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 worry this is a slippery slope. The whole "pro choice except for" ideology surely just causes divide and discontent amongst women who essentially agree?

Pro lifers don't tend to have the same ambiguity and number of grey areas. It makes their position somewhat stronger (if push came to shove and we ever ended up in the disgusting situation the US is in I suspect pro life would be a more cohesive movement so to speak)

Choice is choice and if you support it, you support it.

Barelyfunctioning3

Have you seen an 8 week embryo ? I was going to post an image but decided it might be upsetting. It is a potential person, but definately not a baby.

An abortion isn't just a medical magic wand. Regardless of what you believe - it's a scientific fact that in a healthy pregnancy you are effectively terminating a potentially healthy and valid life - a person. That has to have some weight with it.
The choice to have that option should always remain, but it shouldn't be undermined or downplayed as to what people are actually doing when they do have an abortion/termination

So women should have the choice, but they should be emotionally manipulated into feeling guilty about it?

As a teenager attending a catholic mass I had the misfortune of being exposed to SPUC. (A pro birth organisation)

The delegation we had to endure were three white men. All aged over 40.

One of there many ridiculous arguments was that it was being used as contraception - but then they didn’t agree with contraception either. Considered the MAP an agent of abortion etc. This has made me think .

I think accessing abortion as contraception is valid. If you have an issue with this (something that is a low occurrence anyway) then do you have an issue with contraception?

Agree.

It's not my place to decide for someone else whether having an abortion is right or wrong. It's every woman's own decision alone.

this is what it comes down to.

That statement undermines the implications and gravity of those using it as late contraception, just because they can't be arsed to look after their own contraception responsibly.

Well you'll be very happy to know that the vast majority of abortions are early. And getting earlier. And those that are late are much more likely to be for medical reasons. No issue for you to be concerned about. You can relax!

Turns out women can be trusted with their own medical choices!

Wow, 1 in 4 seems like a lot!😮It makes me grateful that we have safe, legal, accessible abortion.🙏 I would hate to think what would happen to women if we didn't.

I cant find the post you're responding to but im horrified at that.

That is truly disgusting.

I can only imagine how that statistic will go should abortion be made illegal here.

But fathers have no role in abortion its purely down to women who cba with contraception, obviously.

I agree with you. I'll probably get slaughtered for this but I track my cycle (condoms also unless in a long term relationship) and have always considered abortion as my back up contraception. I've never needed one but I won't hesitate if that changes. And no I won't feel bad about it.

Oops I was replying to @Gakatsbsk

Well, that was the entire point of it, wasn't it? To make sure that poorer women didn't have any more children.

A preferable alternative to abortion is taking precautions and steps to avoid being pregnant in the first place.

I haven't criticised anybody bar the person I mentioned and that person has no vulnerabilities that mean she's unable to access contraception, nor does she have a lack of understanding of basic biology.

It is irresponsible and reckless.

People claim that women like this don't exist. They do. Are they in the minority? Hopefully.

Also, I have seen many women receive criticism on MN for not having an abortion. Posters are always quick to ask the question "why are you having a child with this man" and suggest the best thing to do would be to abort. Women are told they're stupid all of the time here for having a baby in less than ideal circumstances.

Nobody who is pro life is there supporting women after are they? They just make sure she doesn't have an abortion and go along their way
I can't afford a child. Do I want a child? Yes, but there you go
If I get pregnant, I will HAVE to have a termination because there is no money to pay for a child. That's better for my mental health than carrying a child to term and giving it up for adoption
Yes I use contraception, the doctors won't sterilise me as I'm "too young and no children"

IMO, and IME, 'poor', underprivileged women make the best parents and actually are not the authority on abortions.

@Barelyfunctioning3 how do you feel then about the fact that the NHS regularly refuse women access to sterilisation? Are you campaigning for an improvement on that? Are you just as vocal against it?

The only authority on abortion is the woman herself.

@FlyingMasticatedParticles ♥️♥️

@Barelyfunctioning3 That doesn’t answer the question but I doubt you are going to. I would argue it is more responsible to end a pregnancy than to raise a child for whom you do not feel able to provide.

You don’t seem able to see past this minority, and seem keen to talk about how irresponsible and reckless they are yet not see your
own hypocrisy - once a pregnancy is in progress the only alternative to abortion is to raise a child or have it adopted.

I hope you also consider the man in this situation irresponsible and reckless. And I hope you don’t think that a minority of women using abortion as contraception (a valid reason) is an argument in anyway against abortions

And? Who cares if it’s being used as contraception. I believe in abortion being freely available for everyone for whatever reason, so what business is it of mine if 25% of all pregnancies end in abortion? It’s not like there’s an especially low birth rate and we need the bodies.

the statistic doesn’t change my view and I don’t really understand why it should.

The only authority on abortion is the woman herself. exactly this

100% agree

the question you should ask is why women have abortions -i suspect many more than we know are for medical reasons - something seriously wrong with foetus development, or something that is dangerous to the mother's .health or life including mental health or abusive relationships (where both the mother & potential child would be at risk)
Older mothers who fall unexpectedly pregnant just approaching menopause. young women who are not in a settled relationship & would not be able, capable of supporting child (because babies grow in age size & needs) or have the emotional or financial support to care for a child. Very young girls in care or just out of care. Women who are drug dependent. Women who already have children and for whatever reason can not cope with another child. No method of birth control is a hundred per cent. Women who already have a child with issues (disability etc) & feel they cannot cope with another.
In USA they are also heading for cutting down on birth control cover - this will hit the poorest mothers & as has been discussed the very people who want to make it illegal are the most judgemental about the difficulties poorer mothers face in getting support & judgemental about how they care or cope.
they are heading for more back street abortions & more related deaths & more children being neglected or abused more children in care & more children dying

I think we need to follow the Netherlands example where abortion numbers have been reduced - why & how? Because they emphasize education about sex & birth control etc - so there is less younger women becoming pregnant & also more education or helping girls choose not to be talked into sex & education of young men or their role in responsibility
Particularly those young people in care - girls who are trying to establish a family they have never had - it is incredibly sad
(gets off soap box)