How many abortions are performed in America?
One out of every 4 babies conceived in the
United States is aborted. In more than 14 metropolitan areas, abortions out
number live births. More than 30 million abortions have occurred since 1973.
Each year 1.5 million unborn babies die by abortion. (2)
Why are abortions performed?
Women choose abortion for many reasons, but
the most common reasons they report are relational problems with the father of
the child, worry about the responsibility, fear of financial liability, concern
about lifestyle changes, and fear of others discovering sexual activity. (3)
At what stage of fetal development are
abortions legal?
Under the Supreme Court's
decisions in Roe v. Wade, Doe v. Bolton, and Planned Parenthood v. Casey,
abortions may be performed for any reason (socioeconomic, failure of birth
control, personal choice) prior to viability (about 24 weeks of pregnancy) and
for any reason relating to the mother’s physical or psychological health
thereafter. In these cases (post-viability abortions), the term "health" has
been defined very broadly by the Court to include any matter that might affect a
woman's "sense of well-being." In effect, therefore, abortion is legal for any
"health" reason throughout pregnancy.
How are the different surgical abortion
procedures performed?
First Trimester (1 - 12 weeks)
1.Suction Curettage- The abortionist dilates
(opens) the cervix with mechanical dilators or laminaria (a porous substance
that is typically inserted a day before the abortion). Overnight the laminaria
gradually dilates the cervix by soaking up fluid. The day of the abortion the
abortionist attaches tubing to a suction machine, and inserts the tubing into
the uterus, The suction created by the vacuum pulls the unborn baby’s body apart
and detaches the placenta from the wall of the uterus, sucking the fetal parts
and placenta into a collection bottle. (7)
2. Dilation and Curettage (D&C, or sharp
curettage)--This method is not as common anymore for abortions, because it
requires more dilation and more time, and is considered less safe than suction
curettage. (8) The cervix is dilated, and a curette, or loop-shaped knife, is
inserted into the uterus to cut apart the unborn baby and scrape the uterine
lining to detach the placenta. All body parts and membranes are then scraped out
of the mothers body.
Second Trimester (13-26 weeks)
1.Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)--At this point
in pregnancy, the unborn baby’s body is too large to be broken up by suction,
and it will not pass through the tubing. (9) The cervix needs to be dilated more
than in a first-trimester abortion, and this is usually accomplished by
inserting laminaria a day or two before the abortion. The abortionist then
dismembers the body parts. The skull is crushed and the spine is broken to
facilitate removals. (10)
2. Saline, Prostaglandin, and Urea
Instillation--These methods, more common during the 1970s and 1980s, are rarely
used now, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which reported
that they accounted for only 0.7 % or approximately 11,200 of all reported
abortions in 1991.
In a saline abortion, the abortionist injects a
concentrated salt solution through the mother's abdomen into the amniotic sac
surrounding the baby. The fetus absorbs the solution, which causes burning,
hemorrhage, edema, shock, and eventually death. The saline also causes the
uterus to contract and expel the baby.
Prostaglandin abortions are performed by injecting a
prostaglandin hormone into the amniotic sac. The hormone stimulates uterine
contractions to expel the fetus, who has usually died, although a 1978 study
showed that up to 7% of babies aborted with prostaglandins showed signs of life.
(11)
Urea abortions are similar to saline abortions but are
not as effective. They are thought to have fewer complications for the mother.
Urea infusion is more commonly combined with later-term D&E abortions to soften
fetal tissues for easier, safer, and less painful removal.
(12)
Second and Third Trimester
Dilation and Extraction
(D&X)--Congressional action in 1996 brought to light yet another procedure for
aborting late-term unborn babies. This technique, called D&X abortion, does not
dismember the fetus; rather, the fetus is delivered intact, without infusions.
As described and performed by abortion doctor Martin
Haskell, D&X abortions take three days to complete. In the first two days, the
woman's cervix is dilated with laminaria in two or more sessions, with
medication given for cramping. On the day of the procedure, the laminaria are
removed, and the patient is injected with Pitocin to induce contractions.
The abortion doctor next determines the fetus
orientation in the uterus through ultrasound, and locates the legs. Grasping a
leg with large forceps, he then pulls the leg into the vagina, and delivers the
baby (live) up to the baby’s head with his hands.
Next, the abortionist slides his hand up the baby’s
back and hooks his fingers over the shoulders of the baby. Then a pair of
scissors are inserted into the base of the skull to create an opening. Removing
the scissors, he inserts a suction catheter into the opening, and suctions out
the skull contents. (13) Minus its brains, the skull decompresses, and is easy
to remove. Finally, the abortionist removes the placenta with forceps and
scrapes the uterine walls with a suction curette. (14)
The above D&X procedure is
described as "Partial Birth Abortion" by Politicians and the Media.
What are the physical risks
of surgical abortions? (15)
First Trimester
Cervical tearing and laceration from the
instruments.
Perforation of the uterus by instruments. May require major surgery, including
hysterectomy.
Scarring of the uterine lining,by suction tubing, curettes, and other
instruments.
Infection, local and systemic (sepsis).
Hemorrhage and shock, especially if the uterine artery is torn.
Anesthesia toxicity from both general or local anesthesia, resulting in possible
convulsions, cardiorespiratory arrest, and in extreme cases, death. General
anesthesia in abortion has a two to four times greater risk of death than local
anesthesia.
Retained tissue, indicated by cramping, heavy bleeding and infection.
Postabortal syndrome, referring to an enlarged tender, and soft uterus retaining
blood clots.
Failure to recognize an ectopic pregnancy. This could lead to the rupture of a
fallopian tube and hemorrhage and resulting infertility or death, if treatment
is not provided in time.
Second Trimester
Infusion Methods
Adverse reactions by the mother to the
chemicals used in the abortion.
"Failed abortion," also known as "live birth."
Retained tissue, including the placenta.
Uterine rupture, with resulting severe pain and blood loss. May require major
Surgery, including hysterectomy.
Cervical laceration, perforation, heavy bleeding or hemorrhage, and infection.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
Trapped fetal parts, leading to
possible damage to the uterus and nearby organs, such as the bowel and bladder.
Laceration and perforation of the uterus and/or cervix by fetal parts and/or the
larger instruments used in these mid-term abortions.
Greater risk of hemorrhage.
7. Warren Hern, Abortion
Practices (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1990, pp. 108-117.
8. Stephen L. Corson, M.D., Richard J. Derman, M.D., M.P.H., and Louise B.
Tyler, M.D., eds., Fertility Control (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1985,
pg. 64.
9. Hern, op. cit., pg. 123.
10. Ibid., pg. 128.
11. W.K. Lee and M.S. Baggish, “ Live Birth as a Complication of Trimester
Abortion Induced with Intra-amniotic Prostaglandin F2a,” Adv. Planned Parenthood
(vol. 13, No.7, 1978). Quoted in Hern, Abortion Practice, pg. 183.
12. Hern, op. cit., pp. 124-125.
13. Martin Haskell, M.D., “ Second Trimaster Abortion: From Every Angle,” paper
presented at the Fall Risk Management Seminar at the National Abortion
Federation, September 13-14, Dallas, Texas.
14. Ibid.
1. U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Centers for Disease Control, Morbidy and Mortality Weekly Report,
March 22, 1996.
2. Alan Guttmacher Institute, “Facts in Brief: Abortion in the United States,”
August 31, 1994.
3. Aida Torres and Jacqueline Darroch Forrest, “Why Do Women Have Abortions?”
Family Planning Perspectives (vol. 20, No.4)
