The option to have an abortion should be available to every person who is able to carry a child.
Abortion is a “fundamental right,” as declared by the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade (1973).
Reproductive choice gives women control over their own bodies. No one except the person carrying an embryo should make a decision on the embryo’s future.
Furthermore, an embryo isn’t considered a person until after a fetus is able to survive outside the womb or after birth. Life does not begin at conception.
Pregnancy does not begin with the fertilization of the egg. According to Planned Parenthood, “most authorities believe that pregnancy begins when the implantation of the fertilized egg into the lining of the uterus is complete.”
In the U.S., abortion is an option for the first 4-6 weeks of conception, depending on the state, up until about 24 weeks.
After 24 weeks, abortions are available only in rare cases such as serious, medical reasons.
The abortion pill, a nonsurgical method, is available until the 10th week of pregnancy.
Also, sometimes abortion is the only option when a person is experiencing an ectopic pregnancy or if there are significant fetal abnormalities.
Termination is often a medically-advised opinion when the mother’s health is at risk.
Doctors often put the mother’s health first because she is a living human being who has a right to her own body.
There are instances where a rape can lead to pregnancy; if the mother does not want to carry the embryo of her rapist, the decision belongs to her.
There are different reasons behind every abortion, whether it be a medical or moral reason.
Sometimes a woman isn’t prepared to be pregnant.
If someone isn’t prepared to be pregnant, she should not be forced to stay pregnant.
Contrary to popular belief, if someone gets an abortion, her chances of getting pregnant in the future again aren’t harmed.
The process for an abortion is safe in places where it’s legal. Unless there is a complication during the abortion, which is rare, having an abortion won’t increase the risk of birth defects in a future pregnancy, a future miscarriage or increase the risk of breast cancer.
Instead of focusing efforts on banning abortion for all women, there should be a focus on spreading sexual education and effective contraception.
Safe and legal abortion should be available to all.
If a woman wants to choose adoption, terminate her pregnancy or continue with the pregnancy, the decision should be hers and no one else’s.
At the end of the day, what a person decides to do with her own body should be her choice. No one should be able to take that choice away from her.