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Abortion: What it is, What Prevents it, and Why it Must be Accessible to All

What Does Abortion Entail?

MethodMedical AbortionSurgical Abortion
When can it be performed?Between 6-10 weeks of the pregnancyBetween 10-14 weeks; in extreme cases can go to 23 weeks (ex: when the mother’s life is threatened)
How is it performed?Two pills are taken within 24-48 hours: one to stop hormones that help the fetus grow, and the other to empty the uterusUsually psychiatric counseling required, then a small suction tube is placed through the dilated cervix to remove the contents of the uterus
What are the common after-effects?Heavy bleeding and cramping for two days, gradually lessening over a 2-week periodFor a few days, there may be bleeding and discomfort, lessening over the course of a two-week period
Figure 1. How does Abortion Work? https://www.bpas.org/abortion-care/considering-abortion/what-is-abortion/
MythFact
Having an abortion increases the risk of breast cancerThere is no research to indicate that having an abortion increases the risk of developing breast cancer
It is more dangerous or unhealthy to have an abortion than to carry pregnancy to termChildbirth is more dangerous than a first trimester abortion – the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. between 1998-2005 was 8.8 per 100,000 women, while the mortality rate due to legal abortion was .6 per 100,000 women
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22270271/
Having an abortion can affect future fertilityThere is no research to indicate that having an abortion affects future fertility
Abortion is used as a contraceptive and only those who have sex without contraceptives have themMost people with unplanned pregnancies use contraception – no form is completely effective, and access is difficult because of location, domestic environment (possibly abusive), cost, and more. Research shows that people in all life stages and situations seek abortions
Having an abortion has long-lasting negative psychological damageThis is rare – most instances are linked to the negative social stigma, lack of support, a history of severe mental illness, and conflicting personal beliefs
Adoption is a better alternative to abortionThis is subjective – there are many reasons that abortion would be a better option than adoption, including; not wanting to be pregnant, continue to be pregnant, give birth, or relinquish a child. Additionally, the U.S. foster system consists of 437,000 children, and in 2018, only 61,000 were adopted
http://www.ccainstitute.org/resources/fact-sheets
Figure 2. Abortion: Myths vs. Facts https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/1eee3180449104e2870d97961f150c7f/FINAL+Myths%26Facts+2021.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE-1eee3180449104e2870d97961f150c7f-nxt6WkC

Domestic and International Obstacles to Abortion

Abortion access varies from state to state, but there are quite a few pieces of legislation that prevent abortions from occurring, specifically through the rescinding of funding (Title X in Figure 3). For instance, Mississippi has only three facilities that provide abortions, leaving 91% of Mississippi women living in counties without the service. Such inadequacy is encouraged and caused in part by the following laws.

https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/state-facts-about-abortion-mississippi

LawYear it passed?What act is it under?What Does it do?What are its effects?
Helms Amendment1973U.S. Foreign Assistance ActProhibits U.S. Foreign Assistance from funding abortions performed by non-governmental organizationsJeopardizes the reproductive healthcare of 25 million women worldwide
Hyde Amendment1976Social Security Act Prohibits government healthcare from covering abortions except for cases of rape, incest, or harm to the mother14.2 million women do not have access to abortions under their insurance, and 35 states and the District of Colombia have no laws that increase coverage (average cost of all abortions in 2014 was $500 -see “Abortion Cost” under “References”)
Title X – Family Planning Services and Population Research Act1970Public Health Services ActGrants for family planning centers cannot be used to perform abortions. Under Trump, expanded to: no referrals to abortion clinics or procedures (or to mention ‘abortion’ unless the patient explicitly asks), allows providers to refuse to perform abortions, attempts to include minor’s parents in the decisionIn 2019, 981 clinics refused to apply for a Title X grant because of the new restrictions, leaving six states without Planned Parenthood and jeopardizing the care of 1.6 million patients – see “Title X” under “References”
Global Gag Rule1984Executive Memorandum (Order) that has been rescinded by every Democratic president since, and reinstate by every Republican presidentProhibits any and all U.S. Foreign Assistance funding from going to any family planning- focused non-governmental organization that offers abortions, counseling or referrals, or engages in abortion political advocacyFrom 2001-2008, the abortion rates in countries affected most by the rule rose 40% – see “Global Gag Rule Effects” under “References”

Figure 3. What Legally Prevents Safe Abortions, Domestically and Abroad?
Helms AmendmentGlobal Gag Rule
Federal Law – has passed through Congress and been signed into lawExecutive Memorandum – like an executive order given by the president (can be changed by succeeding presidents)
Prohibits U.S. funding from being used to directly provide abortions abroadProhibits U.S. funding from being given to any family planning NGO that provides abortions, counseling, referrals, or advocates for the legalization of abortions
Figure 4. What is the Difference Between the Helms Amendment and the Global Gag Rule?

Trump’s Global Gag Rule – A New Precedent

Trump’s Global Gag Rule prohibits any U.S. Global Health funding from going to any organization, governmental or not, that provides abortions, counseling, referrals, or advocates for the legalization of abortions. This expanded GGR put $8.8 billion dollars of funding in jeopardy, rather than the $610 million that was threatened by the previous GGR.

LawWhat would it do?Where it it in Congress?
EACH Act – Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act of 2021Abolish the Hyde Amendment, making abortion available and covered under U.S. provided healthcareIntroduced to the Senate and House on March 25, 2021
Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere ActAbolish the Helms Amendment, allowing U.S. foreign assistance to be used by non-governmental organizations to directly perform abortionsIntroduced to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs with 145 cosponsors
Global HER Act – Health, Empowerment, and RightsProhibit the Global gag Rule from being reinstated by any presidentIntroduced to the Senate and House on January 28, 2021 with 46 and 117 cosponsors, respectively
Figure 5. What Has Been Introduced to Counter Anti-Abortion Laws?

Why do we need to pass the Global HER Act now?

Now, we have Democratic control of both the House and Senate, with bipartisan support in each. To ensure future presidents cannot reinstate the new GGR, we must pass this now, before we lose the majority. We must give organizations as much time as possible with the funds that should be guaranteed to them, so they can properly plan to rebuild and have the lasting impacts listed above. We must pass this while we can, to move on to repealing the Helms and Hyde Amendments, to continue to ensure that the United States does its part in improving the healthcare of people around the world. In so many ways, the United States’ imperialism and interference has pushed the people in less developed countries to the breaking point, and thus, it is our responsibility to help them out of the hole we put them in — at the minimum.


Regardless of your personal views regarding abortion, the choice is one that every person should have. Controlling one’s own reproduction is essential to body autonomy and having control over one’s life — it is never so simple as “abstinence” or refraining from sex. Without the proper education or tool to cope with the possible outcomes of sex, people are left to suffer with more than their state, family, environment, and they can handle.

What would passing the Global HER Act Accomplish?

The sheer numbers are astonishing.

Nepal, for instance, has had the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, and until 2002, the most restrictive abortion laws. While the changing laws were a victory for the people of Nepal, family planning organizations like the Family Planning Association of Nepal lost all U.S. funding, because they refused to hide the new rights of their patients in the country to possible abortion. When the Global Gag Rule was lifted in 2009, the FPAN regained U.S. funding for its non-abortion related services. Thus, the maternal mortality rate in Nepal fell by a third.* Lives were saved — yet all of that progress was lost when Trump reinstated the Global Gag Rule and ripped the necessary funding from the most vulnerable.

*see “Global Gag Rule” under “References”

This is but one statistic from one country and one organization. Adding the rest of the countries, organizations, and people affected show even more reason to support the Global HER Act immediately.

Unsafe abortions alone kill between 22,800 and 31,000 women each year — providing essential health services for all women would prevent 186,000 maternal deaths every year. This would essentially save the city of Chandler, my hometown in Arizona, every year, or over a quarter of the population of Washington, D.C.

The current approximate funding (a mere $607.5 million) the U.S. gives in international family planning assistance (when the Global Gag Rule is not in place) provides:

  • 27.4 million women with contraceptive services and supplies;
  • 12.2 million fewer unintended pregnancies;
  • 4.5 million fewer unplanned births;
  • 4.1 million fewer unsafe abortions;
  • And 20,000 fewer maternal deaths.

Every additional $10 million allows:

  • Another 451,000 women access to contraceptives services and supplies;
  • 200,000 fewer unintended pregnancies;
  • 74,000 fewer unplanned births;
  • 67,000 fewer unsafe abortions;
  • And 320 fewer maternal deaths.

For perspective, in 2019, the U.S. federal government, in total, spent $4.45 trillion dollars. Ten million is .00022% of that — virtually nothing to the U.S. government, but enormous for the lives of women around the world. There is no reason that we cannot give more, nor that we should not.

https://www.populationconnectionaction.org/what-would-a-billion-more-buy/

Global health affects us all — the rapid population growth that we see in less-developed areas strain the global environment, lead to more resource, climate, and peace insecurity, requiring the UN and NATO to step in, and increase the strain on our immigration services, as 79.5 million people worldwide are forcibly displaced and qualify for asylum and refugee status.

The issue of access to abortion is a moral issue — but one for the survival and health of humanity, not of personal morality. It is not simple, but multi-faceted, with intersectional consequences that affect all people, everywhere — including those in the United States. Humanitarian crises affect us all, as members of humanity, but if this is not enough to garner attention, know that the intersectionality of the issue will affect you, your children, and your grandchildren. You already feel the stress of a growing world, full of tensions that require your dollars and soldiers. How can we help in the long run? How can we lessen the stress of the world, and yourself? We need to spend wisely, and invest in sustainable development: environmentally, socially, and economically. We should start by holding our representatives to our best interests, and encourage them to pass the Global HER Act.

            If your moral obligation to your fellow human is not enough to convince you that this issue must be moved on now, this should: It will affect you. It already does, and it will continue to negatively affect you and your future loved ones for generations.

Additional References

For more ways to help make change, see https://www.populationconnectionaction.org/what-can-i-do/ or contact me at hboese@cox.net

Last updated May 29, 2022

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By hboese

MA in History and Independent Historian. Queer woman fighting for a better world.

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