The document discusses induced abortion and provides information on the topic. It notes that about 1/4 of pregnancies worldwide end in induced abortion, making it a common method of fertility control. In the US, there are approximately 1 million legal abortions performed annually, with 1/3 being on teenage women. The document evaluates patients requesting abortions and notes they may do so for various social, economic, or medical reasons, with the ultimate decision resting with the pregnant woman.

1. Title:
Induced Abortion
Word Count:
629
Summary:
One of the most sensitive and intimate decisions made by an individual or
by a couple is that of fertility control. This decision is often based on
deeply held religious or philosophical convictions. Thus, the clinician
must approach the patient’s fertility needs with particular sensitivity,
empathy, maturity, and nonjudgmental behavior.
However, it must be recognized that there is a considerable need for
contraception.
Keywords:
Induced Abortion, Abortion
Article Body:
Induced abortion is the deliberate termination of pregnancy in a manner
that ensures that the embryo or fetus will not survive. Attitudes of
society toward elective abortion have undergone marked changes in the
past few decades. In some situations the need for abortion is accepted by
most people, but political and medical attitudes regarding induced
abortion have continued to lag behind changing philosophies. Some
religious concepts remain unchanged, resulting in personal, medical, and
political conflicts.
About one-third of the world’s population lives in nations with
nonrestrictive laws governing abortion. Another third live in countries
with moderately restrictive abortion laws, ie, where unwanted pregnancies
may not be terminated as a matter of right or personal decision but only
on broadly interpreted medical, psychologic, and sociologic indications.
The remainder live in countries where abortion is illegal without
qualification or is allowed only when the woman’s life or health would be
severely threatened if the pregnancy were allowed to continue.
An estimated 1 out of every 4 pregnancies in the world is terminated by
induced abortion, making it perhaps the most common method of
reproduction limitation. In the U.S., estimates of the number of criminal
abortions performed prior to legalization of the procedure ranged from
0.25-1.25 million per year. The number of legal abortions now being
performed in this country approximates 1 abortion per 4 live births. In
1997, there were 1.33 million induced abortions compared to 3.88 million
live births.
Legal Aspects of Induced Abortion in the United States
The United States Supreme Court ruled in 1973 (1) that the restrictive
abortion laws in the U.S. were invalid, largely because these laws
invaded the individual’s right to privacy, and (2) that an abortion could
not be denied to a woman in the first 3 months of pregnancy. The Court

2. indicated that after 3 months a state may “regulate the abortion
procedure in ways that are reasonably related to maternal health” and
that after the fetus reaches the stage of viability (about 24 weeks) the
states may refuse the right to terminate the pregnancy except when
necessary for the preservation of the life or health of the mother.
Still, much opposition is raised by various “right-to-life” groups and
religious groups. In spite of this opposition, over 1 million procedures
are still performed annually in the United States, with about one-third
being performed on teenaged women. This dramatically emphasizes the
inadequacy of sex education and the need for greater availability of
adequate contraceptive methods in order to avoid such pregnancy wastage.
Evaluation of Patients Requesting Induced Abortion
Patients give varied reasons for requesting abortion. Since in some cases
the request is made at the urging of the woman’s parents or in-laws,
husband, or peers, every effort should be made to ascertain that the
patient herself desires abortion for her own reasons. In addition, one
should be certain that she knows she is free to choose among other
methods of solving the problem of unplanned pregnancy, eg, adoption or
single-parent rearing.
Although the majority of abortions are performed as elective procedures,
ie, because of social or economic reasons as opposed to medical reasons,
some women still request such services for medical or surgical
indications. For example, for women with certain medical conditions, such
as Eisenmenger’s complex and cystic fibrosis, continuation of pregnancy
may pose a threat to the life of the mother. Other indications are
pregnancy resulting from a rape or pregnancy with a fetus affected with a
major disorder, eg, trisomy 13. In any event, the ultimate decision rests
with the pregnant woman.
Please visit Induced abortion, Contraception and Methods of
contraceptionfor more information.
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