What Is Abortion?
Abortion is the surgical or medical termination of a pregnancy. If you condense the subject of abortion down to its central issue, you find that it is really about a woman’s right to decide what to do with her own body. Should a woman be forced to give birth when she does not want to, or cannot, carry a pregnancy to full term? Current laws say no, but they are being challenged in the courts routinely. In the United States today, you have the right to decide your own destiny as a woman. If you are faced with an unexpected, unplanned, or unwanted pregnancy, you should know some important facts about abortion.
Reasons For Abortion
Women choose to have abortions for many reasons. Some feel they are too young for the responsibilities of parenthood. Some are not in a stable relationship or worry about being a single parent. Some cannot afford a child, or do not want their life’s goals interrupted. Some are concerned they will not be a good mother. Some pregnancies involve an unhealthy fetus, or one with lethal anomalies.
Many of life’s decisions can be postponed for a period of time. One decision that cannot wait for long is the difficult decision about whether or not to continue a pregnancy. This decision needs to be made as soon as possible. It is helpful to talk with someone — such as your parents, a close friend, a minister, or other professional counselor — in addition to your husband or boyfriend.
No one has the right to judge your reasons for having an abortion. If you choose to terminate a pregnancy, an abortion can be safely performed in our office up to 21.6 weeks after your last period.