Facts about abortion

There is so much discussion about abortion, and often it’s from anti-choice perspectives - meaning those who don’t believe in our right to do what we want with our bodies. This means that it is often hard for us to understand the reality of what getting an abortion involves and that we are often told the wrong things about it. This note will discuss facts and dispel some common anti-choice and cultural myths about conception and motherhood, to help us gain more clairty on the subject of abortion.

Disclaimer: This guide cannot be used as a legal or medical guide. For more information about abortion laws in your area, please refer to our directory in YSM as well as these useful live trackers from The Center for Reproductive Rights and Women on Waves.

What does the abortion procedure involve?

There are two main types of abortion: medical and surgical. The type of abortion we get will often depend on the stage of pregnancy we are in, and the laws in our area.

In a medical abortion, the person receiving the abortion takes two pills around 24 to 48 hours apart. Usually, the first pill is taken at the doctor’s office and the second is taken at home. In the UK and a few other countries (e.g. Australia and South Africa), we can now access telemedicine abortion care. This means we receive both pills at home via post, with virtual support from a healthcare provider. This is a much more subtle method of treatment, as we don’t have to leave home for an appointment, and it may be beneficial for those of us who are vulnerable to various biases and threats, including the risk of abuse.

There are two main types of surgical abortion: vacuum or suction aspiration, and dilation and evacuation. In a vacuum/suction aspiration abortion, a low level of suction is applied through a device inserted into the cervix to remove the pregnancy. In a dilation and evacuation abortion, the cervix is opened using a device, and the pregnancy is removed with a tool called a ‘forceps’.

For a surgical abortion, the person receiving the abortion is given a local anaesthetic to numb sensation from the vagina, cervix, and uterus. In some cases, we may be given a general anaesthetic, in which we are fully unconscious - this depends on the circumstances of our pregnancy.

When can we get an abortion?

This depends on the laws where we are located, as there are often many restrictions on when an abortion is allowed. Find more information about abortions laws here.

Pregnancy is measured in weeks, starting from the first day of our last period. In areas where abortion is legal, it is most widely available during the first trimester (the first 12 weeks). As the pregnancy continues, abortion may only become available in rare cases. So, if we are seeking an abortion, the sooner we can access a service, the easier it will be, as later pregnancies are more difficult to arrange for and also have greater risks involved. The times, regulations, and availability will vary depending on where we live, so please make sure to check with local providers or on the trackers we have linked at the beginning of this note.

Does it hurt?

Many people report some discomfort and pain in the form of cramping, like a heavy period. We should always inform our medical provider if we experience severe discomfort and need help. There is likely to be some vaginal bleeding during the first week or two after getting an abortion; if this lasts longer or feels much heavier than a period, we should always speak to the healthcare team who performed the abortion. The Ami Explains Abortion video series includes helpful illustrations of what can be expected in terms of bleeding (e.g., how frequently to change a pad and what is too much), so that we can assess whether it’s an expected side effect or if we are facing a complication.

If we get an abortion, any relevant information regarding discomfort should be provided to us. The staff at the abortion centre should be able to answer any of our questions or concerns whether in person or over the phone.

Is it safe?

When performed by a certified medical procedure by qualified practioners, an abortion is just as safe as any other minor medical procedure.

There are myths that abortions cause damage and further health complications, but studies and statistics show that complications due to abortion are rare. There is currently no medically accepted evidence that shows any link between abortion and any type of disease or illness.

There is also a myth that we are ‘harmed psychologically’ after an abortion. A common term used we may have heard of is “post-abortion syndrome”. This term was coined to describe the alleged psychological and emotional difficulties we might face after an abortion. Again, there is no evidence to show that this is real, and studies have debunked this myth a number of times.

Who gets abortions?

Some of the most common myths surrounding abortion are about the types of people who get them. The truth is - people of all fertile age groups can and do have abortions.

Also, people in relationships get abortions too! This could be for many reasons - we may not want children, or we may want children eventually but don’t feel able to provide for them now. Maybe we’re already parents and don’t think having another child would be a good idea.

Many of us get abortions for health reasons. There may be physical or mental health risks associated with pregnancy for us, or there may be complications that make termination the safest option for our health.

It’s also important to remember that the reason for our abortion doesn’t define if we are “good” or “bad”. Those of us needing abortions for medical reasons are not more “moral” than those of us who choose to have an abortion for other reasons. We are all valid. Medical care is a human right; human rights are not retractable based on behaviours that society has decided to moralise as ‘good’ and ‘bad’.

Finally, it’s not true that only women can have abortions. Transmen, non-binary people, and gender non-conforming people get abortions, because if we have a uterus, it is possible to get pregnant.

We are all wonderful, complex individuals who deserve to be seen, heard, and represented when it comes to reproductive healthcare and abortion narratives. When we decide on abortion, we are not acting irresponsibly. We are making the most responsible choice and deciding what is best for us.

Busting abortion myths

Myth: An abortion decreases fertility, and will make it more difficult to get pregnant or carry to term in the future.

Truth: Abortion very rarely impacts fertility - only if there is a complication with the procedure, and even then it is unlikely. Actually, most people are fertile again very soon after abortion, so it’s important to use contraception immediately afterwards if you still don’t want to get pregnant.

Myth: Women will have fewer abortions if abortion is prohibited or restricted

Truth: The sad truth is: we will have fewer safe abortions if access to abortion is restricted or prohibited. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), global estimates from 2010–2014 demonstrate that 45% of all induced abortions are unsafe. Developing countries bear the burden of 97% of all unsafe abortions. More than half of all unsafe abortions occur in Asia, most of them in south and central Asia. In Latin American and Africa, the majority (approximately 3 out of 4) of all abortions are unsafe. In fact, some studies have indicated that increased access to abortion, particularly for young people, is associated with lower pregnancy rates. This might be because when access to abortion is coordinated with increased access to sex education, contraception, and reproductive healthcare, we see an overall positive effect on safe sex behaviours.

Myth: Emergency contraception is a form of abortion

Truth: Emergency contraception such as the ‘morning after’ pill, is a way of preventing pregnancy from occurring in the first place. It has no effect if implantation has already happened, so it’s medically not an abortion.

Myth: You shouldn’t become a parent if the baby was conceived due to sexual assault.

Truth: This myth is centred around society’s false victim-blaming narratives, where it is the survivor’s fault for being sexually assaulted or raped. This narrative is then layered onto additional messages of blame and guilt for survivors who become pregnant as a result of the assault. For some survivors, the emotional difficulty of deciding if we should get an abortion is amplified by the cruel messages around whether or not we ‘should’ become a parent.

There are no ‘shoulds’ - either for getting an abortion, or becoming a parent. The decision is entirely ours. If keeping the pregnancy is what we want - no matter how it was conceived - that is a valid decision.

Myth: You shouldn’t become a parent if you’re going to be a single parent.

Truth: This myth is based on many different kinds of societal prejudices. There’s a lot of misogyny associated with the label ‘single mother’. In many places, racist and caste-based ideas contribute to this myth too, for example, that certain groups or communities are more ‘reckless’ in conceiving unwanted pregnancies.

Again, this myth is designed to trigger guilt that having just one parent won’t be ‘enough’ if the pregnancy was unplanned. This myth is also contradictory because pregnant people are told simultaneously that it is wrong to get an abortion, but its also wrong to become a single parent. Single parenthood is a valid decision, and entirely up to the person who is pregnant.

Myth: You should just put the child up for adoption!

Truth: We’ve talked about adoption in our first note, but we wanted to address this myth because it’s one we hear very often. We’re told that it’s morally wrong to get an abortion, and if we don’t want to be a parent we should just put the child up for adoption.

There are many reasons why this is overly simplistic; it’s often a difficult and complicated process to put a baby up for adoption. Adoption is a valid decision, of course, but this myth obscures the fact that there are still nine months of physical and emotional changes of pregnancy to get through, in addition to the process of adoption.

Choosing abortion should not be a decision made out of guilt or pressure placed on us by society; it should be a reflection of what we personally want. We hope this note has helped with some thoughts or statements that may have upset us or made us question our decisions or situation. Please always remember that the opinions of another person, group, or institution should never come before our health, happiness, and wellbeing.