Have you heard a lot about pro-choice vs pro-life on the news lately and aren’t sure which side you want to support? Well, you’re not alone. With abortion being such a hot-button issue, many people are starting to research both sides of the debate.
Tagging along with the issue of abortion comes several other related fights. You may have heard people arguing about Planned Parenthood, sex-ed classes in schools, and abortion time limits.
It can be confusing to choose a stance when both sides offer compelling points. However, there are some pro-choice facts that may just help you make up your mind.
Do you want to know more? Keep reading to learn 10 interesting pro-choice facts that everyone should know.
1. Abortions are Safe
While the process of getting an abortion may seem complicated, it is very safe. In fact, only 1% of women have major complications from a medical abortion.
However, unsafe abortions, like those done in areas where abortion is illegal, do not have such success rates. One of the most compelling pro-choice stats is that every year, about 68,000 women die from illegal abortions around the world. This can be due to a variety of things, including untrained professionals doing the procedure or using unsanitary equipment.
You can learn more about abortion procedures and safety concerns by contacting a professional.
I2. Most Abortions Are Done Early
You may have heard that many states are starting to pass laws banning abortion after 20 or 21 weeks.
Well, the truth is that the vast majority of women know they want to abort early on. 88% of all abortions in the United States are done at or before the 13-week mark. Only 2% of abortions occur after 21 weeks into the pregnancy.
3. Most Late-Term Abortions Are the Result of Health Problems
So, why did that 2% wait so long to have their abortion?
Sadly, most late-term abortions are done on women who had every intention of giving birth. Expecting parents may learn that their unborn baby has a severe medical condition, like an undeveloped brain or no functioning kidneys.
In these cases, the child will likely have an incredibly short and painful life. In some instances, the life expectancy may only be a few hours after birth.
Many of these parents decide that bringing a child to term and delivering it is either too emotionally scarring or unfair to their child who will have to live in pain.
4. The Women Were Responsible
One common argument from the pro-life side is that women who get abortions are not taking responsibility for their actions or that they deserve it for having sex.
However, one of the best pro-choice facts states that 2 out of every 3 women who opt for an abortion were using some form of contraception.
While the pill, implants, and condoms all help to prevent pregnancy, there is still a slight chance that they will malfunction. But pregnancy should never be viewed as a punishment for sex. Sex is a great and natural part of life.
5. Incest and Rape Cause Many Abortions
Now you may be wondering why women choose to have abortions. Well, there are a variety of reasons why a woman would choose this route, including health concerns, rape, and financial instability.
One of the sadder pro-choice abortion facts is that 14,000 abortions happen per year due to rape and incest. Incest can cause many birth defects in children and rape can cause severe emotional trauma if the mother is forced to continue the pregnancy. For these reasons, many rape and incest victims choose abortion.
6. Sex-Ed Can Reduce Abortions
When you’re reading these pro-choice facts, remember that many people are looking for ways to limit the number of abortions occurring while still believing in a women’s right to choose.
One of the best ways to reduce abortion rates is to implement comprehensive sex-ed classes in schools. Areas with abstinence-only sex-ed classes typically have a higher abortion and teen pregnancy rates. Teaching kids about safe sex and protection are the best ways to help prevent unwanted pregnancies.
7. Abortion Isn’t the Easy Way Out
Sometimes pro-life advocates like to paint a picture of irresponsible and uncaring women getting abortions because it’s easy.
However, many women struggle with their decision to abort. While many maintain that it was the right decision for them, it can still be an emotionally challenging procedure.
8. Adoption Isn’t Always the Best Option
You may be wondering why more women don’t just give their child up for adoption. We’ve heard it time and time again: “adoption is always an option.” While it may always be an option, that doesn’t mean that it’s the best option.
Approximately 23,000 kids in foster care never get adopted. Upon aging out of the system at 18, about 20% end up homeless, less than 3% get a college degree, and 25% will suffer from PTSD.
These sad pro-choice facts mean that some women choose to abort so their child won’t have to suffer through the foster care system for their entire childhood and struggle through their entire adulthood.
9. Planned Parenthood Provides Much More Than Abortion
Planned Parenthood has found itself in the midst of a big debate recently. Some pro-lifers believe that all government funding to Planned Parenthood should be stopped because they provide abortions. But, if you look at some pro-choice facts, you’ll realize that they do much more than that.
In fact, abortions only make up 3% of their services while 34% of their services involve providing affordable and accessible methods of contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies. They also offer several other women’s and men’s health services, including STI screenings and cancer screenings.
10. Raising a Child Is Too Expensive
The sad truth behind some pro-choice stats is that the women may have wanted to keep her child but was unable for financial reasons.
It costs an average of $196 per child for just one week of daycare. Add in the cost of diapers, food, clothes, toys and entertainment, vaccines, and medical care and it can seem impossible to afford a child.
Women who don’t have medical insurance or whose medical insurance doesn’t cover maternity needs may be looking at tens of thousands of dollars in prenatal care and delivery charges alone.
These costs can make it impossible for some women to carry out their pregnancy let alone raise their child.
Pro-Choice Facts That Everyone Should Know
Have you been wondering about each side’s reasoning in the pro-life vs pro-choice debate? Doing the proper research is a great way to understand the many complexities present.
Many people remain pro-choice for several reasons. Some of the most compelling pro-choice facts are that most late-term abortions are due to medical reasons, many women who do get abortions were using contraceptives, and adoption isn’t always the best option.
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