Abortions

Abortion and Related Problems When does a fetus become a human being? Is it when it is conceived? During the first trimester (1-3 weeks)?; the second trimester (14-24 weeks)?; the third trimester (25-birth)?; or when the baby is born at 39-40 weeks. (Encyclopedia). Even today, with the Laci Peterson case some people do not believe that her baby was a human being. The NOW (National Organization for Women's) is opposing the double-murder charge in the Laci Peterson case, saying it could provide ammunition to the pro-life lobby. (Daily Record News)

The NOW has suggested that Scott Peterson not be charged with a double-murder because they are afraid that any time a late-term fetus is aborted they will call it murder. (Daily Record News). Groups like the one above will go to extreme lengths to protect the right for women to have abortions. Some states have a fetal homicide law where if a pregnant woman is killed that the person can be charged with two murders rather than just one. Some organizations fear that these laws will undermine a woman's right to choose an abortion, even legal abortions. (Daily Record News) . Some pro-lifers hope fetal homicide laws will establish a precedent that a fetus is a human being, so the US supreme court's 1973 Roe Vs. Wade decision to legalize abortions might be changed . (Daily Record News).

When do you think a fetus becomes a human being? I think it is when it is conceived, because society today continues to put pressure on women, as it has for centuries, many girls and women feel the need to get abortions rather than have their baby. Did you know that 37.4% of all abortions are performed on Protestant women (Abortion Data), and that abortions have become one of the most intense topics in the 20th century? (Encyclopedia). The abortion issue continues to be in news because many in society believe that a fetus is not a human being. Abortion is where a fetus is killed before it can survive on its own. Abortions have been happening for centuries. Records have been found way back in 1732, a woman was indicted, "for destroying the fetus in the womb," and giving poison to man who to give to his wife. Lectures were found in the 1850's describing problems that were caused by abortions, written by David Humphreys Storer. (History). Many were self induced by the use of lye soap, goose quills, and knitting needles. (Abortion Politics).

At one point in time when you were having a baby you would have to give up your job, or career because it was not proper to be pregnant and be in the work place or out in society. Many women will seek to terminate unwanted pregnancy whether it is legal or not. (Abortion politics). Teenagers may have an abortion because they don't want their parents to find out they are pregnant or they don't want the responsibility of taking care of another person. They are too involved with their own life and activities to have to share it with a baby. In other cases some have abortions because they have been raped. Women might always have harsh feelings for the baby because of what happened to her and the way it was conceived. Some older women may want an abortion because at this time they want to have a career and not a family. Having families or someone to take care of sometimes does not work when you are required to travel or spend long hours at your job. Some women also have abortion because they have medical problems. In some cases the woman can die if an abortion is not performed on them. Women with knowledge and means can usually obtain a safe abortion performed by a physician at the cost of $500-$1500 or more. (Abortion politics). However, the risk of abortions may cause problems later in life.

Many women get various kinds of cancer, mental disorders, and have psychological problem with either the mother or fetus that causes the miscarriage. Just a few years ago there was the different in the RH factor of blood that caused some miscarriages. Other abortions are either induced or intentionally brought on because of an unwanted pregnancy. Before abortions were legal many women were desperate and would use methods that were dangerous to themselves. Some would insert catheters and knitting needles in themselves to kill the fetus and cause the body to expel the fetus. (Abortion politics). Others went to people that didn't know what they were doing and they would do the same thing to them. Problems of harming vital organs, internal bleeding, infections, and death many times occurred. Many times this would prevent the woman from ever being able to have a baby later in life when she would want one. Most agree that the single most important effect of legalization of abortions has been the substitution of safe legal procedures by hospitals and physicians. (Abortion politics). When a doctor does an abortion in a clinic or hospital, he is careful and he uses sterile tools, and would give antibodies to prevent infections. A doctor also knows about the body and would try not to do damage to the woman body. Induced abortions are performed using of several methods.

The doctor determines the safest and most appropriate method by looking at the age of the fetus. (Encyclopedia). One type of induced abortions is drug-based. A variety of drug-based methods may be used under a doctor's care. This would be where a woman can take a large dose of estrogen within 72 hours after sexual activity. (Encyclopedia). This is commonly known as the morning-after pill. The abortion pill, Mifepristone, has been approved by the FDA for non-surgical abortions up to 7 weeks. (Abortion Pill). Doctors must check the woman and continue medical supervision using this method. Another type of induced abortion is the surgery method. Ninety-eight percent of abortions in the United States are by a suction technique. (Philosophy of Sex). An anesthesia is not required for these methods and can be performed usually in a clinic or a doctor's office. (Encyclopedia). A tube called a cannula is attached to a suction device and placed in the uterus and the fetus is taken out. If the fetus is 4-6weeks a smaller tube is used while the fetus is 6-8 weeks it is a little larger tube. (Encyclopedia). After an abortion the woman will need to rest and take care of herself for a period of time. Her body will need to adjust to changes that have taken place. In the United States a pregnant woman risk of death from a first term abortion (1-8weeks) is less than 1 in 100,000. Abortions in the first trimester (1-13weeks) are easier and safer to perform. The risk of death increases by about 30% with each additional week after 12 weeks. (Encyclopedia). The abortion procedures are more complicated and can cause the woman to have greater health risks (Encyclopedia) later in her life. Having an abortion is very stressful on a woman's body. Recent studies have found that women who have had abortions and have no children have a greater chance of getting cancer. (Blaming the victim). Breast cancer has been found to double when the abortion was a first time pregnancy. Women that had an abortion run a two-three times greater chance of getting cervical cancer. (Abortion/physical.html). All of these problems ten to show up later in the woman's life.

These problems should make some one really think before they decide to have an abortion. They are giving themselves a greater chance of getting cancer. Cancer treatments would be very costly and many die at a young age because of it. Psychologically, a woman that has had an abortion tends to blame themselves or someone else (like parents, friends, etc) for not stopping them from having the abortion. Many of them feel like a part of their self has disappeared and they can't feel like a whole person again or feel a peace in their heart. At times the stress and mental frame of mind overwhelms them. (Blaming the Victim). Many women have serious problems that relate back to the time they had their abortions. Depression, not being able to relate to others may be related to having abortions. In conclusion, all abortion is done because a woman doesn't want to be pregnant, I don't think abortions are right. If a woman chooses to have sex she should be willingly to take the consequences. We must all be responsible for our actions. (Philosophy of Sex). There are many different kinds of birth control that are available to prevent pregnancies, which would eliminate the reason for an abortion. We must decide for ourselves if abortions are a moral matter (Philosophy of Sex) or just an easy way out. In this paper I have show that abortions are a social problem like in the Laci Peterson case. Sometimes abortions happen because of natural causes, the RH factor of the-blood. Women will have abortions whether they are legal or not because of various reasons.

Abortions have been happening for centuries. Transcripts tell of them in the 18th century. Some methods of abortion were very harmful to the woman before abortions were legalized. Women that have abortions have a higher risk of getting certain kinds of cancer. Women also seem to have some psychological problems that may be related to having an abortion. I also told you the two ways that abortion can be performed according to the age of the fetus and which would be more harmful to the woman. From the information above, the real question comes down to a person's opinion, as to whether abortions are right or wrong. Every body has their own opinion.