Essay, Research Paper: Abortion

Each year millions of babies are conceived, unfortunately only about three fourths of them are actually born. Some of these babies die of natural causes; others are killed before they get the chance to experience their first breath. Abortion is fast becoming a quick fix to a rather large responsibility, especially among teenage women. Having sex is a huge responsibility, and if you aren't ready to handle the consequences then having sex is not for you and abortion is not the answer if you do get pregnant.
Abortion can be described as a surgical abortion that is performed between 6 and 12 weeks into a pregnancy may be done while the woman is awake. She is given the option of being sedated by medications or having her cervix numbed (local anesthesia) with an injection so that she is basically pain-free. A surgical abortion for a pregnancy over 12 weeks is usually done while the woman is deep asleep and pain-free (general anesthesia). The cervical canal is enlarged (dilated) and a hollow tube is inserted into the uterus. A vacuum (suction) machine is used to remove the tissues (fetus and placenta) from the uterus. Medicines such as oxytocin are given to cause the uterus muscles to contract and reduce bleeding. (http://health.yahoo.com/health/diseases_and_conditions/disease_feed_data/abortion/print.html)
Whether to abort or not is always the womans choice. In 1973 the Supreme Court made a decision on state abortion laws. The law basically stated that if an abortion was to take place it must be performed by a competent, licensed physician, under sage, clinical conditions, and there must be good reason behind the decision.(Baird pg 13) An example of a situation involving abortion is: In December 1977, an 18-year-old woman was faced with the choice of life or death. It began when she met a boy at a hometown IGA grocery store. He was a sacker and she was the checker. A typical small town romance and for both of them -- it was love at first sight.(Minnick pg 1) Little did either of these two know that one day they will be faced with the tough decision of abortion. Views on abortion are very controversial, in the book and the article that I used for this report, the arguements and different beliefs are endless.
Most surgical abortions done in appropriate medical facilities recover physically without complications. Significant emotional and psychological issues should be considered and addressed before and after a chosen abortion. Physical recovery usually occurs within a few days, depending on the stage of the pregnancy. A small amount of vaginal bleeding and mild uterine cramping should be expected for a few days. A hot bath or use of a heating pad or hot water bottle on the abdomen may help relieve discomfort. Strenuous activity should be avoided for a few days following an abortion. Tampons may be used after 3 days. Sexual intercourse should be avoided for 2 to 3 weeks. A normal menstrual period should occur 4 to 6 weeks after the operation.(http://health.yahoo.com/health/diseases_and_conditions/disease_feed_data/abortion/print.html)

There are many risks to consider when having an abortion. Risks for any anesthesia are: reactions to medications, problems breathing. Risks for any surgery are: bleeding and infection. Additional risks of surgical abortion include: excessive bleeding, infection of the uterus infection of the Fallopian tubes (which can cause scarring and interfere with fertility(infertility) puncture (perforation) of the uterus (rare) emotional or psychological distress
The decision to have an abortion is an intensely personal one. HouseCall recommends competent counseling before making this decision.(http://health.yahoo.com/health/diseases_and_conditions/disease_feed_data/abortion/print.html)
Many books have been written concerning the morality of abortion, the moral and legal status of abortion, abortion and the concept of a person, and an appeal for consistency.(Baird pg 63) Abortion is many times affected by religious beliefs, financial situations, morals, and ethics. Society as a whole can also have a large impact on ones decision. But one reason many people do not consider is cost, and how much it really does take to perform this kind of operation.
The costs of any surgery varies significantly between surgeons, medical facilities, and regions of the country. Patients who are younger, sicker, or need more extensive surgery will require more intensive and expensive treatment. Surgery charges can be separated into five parts: 1) the surgeon's fee, 2) the anesthesiologist's fee, 3) the hospital charges, which include nursing care and the operating room, 4) the medications, and 5) additional charges. If you total all of these items up the cost could amount to over $10,000.(http://health.yahoo.com/health/diseases_and_conditions/disease_feed_data/abortion/print.html) Not many people can afford such a high priced operation, which is why the government is also trying to enforce new laws on abortion.(Baird 55)
These are the words of a woman who was put in a dfferent type of abortion situation: Even if the woman is raped, the child should still be born. Regardless of what happened to the woman, the child still has a chance to give back to this society. For the woman, the burden of rape would be heavy enough. And an abortion would only hurt her more emotionally and physically. As for the men who fool around and get their girlfriends pregnant, if you're man enough to have sex, you should be man enough to support your girlfriend through a pregnancy. If not, than don't have sex. There's nothing more gutless than a guy who encourages his girlfriend to abort his child. A lot of people will say, "you don't know until you're in that situation." I have been. Only I was inside. (Minnick pg 2)
This sure does make you wonder how many great leaders and achievers this world is missing because of people who aborted their children. In conclusion, abortion is murder! All the above facts describe the horrors of this legalized killing and the many reasons why this should be stopped. Let’s make this unplanned or unwanted pregnancy a win-win situation for everyone by doing the right thing, either raising the child or giving it up for adoption.


Word Count: 990