Does anyone know of collected data on what kind of abortions are done in the US?

[hedgehog]

Like how many in the first trimester, second trimester, third trimester?

[MountainLaurel]

1. Go to the Guttmacher Institute

They're the primary researchers in this area.

[hedgehog]

3. From the Guttmacher Institute is the answer to the question I really wanted to ask -

• The reasons women give for having an abortion underscore their understanding of the responsibilities of parenthood and family life. Three-fourths of women cite concern for or responsibility to other individuals; three-fourths say they cannot afford a child; three-fourths say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or the ability to care for dependents; and half say they do not want to be a single parent or are having problems with their husband or partner.

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html

So - it's at least possible that we could prevent many, many of the abortions in this country by raising wages, providing parental leave, providing free, convenient day care (including for people working 2nd and 3rd shift), providing respite care etc. etc , etc.

It's not a real choice when a woman has to choose between bearing a child and seeing her life destroyed. When the Republicans aren't busy accusing women of being baby killers, they are busy accusing women of bearing baby after baby to cash in on welfare! So while they try to limit the right to choose abortion, they also impose policies that force women into getting an abortion as the only option!

I personally find abortion a hideous option - but outlawing abortions doesn't stop women from getting abortions, it stops women from getting safe abortions and it puts women with ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages in danger!


Not intending this to be a post and run - but it's past my bed time here!

[fujiyama]

8. Good post

I seriously doubt there are any women that get abortions just because they can. Things don't work like that.

But the right has no real interest in reducing abortions because they don't even support comprehensive sex ed and contraceptive usage. Idiots.

Hell even this administration won't allow wider use of the morning after pill, going as far as overriding the FDA. Yeah, like Kathleen Sibrlius has a PhD in anything science related.

And besides, men shouldn't be making these decisions anyways. It's not my fucking business what a woman does with her body.

[haele]

2. Include in the category- were they viable pregnancies.

I suspect a lot of abortions are made for medical reasons or to remove a non-viable fetus.
Ancedotally, of course, most of the few abortions I am personally aware of were to clean out mis-carriages, health of the mother, or because the fetus would not be viable (or would not survive much past birth). I'm sure there might have been a few early trimester "shit, I'm pregnant" abortions, but most of those women must have gone about their own business afterwards.
Since I, personally, never got pregnant, and most of my friends and aquaintances only seemed to get pregnant when they wanted to, I suspect most people wouldn't even know who might have had an abortion or not.
Perhaps that's what the big deal is. Without that scarlet "A" on their medical record, who would know?

Haele

[nanabugg]

4. When I was in my twenties I had to have surgery for fibroid tumors that caused

excessive bleeding. The surgery was referred to as a D&C. I later learned from one of my friends that this surgery was used by socialites (old time word for rich girls) as abortion method.

[REP]

6. Not easy to categorize early abortions.

A woman having an abortion performed at 12 weeks or before isn't really subject to being asked why she is having the procedure. She may know she has a health condition incompatible with pregnancy; or has tested positive (along with her partner) for Tay-Sachs or some other genetic disease; or has an unwanted or badly timed pregnancy.

[REP]

5. Also US Census Bureau, CDC

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/births_deaths_marriages_divorces/family_planning_abortions.html

http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/Data_Stats/Abortion.htm

[Zoeisright]

7. 88% in the first trimester.

http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/facts/after_12_weeks.html

What anti-choice zealots never mention is that second and third trimester abortions are very rare. They need more than one doctor's approval and are always done for a medical reason: the fetus won't survive, has a severe abnormality, the woman's life or health is threatened, etc.

[hedgehog]

9. Many people have a nuanced view of abortion;

no qualms at all for the first few weeks, but as the pregnancy progresses they feel that there must be stronger and stronger reasons to terminate. In other words, first trimester is OK, second is case by case and third very, very rare.y justified. According to the link, most second trimester abortions involve teens. Thus, the best way to eliminate second trimester abortions is to give teens better access to both contraception and to first trimester abortion. I would add, as my wild ass guess, that teen girls also need to be taught that it is absolutely irresponsible to be "swept away by passion". I think many refuse to use contraception because then they would have to admit to wanting to have sex and/or planning to have sex.