Image: Focal Foto, CC BY-NC 2.0 Generic Deed
Two years ago, the Supreme Court shocked the nation by overturning Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion. This landmark decision paved the way for many states to enforce stricter abortion bans and restrictions, preventing numerous individuals from accessing this essential healthcare service.1,2 The overturning of Roe v. Wade has given states the power to create, revise, and enforce their own abortion laws.3 Since the Supreme Court’s decision, 22 states have restricted access to abortion.4 A majority of Americans oppose this ruling, with 57% disapproving, including 43% who strongly disapprove.3 The recent rise of misinformation has clouded key issues, including abortion.5 Misinformation is harmful, influencing how we think, act, and vote.5 While we do not endorse any particular candidate or policy, we aim to highlight the dangers of misinformation surrounding abortion.
What is abortion?
Abortion is the termination of an implanted pregnancy.6 In the U.S., approximately 1 in 4 individuals with a uterus will have an abortion by age 45.7 An induced abortion refers to the intentional termination of an ongoing pregnancy through medical or surgical procedures.1 In contrast, spontaneous abortion, commonly known as a miscarriage, is the unplanned loss of a pregnancy within the first 20 weeks of gestation.1
In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized comprehensive abortion care as an essential health service. Most induced abortions occur early in pregnancy and are safely completed using FDA-approved medications, such as mifepristone and misoprostol, following established guidelines.1,7,8 Surgical, or in-clinic, abortions involve a trained healthcare provider using medical instruments and suction to remove the pregnancy from the uterus through the vagina.7 Both methods of induced abortion are safe and effective.1,7
Debunking common myths about abortion
Abortion is a complex and highly debated topic that has garnered significant attention in recent years. This article does not cover all the myths and facts surrounding abortion, but there is a wealth of publicly accessible information available through reputable sources such as Planned Parenthood, the WHO, the CDC, and other platforms, including this Combating Abortion Myths toolkit. Below are a few of the most common myths about abortion.
Myth: Abortion is unsafe
In reality, pregnancy and childbirth are far more dangerous than abortion. Complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period ranked as the 6th leading cause of death among individuals aged 20 to 34 in the U.S. in 2014.9 When abortion care is provided promptly and monitored by a trained healthcare professional, the risks of complications and abortion-related deaths are extremely low.1,7 According to the CDC, the national case-fatality rate for legal induced abortions between 2013 and 2018 was 0.41 deaths per 100,000 legal abortions, or 0.00041%.8 In comparison, the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. was 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.8
Limited access to safe and legal abortion care can pose significant risks.1 For more information on the risks associated with in-clinic and medication abortions, follow the hyperlinks provided.
Myth: Plan B is abortion
Plan B is not used to end a pregnancy that has already started. Plan B is a form of emergency contraception that helps to prevent pregnancy. It works by delaying or preventing the release of an egg from the ovaries, which happens before pregnancy starts.10 Plan B and other emergency contraceptives can be used in situations where traditional birth control (i.e., condoms) was not used or did not work during sex, the person missed their daily dose of birth control, and in situations of sexual assault.10
Myth: Many abortions happen later in pregnancy.
Most abortions occur early in pregnancy typically within the first 13 weeks. According to the CDC’s abortion surveillance program, 93.5% of abortions in 2021 were performed at ≤13 weeks’ gestation, 5.7% were performed at 14–20 weeks’ gestation, and only 0.9% were performed at ≥21 weeks’ gestation.8 Early medication abortion, accounting for 53% of all U.S. abortions in 2021, is typically done at ≤9 completed weeks’ gestation following FDA guidelines.8 Abortions performed earlier in pregnancy are associated with a lower risk of complications.11
Myth: All abortions are unwanted pregnancies
Not all abortions result from unwanted pregnancies. The WHO estimates that 3 out of every 10 pregnancies end in induced abortion.1 Pregnancy is a complex journey, and circumstances can change throughout the process. Factors such as economic stability, partner support, medical considerations, and safety, among others, all play a role in a person’s decision to seek an abortion.
Myth: Abortion impacts a person’s ability to get pregnant again
A safe, uncomplicated, legal abortion does not impact a person’s ability to get pregnant again in the future.12 Abortion is not associated with more frequent miscarriages, more frequent ectopic or tubal pregnancies, nor the increase in risk of birth defects, premature birth, or low birth weight in future pregnancies.12
Resources
If you or someone you know is looking for abortion care, you may visit abortionfinder.org or Planned Parenthood. If you are interested in learning more about abortion bans and restrictions across the U.S., you can use this interactive map created by Guttmacher.
Sources:
- World Health Organization [WHO]. Abortion. Published May 17, 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abortion
- Totenberg N. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, ending right to abortion upheld for decades. NPR. Published June 24, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/06/24/1102305878/supreme-court-abortion-roe-v-wade-decision-overturn.
- Lipka M. Key facts about the abortion debate in America. Pew Research Center. Published April 14, 2024. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/07/15/key-facts-about-the-abortion-debate-in-america/.
- Quinn M. Trump and Harris’ views on abortion and IVF access, explained. CBS News. Published September 11, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-harris-abortion-2024/
- Ecker U, Roozenbeek J, Van Der Linden S, et al. Misinformation poses a bigger threat to democracy than you might think. Nature. 2024;630(8015):29-32. doi:10.1038/d41586-024-01587-3
- Harvard Health. Abortion (Termination of pregnancy). Published January 9, 2019. https://www.health.harvard.edu/medical-tests-and-procedures/abortion-termination-of-pregnancy-a-to-z
- What facts about abortion do I need to know? Planned Parenthood. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/considering-abortion/what-facts-about-abortion-do-i-need-know
- Centers for Disease Control [CDC]. Abortion surveillance findings and reports. Reproductive Health. Published May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/data-statistics/abortion-surveillance-findings-reports.html
- Collier ARY, Molina RL. Maternal mortality in the United States: Updates on trends, causes, and solutions. NeoReviews. 2019;20(10):e561-e574. doi:10.1542/neo.20-10-e561
- Morning-after pill – Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/morning-after-pill/about/pac-20394730
- Kortsmit K, Mandel MG, Reeves JA, et al. Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2019. MMWR Surveillance Summaries. 2021;70(9):1-29. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss7009a1
Does having an abortion affect your ability to have children in the future? Planned Parenthood. Published August 10, 2023. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/blog/does-having-an-abortion-affect-your-ability-to-have-children-in-the-future
