constitutional right of privacy, while the German Supreme Court struck down state laws legalizing abortion, holding that they contradict the constitution's human rights guarantees. There are also countries that do not have any laws restricting abortion, such as Canada (see Abortion in Canada). Seal of the Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States, located in Washington, D.C., is the highest federal court (see supreme court) in the United States; that is, it has ultimate judicial authority within the United States to interpret and decide questions of federal law, including the... The German Supreme Court addressed the issue of abortion two years after Roe v. ... Canada is one of only a few countries in the world with no laws limiting abortion. ...

Paternal rights

Some have argued that abortion also involves rights for prospective fathers. For a discussion of this topic, please see the Oklahoma Law Review, "Abortions of the Paternal Prerogatives Of Unwed Natural Fathers," 2000.

Abortion as a political issue

Abortion has at times been a bitterly-fought political issue, particularly in the United States. The controversy in the U.S. started in 1973 with the case of Roe vs. Wade, when the Supreme Court ruled abortion to be a constitutionally protected right. Specifically, it ruled that states could not forbid a woman to terminate her pregnancy in the first three months (the first trimester) of her pregnancy. Politics is the process and method of making decisions for groups. ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... Holding Texas laws criminalizing abortion violated womens Fourteenth Amendment right to choose whether or not to continue a pregnancy. ... The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C., (large image) The Supreme Court of the United States, located in Washington, D.C., is the highest court (see supreme court) in the United States; that is, it has ultimate judicial authority within the United States...

Opponents of abortion are usually termed Pro-Life, while proponents of abortion rights are usually termed Pro-Choice. The United States Supreme Court is largely considered the gatekeeper of abortion rights in the United States, and as a result, the possibility of the balance of the Court shifting towards a more conservative body became an issue in the 2004 US Presidential Election. Pro-life demonstrators at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. on January 22, 2002. ... Pro-Choice is the preferred self-description of people who believe that a woman should have the freedom to terminate a pregnancy by having an abortion if she does not want to have a baby. ... Presidential electoral votes by state. ...

The United States' current position regarding abortion under President George W. Bush, who cites his belief in a culture of life as the basis for his viewpoint, is geared toward restricting access to abortion, including abortions taking place outside the sovereign borders of the United States. Order: 43rd President Vice President: Dick Cheney Term of office: January 20, 2001 – Present Preceded by: Bill Clinton Succeeded by: Incumbent Date of birth: July 6, 1946 Place of birth: New Haven, Connecticut First Lady: Laura Welch Bush Political party: Republican George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the... The phrase culture of life is used principally in United States politics and Roman Catholic doctrine as shorthand for a concept that human life, at all stages from conception through to death, is sacred from birth until natural death. ...

Even so, abortion access in the US has routinely been upheld in court decisions due to the concept of undue burden, in which a woman forced to bear an unwanted child is thought to suffer undue hardship, including health and financial concerns. A key case would be the US Supreme Court's decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which established that the government cannot place an "undue burden" on a women's right to terminate a non-viable fetus. Many religous group oppose this, because it seems to them nothing less than murder. A male Caucasian toddler child A child (plural: children) is a young human. ... The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C., (large image) The Supreme Court of the United States, located in Washington, D.C., is the highest court (see supreme court) in the United States; that is, it has ultimate judicial authority within the United States... Holding A Pennsylvania law that required spousal notification prior to obtaining an abortion was invalid under the Fourteenth Amendment because it created an undue burden on married women seeking an abortion. ...

In many other countries, abortion is less of a political issue. For a long time, it has not been a mainstream political issue in the United Kingdom. In the lead up to the 2005 General Election, Michael Howard, the leader of the Conservatives, stated that he, personally, might support a reduction in the limit from 24 weeks to 20 weeks, but the issue was not included in the party's manifesto for the election. Politics is the process and method of decision-making for groups of human beings. ... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 and won by the Labour Party, led by Tony Blair. ... Michael Howard The Right Honourable Michael Howard, QC, PC (born Michael Hecht, July 7, 1941) is a British politician, the Leader of the Opposition Conservative Party (although stepping down soon). ... The Conservative Party is the largest political party on the centre-right in the United Kingdom. ...

Debate on abortion

Main article: Morality and legality of abortion The morality and legality of abortion are controversial topics. ...

Pro-choice-stance

The cornerstone of the pro-choice movement is the issue of reproductive rights, which its proponents argue encompasses the right of a woman to choose to have an abortion. Most of the arguments are characterized by an appeal to privacy rights and gender equality. Well-known activist organizations like the National Organization for Women are generally pro-choice. Similar views are shared by groups ranging from American Civil Liberties Union to Planned Parenthood. Pro-Choice is the preferred self-description of people who believe that a woman should have the freedom to terminate a pregnancy by having an abortion if she does not want to have a baby. ... National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist group founded on June 30, 1966 in Washington, D.C. by women attending the Third National Conference of the Commission on the Status of Women. ... Pro-Choice is the preferred self-description of people who believe that a woman should have the freedom to terminate a pregnancy by having an abortion if she does not want to have a baby. ... The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, is a non-governmental organization devoted to defending civil rights and civil liberties in the United States. ... Planned Parenthood is an American organization devoted to individual determination with regards to matters of fertility. ...

Pro-life movement

The pro-life movement recognizes the human fetus as a human person with human rights, and conceives of the right to life as the premier right. For pro-lifers, the deliberate killing of an unborn human is considered tantamount to murder of any other innocent human. Some Pro-life supporters connect abortion to war and characterize it as a institution of violence that harms women and children. Well-known organizations like the Catholic Church are pro-life. Similar views are shared by many groups including Carenet (with its 850 pregnancy care centers). Pro-life demonstrators at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. on January 22, 2002. ... The Roman Catholic Church believes its founding was based on Jesus appointment of Saint Peter as the primary church leader, later Bishop of Rome. ... Pro-life demonstrators at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. on January 22, 2002. ...

Choice

There is one shared belief among both the pro-choice and pro-life movements that makes their debate possible despite the acrimony: many pregnant women feel pressure that makes abortion seem to be the only reasonable option given the lack of viable alternatives. While strongly opposing all abortion regardless of circumstances, pro-life groups have long offered extensive long-term financial, social and medical assistance to women facing a crisis pregnancy, and today pro-life-feminists lobby universities and other institutions to offer women reasonable options that don't force women to choose between continuing either their pregnancy or their career/education. Pro-choice groups strongly advocate wide availability of abortion, and continue to offer abortion as a choice that should be available for those who truly do not want to bear the child for a variety of reasons, often attributing the social pressure on women to economic and social policies that disadvantage women and do not alleviate all poverty. Feminists for Life is a US politically oriented organization advocating pro-life views, opposition to abortion and violence, and support for feminism. ...

"Rape, incest and health" debate

Abortion rights advocates often argue that abortion needs to be widely available because some women become pregnant due to rape or incest (estimated at 2% of pregnancies) or have dangerous pregnancies such as ectopic pregnancies or conditions such as Eisenmenger's Syndrome that threaten the health of a woman and/or the unborn child. Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... A pregnant woman Pregnancy is the process by which a mammalian female carries a live offspring from conception until it develops to the point where the offspring is capable of living outside the womb. ... Incest among humans is sexual activity between close family members. ... Eisenmengers syndrome or Eisenmengers reaction is defined as the process in which a left-to-right shunt in the heart causes increased flow through the pulmonary vasculature, causing pulmonary hypertension, which in turn, causes increased pressures in the right side of the heart and reversal of the shunt...

Pro-life advocates consider the human baby to be an innocent person who should not suffer due to the circumstances of conception. The term conception can refer to more than one meaning: Concept Fertilisation This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, there were 1.31 million abortions in the US in 2000, and cases of rape or incest accounted for 1.0% of abortions in 2000. Another study revealed that women reported the following reasons for choosing an abortion: Alan Guttmacher Institute This organization is a research institute that advocates wide availability of birth control and abortion services. ...

 25.5% Want to postpone childbearing 7.9% Want no (more) children 21.3% Cannot afford a baby 10.8% Having a child will disrupt education or job  14.1% Has relationship problem or partner does not want pregnancy 12.2% Too young; parent(s) or other(s) object to pregnancy 2.8% Risk to maternal health 3.3% Risk to fetal health 2.1% Rape, incest, other 

Source: Bankole, Akinrinola; Singh, Susheela; Haas, Taylor. "Reasons Why Women Have Induced Abortions: Evidence from 27 Countries." International Family Planning Perspectives, 1998 A male Caucasian toddler child A child (plural: children) is a young human. ... A human infant The word Infant derives from the Latin in-fans, meaning unable to speak. ... A male Caucasian toddler child A child (plural: children) is a young human. ... Job is a term used to identify a means of daily work used in acquiring funds for living. ... Mother with her child (Sculpture) A mother is typically the biological or social female parent of a child or offspring while the male parent is the father. ... Fetus at eight weeks A fetus (alternatively foetus or fœtus) is an embryo in later stages of development, from the third month of pregnancy until birth in humans. ...

U.S. political parties

The official platforms of the major political parties in the US are as follows:

The US Republican Party's stance: Republican Party is a name used by many political parties. ...

"Ban abortion with Constitutional amendment. We say the unborn child has a fundamental right to life. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and we endorse legislation that the 14th Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children. Our purpose is to have legislative and judicial protection of that right against those who perform abortions. We oppose using public revenues for abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it. We support the appointment of judges who respect the sanctity of innocent human life." (Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention Aug 12, 2000)

"Alternatives like adoption, instead of punitive action. Our goal is to ensure that women with problem pregnancies have the kind of support, material and otherwise, they need for themselves and for their babies, not to be punitive towards those for whose difficult situation we have only compassion. We oppose abortion, but our pro-life agenda does not include punitive action against women who have an abortion. We salute those who provide alternatives to abortion and offer adoption services." (Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention Aug 12, 2000)

The US Democratic Party's official statements: There are many political parties of diverse political orientation called the Democratic Party or similar. ...

"Support right to choose even if mother cannot pay. Because we believe in the privacy and equality of women, we stand proudly for a woman's right to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of her ability to pay. We stand firmly against Republican efforts to undermine that right. At the same time, we strongly support family planning and adoption incentives. Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare." (Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.36 Jul 10, 2004)

"Choice is a fundamental, constitutional right. Democrats stand behind the right of every woman to choose. We believe it is a constitutional liberty. This year’s Supreme Court ruling show us that eliminating a woman’s right to choose is only one justice away. Our goal is to make abortion more rare, not more dangerous. We support contraceptive research, family planning, comprehensive family life education, and policies that support healthy childbearing." (Source: Democratic National Platform Aug 15, 2000)

Feminism and abortion

Early feminists took the view that abortion was a horrible tragedy, a disastrous crime, and a male-supported instrument to further power over women.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton used the early medical term for abortion: infanticide. Mattie Brinkerhoff characterized abortion as destroying the life of an unborn child, and evidence that a woman "has been greatly wronged." Victoria Woodhull, the first female US presidential candidate, affirmed that "[t]he rights of children as individuals begin while yet they remain the foetus." Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton wrote of "infant butcheries" and "ante-natal child murder," describing abortion as interfering with "the right of the unborn to be born." Mary Wollstonecraft suggested outright that abortion violated the laws of nature and Matilda Joslyn Gage suggested it was one of the greatest wrongs against women and that it was committed by men. Alice Paul, author of the first Equal Rights Amendment in 1923, said simply "Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women." Susan B. Anthony referred to it as "child murder" and said: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her daughter Harriot. ... Infanticide is the practice of intentionally causing the death of an infant. ... Victoria Claflin Woodhull (1838-1927) was a feminist reformer, some say clairvoyant, stock broker, sex symbol and free love advocate of the 19th century. ... Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton (Sheridan) (1808 - 1877), grand_daughter of Richard Brinsley Sarah, married in 1827 the Hon. ... Mary Wollstonecraft; stipple engraving by James Heath, ca. ... Categories: Stub | 1826 births | 1898 deaths | U.S. womens rights activists ... Alice Paul Alice Paul (January 11, 1885 – July 9, 1977) was an American suffragist leader. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Susan Brownell Anthony, aged 28 Susan Brownell Anthony Susan Brownell Anthony, (February 15, 1820 – March 13, 1906) was an American civil rights leader who, along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, led the effort to grant women the right to vote in the United States. ...

"Guilty? Yes. No matter what the motive, love of ease, or a desire to save from suffering the unborn innocent, the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed. It will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; But oh, thrice guilty is he who drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime!"

Pro-life feminist groups continue to advance the views of the early feminists by rejecting the notion that abortion can ever be a right. Some organizations that work to advance the rights and dignity of women do not consider that abortion can ever be a right. ...

This historical pro-life stance is no longer shared by most feminist organizations. Feminists oppose limitations of women's rights, and most feminists consider abortion laws as limitations on the right to self determination.

Related topics

• Chemical abortion
• Fetal protection
• History of abortion
• Morality and legality of abortion
• Religion and abortion
• Roe effect
• Sex-selective abortion and infanticide
• Selective reduction

A chemical abortion is a type of abortion in which a drug is used to induce the abortion, rather than a surgical procedure. ... Fetal protection legislation in the United States refers to laws designed to grant recognition as a legal person to a fetus. ... Historically, the ethicality of abortion (induced abortion) was rarely discussed. ... The morality and legality of abortion are controversial topics. ... Many religions place legal or moral limitations on active abortion, for various theological reasons. ... The Roe effect is a phenomena that is affects the political leanings of Americans due to the court case Roe v. ... Sex-selective abortion is the practice of aborting a fetus after a determination (usually by ultrasound but also rarely by amniocentesis or another procedure) that the fetus is an undesired sex, typically female. ... Selective reduction (or fetal reduction) is the practice of reducing the number of fetuses in a multifetal pregnancy (i. ...

External links

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikiquote is a sister project of Wikipedia, using the same MediaWiki software. ...

Pro-life links

• Just Facts: Abortion (http://justfacts.com/abortion.htm) - Science of the fetus, history of U.S. abortion law, Gallup poll and other media information.
• Unsafe Abortion Today (http://www.abort73.com/HTML/II-C-3-safety.html)
• Quotes from modern human embryology textbooks (http://www.abort73.com/HTML/I-A-1-medical.html)
• Text and medical drawings of humans at earliest stage of life (http://www.abort73.com/HTML/I-A-2-prenatal.html)
• Vatican II: "Abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes" (Gaudium et Spes para. 51) (http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_cons_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html)
• Explaining the Catholic Church's Teaching on Abortion (http://catholicapologeticsofamerica.blogspot.com/2004_04_01_catholicapologeticsofamerica_archive.html)
• Abortion Facts (http://www.abortionfacts.com)
• After Abortion (http://afterabortion.blogspot.com)
• American Life League (http://www.all.org)
• Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League (http://www.godlessprolifers.org/home.html)
• British Columbia Parents and Teachers for Life (http://www.bcptl.org)
• The Center for Bioethical Reform (http://abortionno.com/) - Uses photos of aborted fetuses (as early as 8 weeks) to illustrate that abortion is murder.
• Children of God For Life (http://www.cogforlife.org)
• Crossing Over Ministry (http://www.roenomore.org/crossing_over/) - Official web site of Jane Roe (from Roe vs. Wade)
• Feminists for Life (http://www.feministsforlife.org)
• Human Life International (http://www.hli.org)
• Helping the Church reach post-abortive women in the Church (http://www.inourmidst.com)
• Jews for Life (http://www.jewsforlife.org)
• Post-Abortion Help (http://www.safehavenministries.com)
• Libertarians for Life (http://www.l4l.org/)
• LifeNews.org (http://www.lifenews.org) - Pro-life news.
• Nat Hentoff on Abortion (http://www-swiss.ai.mit.edu/~rauch/nvp/hentoff.html) - Abortion columns by Nat Hentoff, a pro-life civil libertarian
• National Pro-Life Alliance (http://www.prolifealliance.com)
• The National Right to Life Committee (http://www.nrlc.org)
• Priests for Life (http://www.priestsforlife.org)
• Pro-Life Campaign Committee (http://www.prolifecommittee.org)
• Pro-Life Alliance (http://www.prolife.org.uk) - UK pro-life group.
• Pro-Life News (http://www.lifenews.com)
• Rock for Life (http://www.rockforlife.org/html/index.html) - Organization uniting pro-life musicians.

Holding Texas laws criminalizing abortion violated womens Fourteenth Amendment right to choose whether or not to continue a pregnancy. ... Nat Hentoff (born June 10, 1925) is a civil libertarian, free speech absolutist, anti-abortion, Jazz aficionado and columnist for the Village Voice, Legal Times, Washington Times, The Progressive, Editor & Publisher, Free Inquiry and Jewish World Review. ...

Pro-choice links

• Abortion Providers (http://www.abortion.com) Abortion Clinic Directory
• Abortion Clinics Online - Reputable Abortion Clinics Near You (http://www.abortionclinic.com/)
• Abortion Debate - The Case for Legal Abortion (http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/abort1.htm) Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc.
• Press release on Mifepristone (http://www.thedoctorslounge.net/obslounge/articles/mifepruse/mifepruse.htm)
• Medical & Surgical Abortion Providers (http://www.abortionclinic.org) Abortion provider directory by The National Coalition of Abortion Providers
• Abortion, Viability, and the Right to Life (http://www.geocities.com/chadofborg/medicalethics.htm)
• Abortion and the Alternatives Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc. (http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/abortion.htm)
• Capitalism is Pro-Abortion (http://www.capitalism.org/faq/abortion.htm)
• Choice USA (http://www.choiceusa.org/)
• Help for women with an unwanted pregnancy in countries where abortion is illegal (http://www.womenonwaves.org/set-1020.628-en.html)
• I'm Not Sorry (http://www.imnotsorry.net/)
• Law Students for Choice (http://www.lawstudentsforchoice.org/)
• Medical Students For Choice (http://www.ms4c.org/)
• NARAL Pro-Choice America (http://www.naral.org/)
• National Abortion Federation (http://www.prochoice.org/)
• Planned Parenthood (http://www.plannedparenthood.com/)
• Planned Parenthood Health Information (http://www.plannedparenthood.com/health/)
• Pro-Choice Connection (Canada) (http://www.prochoiceconnection.com/)
• Pro-Choice Public Education Project (http://www.protectchoice.org/)
• Pro-Choice Libertarians (http://www.pro-choicelibertarians.net/)