Abortion Is
Healthcare
Across history, abortion has been a regular and common part of reproductive healthcare. Despite this, abortion is heavily stigmatized and even restricted across the United States.
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Anti-abortion activists often push harmful misinformation about abortion to discourage individuals from seeking it.
Abortion Truths
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Abortion is Safe. When patients can access safe abortion care, the risk of complications is less than that of other common procedures like wisdom tooth removal or plastic surgery. (Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
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Abortion is Essential. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) included comprehensive abortion care in its list of essential health care services.
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Abortion is Common. 1 in 4 women are expected to have an abortion by age 45, according to Guttmacher.
No "Right" or "Wrong" Reason
Oftentimes, anti-abortion laws get passed with “exceptions” for the mother’s health and safety. Anti-abortion politicians may also make exceptions for pregnancies that result from sexual violence.
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The idea that abortion is “okay” only under the most extreme circumstances is the biggest example of abortion stigma. It also creates a gray area where a patient may be denied needed healthcare, like we’ve seen in Texas. ​
Patients seek abortions for many reasons, including:
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​Simply not wanting to be pregnant
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Lack of resources/support
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Needing to prioritize their children or another dependent
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Not being safe in their current environment
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​Needing to finish college/university/school
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Trauma
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​Inability to safely carry a pregnancy to term
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Health Issues
Common Misconceptions
Abortions and Miscarriages
A miscarriage, also called a “spontaneous abortion,” is defined as the natural loss of a pregnancy. Many things may cause a miscarriage, but they are often hard to diagnose.
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There is no way to reverse a miscarriage. While many miscarriages can be passed naturally at home, your provider may prescribe abortion pills (mifepristone and misoprostol) to ease discomfort and lower the risk of infections. Depending on how far along you were in the pregnancy, your doctor may even recommend a procedure to remove any remaining fetal tissue.
The treatment for miscarriages and elective abortions is the same.
"Late" Term Abortions
Abortions can and do happen later in pregnancy, but 93% of abortions occur in the first 13 weeks of gestation (also known as the first trimester).
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​There are many reasons why patients might choose or need an abortion in the second trimester. It could be because they just found out they were pregnant. It could also be that they’ve changed their mind about pregnancy. Oftentimes, it’s because they are seeking abortion as a treatment for an unviable pregnancy, where the fetus wouldn’t survive outside the uterus, or has already passed.
The reasons for seeking abortions at any stage of pregnancy are nuanced and complex. Patients do not have to justify the reason for their abortion. It’s the decision of the pregnant person and no one else.
More Facts
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Mothers Get Abortions Too. Guttmacher reported that 55% of abortion patients had at least one other birth.
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Medication Abortion is Safe and Effective. It also accounts for 63% of all clinician-provided abortions in the United States as of 2023.
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Medicaid Doesn’t Cover Abortions. And many private insurances may not cover abortions either. Over half of patients paid out of pocket for their abortion in 2022, which is a direct barrier to abortion access.
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More than 169,000 U.S. Abortion Patients Traveled Out-of-State for their abortions in 2023. Out-of-state patients make up 15% of abortions performed in states without total abortion bans.
Get Involved
Educational Resources
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Safe vs Unsafe Abortions – World Health Organization
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What is Reproductive Justice – SisterSong Organization
Stay Connected with Preterm
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Do You Need An Abortion?
​If you need an abortion, but are afraid or don’t know where to start, call Preterm at 216-991-4000 to learn more.