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Psychological effects of abortion on women
Psychological effects of abortion on women
Psychological effects of abortion on women
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Her body, her choice. Even before Roe v. Wade, the topic of abortion has always been a sensitive topic. In recent years, the issue has come up more often. Abortion is defined as “the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.” There are those who are pro-choice, those that think women should have the right to choose if she should have an abortion. However, there are always those who disagree. Where there are those who are pro-choice, there are those who are pro-life; they believe women should not have the right to choose what happens to the life she will create. Both sides have their opinions and reasons for as to why there should or should not be the choice of having an abortion.
Pro-life supporters claim that there are possibilities for both mental and physical health issues. A 2008 peer-reviewed study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health found that "Young adult women who undergo... abortion may be at increased risk for subsequent depression." Along with the mental health issues, a February 2014 study published in the peer-reviewed Cancer Causes and Control found that abortion "is significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer" and that "the risk of breast cancer increases as the number of [abortions] increases." However, these studies are not true. Studies by the American Psychological Association, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, and researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health all concluded that so-called links between abortion and mental health problems are unfounded. Also, a peer-reviewed study published by Obstetrics & Gynecology in Jan. 2015 reported that less than one quarter of one percent of abortions lead to major health complications. A 2012 study in Obstetrics & Gynecology found a woman 's risk of dying from having an abortion is 0.6 in 100,000, while the risk of dying from giving birth is around 14 times higher (8.8 in 100,000). The study also found that "pregnancy-related complications were more common with childbirth than with abortion." If a
The argument of the fetus being a creation of God is always brought up in the speeches of those who are pro-life. According to pro-lifers, the Sixth Commandment of the Bible 's Old Testament, "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13), applies to all human beings, including unborn babies. Along with that, many pro-lifers believe that a fetus is a human being right from its conception. They claim upon fertilization, a human individual is created with a unique genetic identity that remains unchanged throughout his or her life. That this individual has a fundamental right to life, which must be protected. Many also claim that during the abortion process, the fetus feels pain. According to Kanwaljeet J. S. Anand, MBBS, DPhil, Professor of Pediatrics, Anesthesiology and Neurobiology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, "If the fetus is beyond 20 weeks of gestation, I would assume that there will be pain caused to the fetus. And I believe it will be severe and excruciating pain." However, yet again, none of these claims are correct. Although many religious groups oppose abortion, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations are all officially pro-choice. The Bible, despite interpretations to the contrary, contains no explicit condemnation of abortion, and does not portray the killing
As to any argument, there are two opposing sides when it comes to the matter of abortions. These two opposers usually refer to themselves as “pro-life” and “pro choice”. Pro-life supporters maintain that abortion is wrong and pro-choice believe that it is a woman’s freedom to choose her pregnancy decisions. When it comes to the topic of abortions, most of us will readily agree that it’s a woman’s choice to decide what her reproductive decisions are, i.e. pro-choice. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is in the question of whether or not abortion is a fundamental right granted to women by the Constitution. Whereas some are convinced that a fetus is considered alive at conception, usually citing the word of God, others maintain that
Thou shalt not kill; one-tenth of what may arguably be the most famous guidelines of morality in the western culture, and also the main driving force for pro-life advocates. The argument supporting their beliefs typically starts with the premises that a fetus is a person, and to destroy or to kill a person is unethical. Therefore abortion, the premeditated destruction of a human being, is murder, and consequently unethical. I deny the fact that the fetus, what I will refer to as an embryo up to 22 weeks old, has the right to live. The opposing argument is invalid because a fetus, although perhaps a part of human species, is not formally a person. This leaves it simply to be a part of the woman?s body, whose fate lies solely in the hands of the pregnant woman alone, no different from a tumor she might have. By proving this, the abortion debate then becomes an issue of women?s rights, something that is most controversial indeed. Furthermore, it is fair to question the credibility of many people against abortion because of obvious contradictions in the logic of their belief systems. The fact that this debate is relevant in modern society is ludicrous since there is a simple and plausible solution to this problem that could potentially end the debate for good, leaving both sides satisfied.
Abortion: the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus (Psychology in Action 10th ed.)
Abortion, like any other medical procedure, carries some risks. When one considers, however, that “the risk of death associated with childbirth is about 10 times as high as that associated with abortion” (“Know the Facts”), the threat of abortion suddenly does not seem as perilous. Additionally, contrary to popular misconception, abortion does not contribute to future infertility or development of breast cancer. It is therefore safer and more prudent to have an abortion than an unwanted pregnancy.
For over two centuries abortion has been an issue of controversy within the United States; furthermore, at the heart of this debate lies the standoff between advocates of pro-life and of pro-choice. Individuals who identify as pro-life strongly oppose abortion, believing it to be unjust and illegal. The argument pro-life advocates often put forth is that the fetus in question qualifies as a human being; therefore, to end its life prematurely is akin to murder. Pro-choice advocates, on the other hand, are strong supporters of placing the power of decision within the mother’s hands and allowing her to determine what is best for both her and her unborn child. (Hopely)
The relentless support of abortion is always contradicting the moral and good teachings of the Church. Through passed laws, pro-choice supporters have made it possible for many women to have abortions. In some countries, including the United States, there does not have to be a reason for a woman to have an abortion early in the pregnancy. The Supreme Court in the United States ruled that the fetus’s ability to live was between about twenty four weeks to twenty-six weeks (Glendon 22). These laws show that supporters of abortion do not believe that life begins at conception. This is contrary to the teachings of the Church. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). God knew us before we were conceived. He made us accord...
As defined by the Merriam- Webster dictionary, abortion is “the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by resulting in or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus as a spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during
How would you feel if someone took away your ability to live? How would you feel if you were never given the chance to come into the world and contribute to the human race? These are some of the questions an individual needs to ask when considering having abortion. Abortion, in my opinion, is immoral and unjust simply because it is murder. A brutal murder of a being who has not even seen the world and a huge injustice to a helpless fetus who might have been the next Einstein, President, or the person who would find a cure to cancer. Morality says that every person has the right not to be unjustly killed. Hence, this right also apply to any unborn child. The thought of an individual killing his/her own unborn child is always lurking in the back of my mind because it’s hard to assert the harm being caused by the unborn child to the mother or to the society in general. If we say abortion is morally right, then we are against procreation and procreation is one of the major contributions of a human being to his or her society and the world at large. The act of procreation is one of the most beautiful things in the world. To make a human being, being able to watch that kid grow into an adult and actually be responsible to the society, should be a very fulfilling experience for any mother. I hereby oppose the principle of paternalism because I don’t believe it is moral to take away or destroy the life of an unborn child to save the life of the mother because there is no harm caused by the unborn child but I support the harm principle because abortion in general, causes harm to the unborn child, his future, the mother and the society. Therefore, I subscribe to Don Marquis view on Abortion in his article “Why abortion is immoral”.
In any culture, there is the perception of the pregnancy. Pregnancy is the real indication of the procreation to replace the old generation with the new ones since death is inevitable. But for some unavoidable reasons one may decide not to get pregnant and though she gets pregnant, she may choose not to give birth by carrying out abortion. Abortion has therefore been the most issue of concern globally, the main reason being it denies one’s life. Reasons for carrying out abortion or terminating the pregnancy are varied, and majority carry it for various reasons that many not be known to those not involved, but only the mother sometimes knows even the sire of the child may not be aware. Therefore, various methods have been implemented to create
Abortion has been a controversial topic in the U.S ever since it became legal in 1973 after the Roe v. Wade case. Abortion is defined as the, “the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.” Pro-life supporters believe that abortion is unethical and argue that it is the mother’s responsibility to own up to her actions. They also argue that there is always the option of adoption, and that abortion could be very dangerous. I am pro-life and believe that the government doesn’t have the right to decide what a woman can or can’t do with her body.
Abortion was legally being done since 1880 in the United States. During that time, many states have started to ban abortion. Even though abortion was illegal in many places, it was still being practiced. Many by licensed physicians. They “risked losing their license to perform the abortions”. Even though abortion was illegal in most states, women all over the United States were getting abortion illegally. Some even performed self-abortions with “hanger and needles”. “Also many women would go to other countries and get an abortion”. Many felt the banning abortions was a way to limit women’s rights which led to many court cases. (ourbodiesourselves.org)
In addition, one analysis, in relation to abortion problems, states, “from 1988 to 1997 found the risk of death increased by 38% for each additional week of gestation, during the pregnancy.” (Jones). “Such studies rely on information from many countries and include legally mandated registers hospital administrative data,” so current research affirms that an induced abortion increase the risk of different physical consequences, such as breast cancer, placenta previa, and maternal suicide. (Bachiochi). Late term abortion not only affects the mother’s condition physically, but also psychologically. Although not all women respond in the same way, some of them develop diverse mental disorders leading to suicide after they received an abortion. Studies in Canadian newspapers show “a suicide rate of 34.9 per 1000” from women who experimented an abortion, in contrast to “a suicide rate of 5.9 per 1000” from women who gave birth to their babies. The same newspapers report “a rate of 5.2 per thousand hospitalizations for psychiatric
the mis links about abortion leading to breast cancer is false. This study showed that a woman
Lawlor, Jessica. (2002). Long Term Physiological and Psychological Effects of Abortion on Women. Retrieved March 21, 2001 from http://www.cirtl.org/syndrome.htm
Abortions have always been a very controversial topic. Over the years we continue to fight for or against it. One can say that is one of the most talked and argued topic in the United States. An abortion is when a woman terminates her pregnancy before the fetus is viable using various of methods. Some argue that abortions should be illegal and considered murder, while others, from a religious point of view, say that no one has the right to take away the life of a person, in this case the fetus. However, others insist, that abortions are a basic women’s right.