De La Cruz 1

Briana De La Cruz

Professor Powers

English 1302

10 April 2023

Abortions

Millions of women and young females worldwide utilize abortion, a medical intervention

that terminates pregnancies. While over fifty-four percent of annual terminations in the US are

safe, dangerous alternatives exist for those lacking access to professional care. However,

abortion is health care for women and should be made legal by providing women with access to

safe abortions nationwide. With more than five decades of history as a choice available to

individuals seeking professional aid in ending unwanted pregnancies, abortion was designated a

form of health insurance on January 22, 1973, albeit solely until June 24, 2022. The Supreme

Court saw abortions as unlawful murder. Women should not be coerced into carrying a fetus for

nine months and enduring a grueling delivery for a child they never intended to bear in the first

place, as research conducted in a previous essay stated that almost everyone agreed that

abortions should be provided for women. Moreover, this essay endeavors to present a persuasive

argument in support of securing the safety, legality, and availability of abortion as a crucial

alternative for women once more. 

Why Women Get Abortions

Abortions can be seen as a second chance for women; for others, a choice must be made.

Abortion is a complex and multifaceted issue that demands nuanced attention. For example, the

plight of young women aged thirteen and up, who are often confronted with the daunting
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prospect of motherhood, is a compelling reason to consider abortion. Why should a teenager be

compelled to care for a child when she herself is still a child? In addition, some women are

subjected to forced intercourse and rape, leading to a life of misery and hardship that few can

bear. Other factors, such as financial risks, pregnancy complications, fetal abnormalities, illness,

disease, and religious considerations, all contribute to the decision to seek an abortion, with a

woman's health being the most vital factor to consider. Before Roe vs. Wade was overturned in

2022, abortions were sought when the mother's health was at risk leading to potential death. Still,

after abortions were made illegal, abortions were only accepted at most when a woman’s life was

on the line. However, as mentioned by Emre Baser, “74 million women each year have an

unintended pregnancy; there are furthermore 25 million unsafe abortions and 47,000 maternal

deaths” (1). In addition, women with planned pregnancies, of course, do not need to worry about

the controversial topic of abortions till required; however, it is known that women with

unplanned pregnancies tend to be more stressed and unprepared for such news. Research by

Ahmed Abdulwahab et al. stated that, “Women with unplanned pregnancies are more prone to

get depression and increase the desire to get an abortion when compared to women with planned

pregnancies” (1). 

Research by Biggs et al. as well state that “the themes identified as reasons for seeking

abortion included financial reasons (40%), timing (36%), partner related reasons (31%), and the

need to focus on other children (29%). Most women reported multiple reasons for seeking an

abortion, crossing over several themes (64%).”  This information affirms the importance of

safeguarding abortion access for women who are already struggling to navigate life's challenges. 

Abortion procedure (graphic)

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The mode and timing of abortion for a woman are contingent upon the pregnancy's

gestational age and individual circumstances. While some may choose to have an abortion within

the confines of a medical center to avail themselves of the specialized care provided by trained

personnel, others opt for the safe at-home abortion route. Depending on the patient and how far

along in the pregnancy a woman is, a woman can have an abortion in a clinic or at home (safe at-

home abortion). Still, some women feel safer having an abortion at a health center with trained

staff and doctors; it only takes five to ten minutes to complete. An at-safe-home abortion consists

of a pill a woman can take and will work within 24 hours. 

If the patient is in their first weeks of pregnancy (twelve - thirteen weeks), the doctor will

numb or soften the cervix. They will insert a medical tool to keep the vagina open. They will

insert a small tube attached to a suction machine into the uterus and clear out the fetus; after the

procedure, the doctor will check if their work was complete and let you rest for thirty minutes for

observation. 

Patients over thirteen weeks pregnant will undergo a procedure similar to the first-

trimester abortion. Still, instead of a vacuum, they will use medical tools to slowly scrape the

inside of the uterus clean, guided by ultrasound and followed by a suction machine to make sure

everything is cleared out. However, if a patient or anyone in general worries if the fetus will be

in pain, the doctor inserts a non-painful shot into the fetus to stop the heartbeat. 

A procedure so delicate and vital cannot be done without professional help. Unsafe

abortions can cause infections and even death. In recent research by Ralph Lauren et al., they

were able to gather different woman’s opinions, followed by the question if they were to do their

own abortion if unable to access health clinic abortions. “One-third (34%) of 741 participants

indicated they would definitely or probably consider ending the pregnancy on their own if unable
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to obtain care at a facility.” This again shows the different measures women will take to

eliminate their unwanted pregnancies. Abortions are not harming either the fetus or the woman

when seeking licensed help.

Religion

Religious beliefs and values often play a crucial role in shaping one's stance on the issue

of abortion. In a thought-provoking study conducted by Jessica L. Dozier et al., twenty religious

leaders were interviewed to gauge their views on the contentious topic of abortion. Surprisingly,

some of the religious leaders, despite their faith-based background, were pro-choice and asserted

that “abortion might be the best decision if there is a risk to the life of the mother, in cases of

rape or incest, and in cases of fetal anomaly” (2). However, not all leaders of the Lord Jesus

Christ have such a set of minds. In my last essay, I provided research that stated that Johnson and

Robinson transformed their career and refused to perform abortions on the acts of their religious

belief. Understandably, they did not want to act upon God by taking something (life) only he can

take; although their reluctance to interfere with God's will is understandable, their unwillingness

to provide medical care to patients in need goes beyond their professional obligations. As

physicians who aspired to heal and save lives, their refusal to perform an abortion in a life-

threatening situation is a matter of grave concern. It begs the question of what kind of doctors

they are if they prioritize saving a life that may not survive in the future over a life that is present

and in need of urgent medical attention.

Nonetheless, it is said that “religious people are more likely to take strong positions

against abortion than nonreligious people” (Fidan Ahmet 1). Religious groups celebrate the

coming of life and the end of death, from baptism or baby showers to funerals and burials. So,

when the topic of abortion comes to play in religion, Stephens et al. aimed to interview religious
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leaders as well as Dozier did. “In the Catholic understanding, the human person is not a purely

spiritual but a bodily being… directly from God,” in the interview, it was stated that opinions

shifted from whether it is okay to have an abortion to an extent that the fetus is killing the

mother, or that it is an incest/ forced sexualized fetus. While others opposed and stated that a

fetus is only innocent and shall be treated with respect as others have. However, it is crucial to

acknowledge that while the fetus may be deemed innocent, it can have a detrimental impact on a

woman's mental and physical health. As such, it is understandable why some women would want

to terminate a pregnancy to avoid the constant reminder of a traumatic event. Therefore, it is

essential to provide safe and legal abortion options that prioritize a woman's health and well-

being.

What Women Go Through During Pregnancy 

According to a cross-sectional study on high-risk pregnancies and public health facilities

in rural Karnataka, “Every day, 810 women die due to complications during pregnancy and

childbirth across the world” (1). Women are the only way life is possible, and to create a life, a

woman must take better care of their bodies than they did before. However, although they take

more excellent care of their body, it does not mean they will not undergo pregnancy sicknesses

or diseases. The initial symptoms of pregnancy, such as vomiting, sore breasts, or missed

periods, are just the tip of the iceberg. But that is not it; pregnancy is much more. A woman will

go through complications during pregnancy and much yet after birth. Pregnancy complications

can include depression, anxiety, stress, infections, bladder control issues, cardiac diseases,

miscarriage, diabetes, weight gain, high blood pressure, HIV, and tube defects, to name a few.

These complications can arise during pregnancy or postpartum and can potentially lead to

miscarriage.
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If not pregnancy, then seeking the termination of a pregnancy. In the wake of the reversal

of the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, women have resorted to seeking out the

services of unlicensed practitioners or other women to perform unsafe abortions, putting their

health in jeopardy. “The number of unsafe abortions rose from 19.7 million in 2003 to an

estimated 21.6 million in 2008…” ( Fidan Ahmet 1). In just five years, the number of unsafe

abortions rose by 2 million, and as of 2022. Even today, forty-five percent of all abortions

remain unsafe across the United States.

Conclusion

“[Women] will continue to seek out abortions despite the logistical hurdles and legal

risks” Herminia Palacio 2). Acknowledging the extreme lengths to which women will go to

obtain the healthcare they need is harrowing. It is recommended that awareness needs to be

created at all levels so that people can acknowledge the actual means of abortion and not simply

view this topic as a course of murder. Education on abortion should be introduced in a thoughtful

manner to the appropriate audience, with the goal of dispelling the myth that abortion is

tantamount to homicide. Abortion is not murder. Abortion is health care for women, and as the

topic arises, it is true to say that this genre should be kept within the walls of who is affected

most by it - women. 
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Works Cited

Baser, Emre, et al. “Unplanned pregnancy and awareness of emergency contraception:A

postpartum period survey” THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CONTRACEPTION &

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE. Vol. 26. No. 6. Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2021, pp 1-7,

EBSCOhost, DOI: 10.1080/13625187.2021.1906411

Rupani, Soniya Navroj; and Srujan Goud Janagam, “ Risks a Mother Takes to Give Birth - A

Cross-Sectional Study of High-Risk Pregnancies and Preparedness of Public Health

Facilities in Rural Karnataka,” A Multifaceted Peer Reviewed Journal in the field of

Medicine and Public Health Vol. 11, No. 1, International Journal of Medicine & Public

Health, 2021, pp 1-5, EBSCOhost, DOI: 10.5530/ijmedph.2021.1.10

Biggs, M. Antonia; Gould, Heather, and Greene Diana Foster. “Understanding why women seek

abortions in the US.” BMC Women’s Health, Vol. 13, No.1 BioMed Central, 2013,

EBSCOhost, DOI: 10.1186/1472-6874-13-29

Abdulwahab, Ahmed; Almotairi, Ahmad; Alkhamis, Waleed; and Almutiari, Abdulelah. “

Prevalence of Unplanned Pregnancy and Its Psychological Effect among Pregnant

Patients in King Khalid University Hospitals.” Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Vol. 70, No.6, The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine 2018, EBSCOhost, DOI:

10.12816/0044341

Palacio, Herminia. “ Over the Precipice Into a Post-Roe World—A Look at Abortion Rights and

Access in the United States.” American Journal of Public Health. Vol. 112, No. 9

American Public Health Association 2022, EBSCOhost, DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2022.307016

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Fidan, Ahmet; Alagoz, Rezzan; and Nuray Karaman. “ Liberal sexual morality, religion, and

attitudes toward abortion in Turkey.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. Vol.

60, No.4 Wiley-Blackwell 2021, pp 1-21, EBSCOhost, DOI: 10.1111/jssr.12755

Stephens, Moira; Jordens, Christopher F. C.; Kerridge, Ian H.; and Rachel A. Ankeny “

Religious Perspectives on Abortion and a Secular Response” Journal of Religion and

Health, Vol. 49, No. 4 Springer, 2010, pp 1-23, JSTOR, URL:

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