ABORTION

Abortion happens when an unborn babys life ends. About 200 million women getpregnant every year. During the same time 44 million abortions are carried out around the world.Fortunately, the abortion rate has gone down because more and more people, especially in developing countries, are receiving a better sexual education. Better family planning also leads to fewer abortions.

History of abortion
Abortions have been performed for thousands of years. The ancient Romans andGreeks were not very concerned about the lives of unborn babies. In the Old Testament women had to pay a fine if they had a miscarriage. Abortion laws have changed in most of the western world throughout the past centuries.

Types of Abortion
Spontaneous abortions happen naturally. Doctors call them miscarriages. Theyoccur for many reasons, for example, because of a disease that a pregnant woman might get or a horrible event that occurred to her. In an induced abortion the fetus is taken out of a mothers body on purpose.

Methods of Abortion
In many cases doctors perform abortions through operations. In a very commonmethod the unborn baby is sucked out of a mothers womb with a tube. An abortion can also be carried out with drugs. RU-486, a drug that was developed in France stops a natural hormone from preparing

a woman from bearing a child. In some cases doctors use other methods and drugs to end a pregnancy. As a result the unborn baby passes out of a female body. In most countries abortions are carried out within the first three months of pregnancy. Abortions that are performed at a later stage are riskier and may endanger a womans health. Unsafe abortions are carried out in countries where they are banned or performed by unskilled doctors or medical assistants who do not have the appropriatemedical training.

Abortion clinic in the USA

Discussion on abortion
Abortion is an issue that has been discussed for ages. Doctors, theologists, philosophers and politiciansdisagree on two issues: Should a mother be allowed to have an abortion and should an unborn child be protected? In the course of the 20th century two groups evolved. Those who are in favor ofallowing abortion are called the pro-choice movement, those who are against it the pro-life movement.

Arguments against abortion

Human embryos should have the same rights as normal people Killing unborn life is murder A child is a gift of God Abortion disrespects human life Women who undergo an abortion may have serious psychological problems later on in life

Arguments in favor abortion

Abortion should be allowed if a womans life is in danger Some say that abortion should be allowed if a child is expected to have a mental deficiency or is going to be mentally ill. Many doctors and psychologists think that abortion should be allowed if a woman has been raped. Everyone should have control over their own body. Some young mothers live in poverty and are too young to cope with a child.

Abortion in countries around the world

Although most countries have some form of legalized abortion that allows a woman to end her pregnancy within the first three months, there are other countries thatforbid abortion completely. Among them are Malta, Chile, El Salvador and Nicaragua. In Ireland, abortion is illegal except in situations in which a mothers life is in danger. As a result, thousands of Irish women travel to British clinics and hospitals to get an abortion there. Overpopulation in Asia has led to legalizing abortion. Some countries offer it for free. In China, where the government has enforced a one-child policy for over threedecades, health authorities encourage women to have an abortion if they become pregnant a second time. Abortion is performed more often if the fetus turns out to befemale. In 1973 a landmark decision by the US Supreme Court made abortion legal in all 50 states.

Abortion campaign in the US

Abortion and religion

The Roman Catholic Churchholds the strictest position on abortion. It is against ending an unborn childs life in every case. It claims that human life must be respected from the second it starts. Islam considers abortion as wrong but still lets woman carry it out for medical reasons. Buddhists think that life should not be destroyed and reject abortion. However, modern Buddhism is divided on the issue.

After an abortion
Many women cope with serious problems after having an abortion. They suffer from negative feelings, depression and have frequent nightmares. They often undergoa series of mixed emotions. Sometimes they never become pregnant later on.

Related Topics

One Child Policy in China Free Birth Control Pills in America Abortion of Girls on the Rise in India Abortion Laws in Ireland

Words

abortion rate = the number of abortions compared to the number of pregnant women although = while ancient = old appropriate = the right bear = give birth to century = a hundred years claim = to say that something is true common = popular; often used concerned = worried about consider = think cope = deal with decade = period of ten years deficiency = if you do not have something that is necessary develop = make, create, design developing country = poor country of the Third World disagree = differ; to share different opinions disease = illness disrespect = not respect divided = split drugs = medicine embryo = an animal or human that has not been born and has just begun to develop encourage = to tell a person they should do something endanger = put in danger enforce = put into effect

evolve = grow except = apart from fine = money that you have to pay as punishment fortunately = luckily frequent = very often hormone = chemical substance that is produced by your body horrible = bad, terrible however = but in favor of = to be for something in the course of = as something moves on or develops induced = here: planned; something that you have been prepared for issue = topic landmark decision = a very important decision that can change something in the future law = rules of a country legalized = legal mental = about the brain or mind miscarriage = a baby dies when it is born before it is ready to live by itself movement = group nightmare = a very frightening dream occur = happen on purpose = willingly overpopulation = situation in which too many people live on an area of land pass out = move out of perform = carry out politician = person who is in a high position in government or who works in politics poverty = the situation of being poor pregnant = when an unborn baby grows inside a womans body rape = to have sex with someone against a persons will receive = get reject = to be against something ; to say no to respect = value risky = dangerous series = many, several

serious = strong spontaneous = unplanned , something that happens suddenly suck out = pull out theologist = person who has studied religion throughout = in all of tube = small round pipe undergo = go through unskilled = without training, amateur womb = part of a womans body in which her baby grows