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News

Schools to offer abortion advice in a bid to cut the number of unwanted under-age pregnancies.

100 replies

bubble99 · 13/09/2006 21:12

And I realise that this is an incredibly contentious subject. But I just wondered how mnetters feel about this.

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SpaceCadet · 13/09/2006 21:15

i think its desperately sad..it would be better that young girls were clued up enough about contraception so that they didnt become pregnant at all. i suppose if a girl terminates her pregnancy, she wont show up in the teen pregnancy rates.

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hester · 13/09/2006 21:15

Depends on what is meant by abortion advice, who is offering it, and how. Offering pupils access to appropriate information and counselling? Sounds ok to me.

In itself, of course, that won't actually cut the number of unwanted pregnancies, but it may help teenagers access the services they need more quickly and easily.

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Socci · 13/09/2006 21:17

Message withdrawn

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Blondilocks · 13/09/2006 21:17

They should also offer advice to try to prevent unwanted pregnancies happening in the first place.

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HRHQueenOfQuotes · 13/09/2006 21:17

hmmm - I have my own strong views on abortion (as you may well know). However at the same time I believe it's up to an individual what they want to do (ie if I meet someone that's had an abortion I don't condemn them - I treat them for the person they are - not the actions they've done that I don't agree with IYKWIM).

Anyhow, having said that. I'm not sure that this plan will really help cut "unwanted under-age pregnancies"......unless I'm being really blonde one has to already be pregnant in order to have an abortion. So in effect this would simply be trying to cut the number under-age mothers with unplanned children.

Offering abortion advice also doesn't help reduce the growing number of STD's in this age group - as by the time they're pregnant they've already had unprotected sex and could have caught/passed something on.

Having said all that - I'm not really sure what the answer is.............

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hester · 13/09/2006 21:17

I should add that I was once a pregnant 16 year old, and did have an abortion. What was already a deeply distressing experience was made much worse by the difficulty I had in accessing efficient, sympathetic advice and help.

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colditz · 13/09/2006 21:18

Hmm. I am pretty clued about contraception, and I still got caught out. Luckily I was 22, and quite pleased, but it most definately wasn't planned.

I think it is a good idea. I hate to think of my 16 year old sister carrying a baby she doesn't want because she doesn't know what else to do.

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EmsTomot · 13/09/2006 21:20

I would feel horrified if young girls were being given information that can be taken as an alternative form of contraception - "we don't have to be careful because there is always abortion."
I agree that it depends on how the advice is being given, but I would hope that any young girl choosing abortion has the support network behind her to cope with the emotional side of things.
We should really be teaching our children responsibility - taking responsibility for contraception, not being pressured into sex in the first place and ultimately understanding the causes and effects.
Abortion is such a sensitive subject and until you are faced with a decision like that for any reason, it is difficult to comment. But maybe showing young girls AND boys how quickly a baby develops and how soon it can be a little person in the womb, would make them more careful in the first place when considering contraception to avoid abortion.

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bubble99 · 13/09/2006 21:21

Good point, hester, it depends who is offering the advice. Abortion is such an emotive subject that, IME, the 'Pro' organisations are often seen as having financial motives to promote it. And the 'Anti's' are often labelled as 'God- Botherers' with no ability to see it from the woman's/girl's point of view.

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Waswondering · 13/09/2006 21:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bubble99 · 13/09/2006 21:24

I don't have secondary age children. When I was a 12 year old at school we got the 'biological' version of pregnacy and a lady who turned up and put a condom onto a banana. Has it moved on?

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bubble99 · 13/09/2006 21:26

The thing is, Waswondering, is that I think the emotional aspects of abortion don't really hit a wooman until she is 'ready' to have children. I think that, at age 14 etc., relief is often the primary emotion.

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bubble99 · 13/09/2006 21:27

'wooman?'

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EmsTomot · 13/09/2006 21:28

Do abortions have a physical impact on being able to conceive in the future? What are the health issues around them apart from the emotional side?
You would hope if schools are advising, they would have a councellor on hand.

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colditz · 13/09/2006 21:29

Yes, having an abortiun will have an impact. But so will having a baby.

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SpaceCadet · 13/09/2006 21:30

bubble-my dd;s sex education has been so extensive that i feel she knows more than me, they cover stds, pregnancy etc, so certainly more than i recall from school, which was the classic, condom on a banana scenario(and basic diagram on blackboard, cue fits of giggles)

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bubble99 · 13/09/2006 21:32

Ems. Late abortion can have an impact on future pregnancies because the cervix has to be dilated more than for early pregnancy abortions. Not a problem with 'one-offs' AFAIK, but repeated late-stage abortions may cause problems for future PGs.

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EmsTomot · 13/09/2006 21:32

Colditz, I was just trying to get the bigger picture as I have never been through anything like that. Young girls probably don't value motherhood at their age, but if they knew what they were risking, it might help them make better decisions - and the emphasis should not just be on the girls.

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SpaceCadet · 13/09/2006 21:33

there is also the risk of infection which could have an impact on future fertility

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EmsTomot · 13/09/2006 21:34

I don't mean better decisions with regards to abortion - feel like I am digging a hole here - I think we all agree that it is better to educate so NOT to get pregnant and if pregnancy does happen despite contraception efforts - alot of understanding and support should be available.

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bubble99 · 13/09/2006 21:34

Well....Quite....colditz.

I certainly don't condone abortion being taught/seen to be a form of contraceptive. But I think that teenagers need to know that the option is there..

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Quootiepie · 13/09/2006 21:35

I had an abortion 2 years ago and have been on every antidepressent going since... they are too quick to dish them out IMO, and want to charge £65 an hour for the councilling afterwards. oh, dont get me started!