Reproductive Health, or “My Body My Choice” is a major issue in this election. For this reason we will explore this emotional topic.
One curious thing about the term “reproductive health” is the new term commonly used for abortion. Why the name change? Is it really reproductive health?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), reproductive health is defined as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and its functions and processes. Reproductive health implies that people can have a satisfying and a safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so.”
Abortion Statistics
Worldwide 73 million abortions happen each year according to WHO. Brookings Institute report “abortion figures for the U.S. in 2023 to be 1,037,000. Of those 95% are unexpected pregnancies. This is the highest number since 2012. The thought is possibly due to the increased amount of the procedure covered by Medicare and funding by “privately-financed abortion funds.” Of those 95% are unexpected pregnancies.”
According to Brookings, “In 2021, the median self-pay cost for abortion services was $625 for a procedural (surgical) abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy…” The demographics of those having abortions are “61% in their twenties, 59% Black or Latino, Low Income 72%, Unmarried 86% with 73% between 6-12 weeks pregnant.” The estimated monetary cost is $304,618,750 based on the median self-pay cost of 47% that were surgical abortions. That a third of a billion dollars. According to the 2021 CDC data “57% of U.S. women who had induced abortions in 2021, it was the first time they had ever had one. For nearly a quarter (24%), it was their second abortion. For 11% of women who had an abortion that year, it was their third, and for 8% it was their fourth or more.”
Abortion Rates by States 2024 – Not including Washington, DC
As of mid-2023 New Mexico was ranked 16th in the number of abortions per 100,000 people with 4,293 abortions. The #1 state, Florida had a rate of 19.1 per 100,000. Numbers are for women aged 15-44.
In 2021 the rates of abortion were calculated per 1,000 aged 15-44. This report included Washington, DC, ranking DC as #1 with 447 per 1,000. New Mexico was ranked 12th per Statista.com. Guttmacher reported an 8% increase over the three-year period from 2017 to 2020.
Fetal Development
Oftentimes, women are told they are aborting a clump of cells. That is a simplified definition. According to Cleveland Clinic, “a blastocyst is a ball of cells that forms early in a pregnancy, about five to six days after a sperm fertilizes an egg.” It has not yet implanted onto the uterine wall. After implantation “some cells develop into your baby and others form the placenta.” Hormones (hCG) begin to be released and can be identified in pregnancy tests around days 26 – 28 days.
The Merck Manual states, “the heart begins to pump fluid and then flood through the blood vessels at about 5 weeks. Most other organs begin to form at about 5 weeks of pregnancy.” “The heart begins to beat at 6 weeks.” According to the Lozier Institute, “At 6 weeks gestation the embryo has a steady heartbeat around 110 beats per minute.” Clumps of tissue do not have a heartbeat.
“Almost all organs are completely formed by about 12 weeks of pregnancy.” As described here, by medical sources, it is not just tissue or a clump of cells. It is a functional system, a fetus or baby as parents call it.
As stated above, 73% of abortions are performed between 6 and 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Conflicting Thoughts
According to Planned Parenthood, “abortions are easy.” By the time women are 45 years old, 1 in 4 will have had an abortion.
President Bill Clinton in 1992, stated, “Abortion should be safe, legal and rare.” During the presidential campaign in 2008, Hillary Clinton stated the same sentiments. By 2016, Hillary Clinton said, “Abortion should be safe and legal.” By the Democrat Convention in August 2024, abortions were being offered and performed at the convention site.
In the Democrat platform of 2016, they called for the abolition of the death penalty. There could be several reasons for this but ending a life whether unborn or born is a conflict.
In many states if a pregnant woman gets killed, the perpetrator is charged with 2 deaths, the mother and unborn baby. There are 2 separate individuals killed – not one, the mother, and a “clump of tissues or cells” as supporters of abortion claim. No, it is a life killed.
With in vitro fertilization, the fertilized eggs, cannot be discarded. They are living beings. The eggs must be maintained in appropriate storage forever or until implanted.
Then there is the conflict of current values and special protected classes of people by race and gender. If the belief is that LGBT+ people are born that way, then how does a pregnant woman know if she is aborting an LGBT+ baby? How is that dealt with? People of color have historically aborted more babies than others. Why? Every life matters. Values are supposed to be consistent.
Values We Hold
If a person holds a certain belief or value system, it usually applies in all situations. Why not abortion? Or is abortion just a selfish act that in the end diminishes the individual and causes emotional harm? Is short term relief worth the compromise in personal values and beliefs? These are difficult questions but must be considered for the long term mental health of the mother and father. Treating symptoms (pregnancy) to relieve an “affliction” is not healthy. Look at the cause of the problem. Be responsible. Do not have unprotected sex. Use birth control so the symptom (pregnancy) does not have to be dealt with by abortion along with all of the emotions that continue endlessly.
With the above scenarios, why is it considered a “nothing burger” to end a pregnancy with such a casual rationalization? When a society dehumanizes people, a moral society begins to fail. As the dehumanization spreads to other situations, it becomes easier and easier to discount the value of life. It is a slippery slope. That is a dangerous place for humanity. Death or killing becomes unimportant and easy to do. Think about what happened in Germany. It was a step by step approach of arriving at the Holocaust because the Jews had been dehumanized, considered dogs and everything else they were labeled. How about slaves of all races? Slaves were dehumanized and considered “less than” which permitted others to abuse them without a twinge of guilt.
This is a difficult subject. Rape, incest and the health of the mother should be considered yet it is still a sad situation for the individual and baby. Why is abortion treated as birth control? Is it because of the rationalization being pushed by parts of society? It’s just tissue. With abortion being so casual, what do the fathers of these babies think? Are they relieved they do not have to be responsible? Are they sad their child was eliminated? Had its life ended? Why is abortion more acceptable than using actual birth control products?
Casual sex comes with responsibility. We are not animals without thought or control. Perhaps, acting responsibly when being sexually active is the better option. Many people in this country wonder this very thing. Right now a “birth control” abortion may be the solution to a problem, but when the realization hits the mother what she has done, the emotions will be difficult. Be wise and think before having unprotected sex. With the availability of many types of birth control, why aren’t smart women using it? Or men? The long term consequences suffered are not worth a momentary exhilaration of some wild sex. If you are old enough to have sex, you are old enough to be responsible.
Most people are not in agreement with “birth control” abortions. That’s the pushback. Abortion is a violent procedure on the unborn and takes an emotional toll on the mother. People pushing and supporting abortions do not want you to fully understand that. There is a push for pregnant women to avoid pregnancy counseling centers. What are they afraid of? FULL AND COMPLETE information is power. Be fully informed before making a decision. Be wise and think about the situation before ending up pregnant and afraid.
Post Abortion Counseling Help
If you have had an abortion and would like counseling to help with the emotional effects, here are some sources of help. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Reach out for help.
Focus on the Family – Post Abortive Recovery Resources
CPC Women’s Health Resources – Post Abortion Support
Sample Consent Forms for Abortion
Planned Parenthood – TX Consent Form
Kansas Abortion Informed Consent
Later we will explore the possible reasons for the increase in abortions.
