RE: No, Mr. President!
It's hard being Pro-Choice in the face of these statics. I truly wish there were better answers. Our culture is being destroyed, right in front of our eyes, even when we don't care or want to look.
What is the total number of legal abortions since 1973?
As of the most recent update of this FAQ, the estimated total number of abortions is over 46 million.
Source: Finer LB and Henshaw SK, Estimates of U.S. Abortion Incidence in 2001 and 2002, Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2005 [PDF], accessed May 17, 2005.
How many abortions are performed in the United States each year?
There are currently 1.3 million abortions performed each year in the United States.
Source: Finer LB and Henshaw SK, Estimates of U.S. Abortion Incidence in 2001 and 2002, Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2005 [PDF], accessed May 17, 2005.
How many abortions are performed at each stage of pregnancy?
The following table lists both the percentage of abortions performed during various stages of pregnancy, along with the total yearly abortions at each stage, based on a total of 1.3 million abortions per year (see above).
Gestational Age Percentage Yearly Total
Less than 9 weeks 57.9% 752,700
9-10 weeks 20.3% 263,900
11-12 weeks 10.2% 132,600
13-15 weeks 6.2% 80,600
16-20 weeks 4.3% 55,900
21+ weeks 1.5% 19,500
Source: Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2001.
What are the methods of abortion and at what stages of pregnancy are they used?
The following abortion methods are used regularly in the United States. Saline abortions are no longer performed.
D & C (Dilation and Curettage)/Suction Aspiration—6-12 weeks
D & E (Dilation and Evacuation)—12-24 weeks
D & X (Dilation and Extraction or Partial Birth Abortion)—24-36 weeks
Prostaglandin or Live Birth Abortion—second or third trimester
RU-486 (Early chemical abortion)—up to 56 days gestation
Diagrams of the various abortion methods and photographs of aborted babies can be seen on this page at the Priests for Life website.
How is a suction/D & C abortion performed?
A suction/D & C abortion is performed when the fetus is 6-12 weeks. The cervix is opened using an osmotic dilator. Then a curette (a thin metal rod with a knife-sharp loop at the end) is inserted into the uterus. The curette is used to dismember the fetus.
After this, a cannula (a hollow plastic tube) attached to a suction aspirator is inserted to remove the fetus, placenta and uterine lining. These are captured by a stockinet attached to the end of the suction tube.
To avoid the risk of infection or hemorrhaging, the contents of the stockinet are examined to be sure all fetal parts have been removed.
How is dilation and evacuation abortion (D & E) performed?
A D & E abortion is performed in the second trimester (12-24 weeks) and is usually a 2-3 day procedure. At this stage of pregnancy, the fetus' tendons, muscles, and bones are more developed. The cervix has closed more tightly and must be dilated enough to remove the larger fetus.
To aid in cervical dilation, laminaria (dried seaweed sticks) are inserted into the cervix. The dilation process can take 1-2 days depending on the size of the fetus.
Once the cervix is sufficiently dilated, the laminaria are removed. Forceps are inserted into the uterus to forcibly dismember the fetus. The skull is then crushed and removed. A suction aspiration is then introduced to remove any remaining fetal parts, the placenta and uterine lining.
How is a partial birth abortion (D & X) performed?
The D & X abortion is used in late second and third trimesters (24-36 weeks). As with the D & E, the cervix must be dilated using laminaria.
Forceps are then introduced into the uterus to grasp the baby's legs. The baby is delivered breech while the head remains inside the birth canal. Using blunt-tipped surgical scissors, the base of the skull is pierced and a suction catheter is inserted to extract the brain. This causes the skull to collapse and the dead baby is then fully delivered.
Sometimes, while the child is partially delivered and still alive, the organs are removed and sold for fetal tissue experimentation (an illegal practice).
How is a live birth abortion (prostaglandin) performed?
A Prostaglandin or Live Birth Abortion is done in the second or third trimester. Prostaglandins are naturally occurring chemical compounds which assist in the birthing process. For the abortion procedure, artificial prostaglandins are injected into the amniotic sac which induces violent labor and leads to the birth of a child usually too young to survive.
Often salt or another toxin is first injected to ensure that the baby will be delivered dead, since some babies have survived the trauma of a prostaglandin abortion and been born alive.
How is a chemical abortion (RU-486) performed?
RU-486 is a chemical (rather than a surgical) abortion, performed up to 56 days gestation. RU-486 requires at least three visits to the doctor's office or clinic.
At the first visit, the woman is given a physical exam and is administered mifepristone. RU-486 blocks the action of progesterone, the natural hormone vital to maintaining the lining of the uterus. The embryo starves as the nutrient lining disintegrates.
At a second visit, 36-48 hours later, the woman is giving a dose of artificial prostaglandins, usually misoprostol, which initiate uterine contractions and usually cause the embryo to be expelled from the uterus. Most women abort during the four hour waiting period, but about 30% abort as many as five days later—at home, work, etc.
A third visit about 2 weeks later determines whether the abortion has occurred or if a surgical abortion is necessary to complete the procedure.
How many abortion clinics are there in the country?
According to Life Dynamics Inc., which tracks the abortion business, there are 745 abortion clinics in the United States compared to over 4,000 pregnancy resource centers (PRCs).
Who gets abortions? How Does abortion break down demographically?
Statistics are available on the percentage of abortions sought by women in various demographical categories, including age, marital status, race, religion, and prior pregnancies.
Age of Mother Percentage
Less than 15 0.7%
15-19 18.6%
20-24 33%
25-29 23.1%
30-34 13.5%
35-39 8.1%
40-44 3.1%
Marital Status
Married 17%
Separate/Divorced/Widowed 15.6%
Never Married 67.3%
Race of Mother
White 40.9%
Black 31.7%
Hispanic 20.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander 6.4%
Native American 0.9%
Religion of Mother
Protestant 42.8%
Catholic 27.4%
None 22.2%
Other 7.6%
Prior Pregnancies
Previous Abortion and Birth 36%
None 27%
Previous Birth 25%
Previous Abortion 12%
Source: Jones RK, Darroch JE and Henshaw SK, "Patterns in the socioeconomic characteristics of women obtaining abortions in 2000-2001," Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2002, 34(5):226-235.
(This post was last modified: 05-19-2009 12:21 PM by SumOfAllFears.)
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Sohow many of those 46 million would you have adopted? Many would grow up needing government assistance. Yet, you don't want to pay for such services. Many will end up homeless or in prison. Listen, I think there is a need to lower the numbers of abortions. I think most agree with that. The difference between the sides is how to get to that point.
