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Abortion is ending a pregnancy by choice (either medically or surgically), as opposed to a miscarriage, when your body naturally terminates a pregnancy.
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There's a raging political debate about abortion, but for those considering getting an abortion themselves, the struggle can be much more personal--and emotionally trying. Some women who have abortions feel relieved once it's over; other women have major regrets.
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Almost half of all pregnancies are unwanted, and half of those end in abortion. Approximately 20 percent of Americans getting abortions are teenagers.
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Abortion is a medical procedure that must be performed by a qualified, trained doctor in a clean, clinical setting. Doctors and organizations such as Planned Parenthood can provide clinic referrals.
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Although rushing to make a decision about abortion is a bad idea, there is a time factor involved. Abortions performed in the first trimester of pregnancy (the first three months) are safer, easier, cheaper and less controversial than those occurring later in the pregnancy.
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It is harder to find doctors who perform second-trimester abortions (three to six months into the pregnancy) because the procedure is a lot more complicated. Many doctors won't do third-trimester abortions at all (six to nine months along), and 20 states have banned them except for when the mother's health is in danger.
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RU-486 (mifepristone), also known as the abortion pill, is increasingly available in the United States and has been approved by the FDA as being safe and effective. The use of RU-486 in France has decreased surgical abortion there by one third.
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