1 in 4 pregnancies ends in abortion?

[MultiBird]

Reading the BBC article about the US ruling, it says that in the US 1 in 6 pregnancies ends in abortion, which I thought seemed very high, but I looked it up and it's 1 in 4 in UK.

I'd fight very hard indeed if anyone challenged a woman's right to choose here, but isn't that very high? Is there some truth in the argument that it's being used as contraception? I've heard it said before and dismissed it as ridiculous but 25%?!

Bear with me a sec and I'll post the links.

I am very pleased that she lives in a country where she hasn't been forced to bring up 6 children instead of 2 if that's not what she wanted.

90% of pregnacies ending in divorce is different from 90% of women having an abortion. I have seen many women's obstetric histories professionally. There are a few women who have multiple abortions I would suggest the average number (as in mode rather than mean) is less than one.

A family member of mine has had 4 abortions. She wasn't on any form of contraception as they don't agree with her, neither she or the father did anything to prevent those pregnancies. They already have 2 DC so they know how these things work. No MH conditions or vulnerabilities. Just careless and cavalier.

The system works then. 'Careless and cavalier' with 6 children doesn't sound like a great idea. In fact, it sounds like a recipe for abuse and neglect.

Quite. It's not about the (potential) child, it's about controlling women.

Lets ignore Barely's goading and take the point at face value.

An extended family member of mine shot his wife and then himself on Christmas Day and left his children orphans.

Guns are still legal.

A friend of mine is a functioning alcoholic and is neglectful to her children.

Alcohol is still legal.

One of my family members was killed by someone driving.

Driving is still legal.

Someone I know was killed by her husband.
Marriage is still legal.

See my point yet?

Quite.

It would have been much better if she had all of the children and they were either in neglectful care or actual care, wouldn't it?

I think that this is a huge misconception and that people often don’t think of accidental pregnancies where contraception has failed in long term stable couples who already have children and had decided their families were complete. Contraception fails as does the morning after pill and occasionally if you’re really unlucky both fail! Everyone should have the right to make a choice regardless of circumstances.

Abortion not divorce

Of course its not. I say this as a care experienced child (who actually is bloody glad my mother didn't choose abortion, however...)

If you include d&cs for missed miscarrishes then 50% of my pregnancies have ended in abortion. I don't think it's uncommon at all so the 25% statistic doesn't surprise me.

I wouldn't expect the statistics to differentiate between the reasons for abortion hence why I'd say 50% of my pregnancies would probably count as ending in abortion. I'm not sure what would have happened to my pregnancies if abortion was banned, would I have had to wait to miscarry naturally? The first miscarriage I saw a doctor who wouldn't do an abortion and it felt awful and that was knowing that I could easily go and find someone who would do it! I can't imagine the trauma that is being inflicted on so many American women (and women across the world).

It's not rocket science. It's that high because so many people have one night stands or casual relationships without considering the consequences, or they don't use contraception at all, or they use contraception incorrectly. It obviously isn't taboo to sleep around in the UK like it would be elsewhere.

One of thr groups most likely to seek an abortion are women aged 30 to 34 and they have had the largest increases in abortion rate. Abortions for women aged 20 and under have declined. 51% of abortions are sought by women who list their status as single with a partner. 58% already have one or more child and 22% have had a previous miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

What part of any of that suggests its down to promiscuity when a 32 year old woman living with her partner and young child is statistically more likely to seek an abortion than a single 19 year old out with no existing children?

And even if it was down to promiscuity - so fucking what!? Provoded all parties are consenting, what business is it of yours!? You're not the shag police, you don't get to dictate what other women put in their bodies and that includes babies as well as multiple dicks.

I'm not shocked, no. I'm relieved to live in a country where women have access to free and safe abortions should they so wish. It would be much more horrendous to read that however many women per year have to carry and birth babies they don't want or that cause them medical complications they could do without. I'm in my mid 30s, married and have DC. I am fully certain that if I fell pregnant before DH gets the snip in a couple of months, that I would have an abortion. I cannot physically, mentally or financially cope with any more DC.

The op posed the question about whether there were women out there who use abortion as a form of contraception, I was responding to that.

It gives you an indication as to how often contraception fails, if anything. So yes, most early abortions are used as last resort 'family planning' as such.

There really does need to be a fresh contraception campaign and male contraception alternatives need to be looked at. And yes it takes 2 to tango, but ultimately women also need to be more stringent with their own reproductive risks - they are the ones who will be 'pregnant' regardless of who helped in conception.

There is a serious lack of education/understanding still amongst both sexes about pregnancy and contraception. Ask an average bloke in his 20s or 30s about ovulation and his brain will probably melt. 40 and over and his head will probably fall off.

Yes abortion should always be available, but that doesn't mean it should be a catch all last resort. The numbers of unwanted pregnancies still need to be reduced as ultimately, it is an awful procedure for most woman to go through, with risks.

I will always be pro-choice. But when you've got women just shrugging their shoulders when being asked 'what if contraception fails', and they go "I'll just get an abortion" it does dehumanise the gravity of what they're actually doing when saying yes to having one.

I shouldn't have laughed at shag police but I did.

Interesting, isnt it, that the men appear to play no role in this "sleeping around".

Have you considered the fact that this statistic includes the following ?: pregnancies that aren’t viable ectopic pregnancies, septic uteruses ,retained miscarriages, pregnancies where the foetus has died, where the foetus would be born with life limiting conditions.

All reasons for abortion are valid.

I am disgusted when I hear women who are stupid enough to believe some people are using it as a form of contraception as if this is a bad thing.

I’m a degree educated HCP and
I am happy that the UK provides access for abortion, and I also do not believe in there being a limit to abortions. Late term abortions save lives. Abortion is healthcare.

I would consider myself pro-choice but also pro-abortion. Anyone who disagrees with abortion can just not get one. I don’t care for the opinions of men on something that doesn’t concern th.

The number of births being three times the number of abortions does not mean 1 in 4 pregnancies end in abortion.

I also imagine making avoidance of paying child support a crime would reduce the numbers quite a lot too.

We need to start condemning men who refuse to wear condoms, in part I expect because of the influence of porn.

Women 30 to 35 are actually the most likely to be shagging around. But crack on.

Women 30 to 35 are actually the most likely to be shagging around. But crack on.

The misogyny fairly drips off you, doesn't it?

I'm glad it worked out for you. However, the choice should be there for women.
A lot of the anti abortion rhetoric is about policing women's behaviour, and judging it.

Yes, I notice there's no criticism of men "shagging around"

I don't care why women have abortions. They can have them for any and no reason.

I booked an abortion waiting for a missed miscarriage to pass. I started bleeding at my appointment so didn't have it in the end but if I had, I would be a woman who had had two abortions.

Both for totally different reasons which are no one else's business except mine.

It's not misogyny. Most teens and 20 somethings aren't actively dating or doing anything of the sort like people my age are. They're too busy working for a deposit or studying to get out of their parent's houses.

Early-mid 30s people of both sexes are the most prolific shaggers.