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Information
Abortion Facts
for making an informed decision
Abortion is a chemical or surgical procedure ending the life of an unborn child. Procedures differ according to fetal development. Like any invasive procedure, abortion has certain associated risks. The Pregnancy Support Center offers accurate and factual information about abortion procedures and risks. Although the Pregnancy Support Center does not refer for abortions, we welcome appointments to help women and men understand all of their options to enable them to make an informed decision.
Please call 330-455-7500 or email receptionist@pscstark.com to speak with a peer counselor.
Scientific and Medical Facts
Every human life begins at conception - "In biology and medicine, it is an accepted fact that the life of any individual organism reproducing by sexual reproduction begins at conception, or fertilization". (Dr. Micheline M. Matthews Roth, Principal Research Associate, Harvard Medical School).
The developing pre-born child is not part of the mother's body! The pre-born child is a separate living being with a separate genetic make-up and a separate blood system from the mother - "The individuality of the unborn baby is established at conception. It is genetically related to its parents, but it is also very different...the 23 chromosomes each parent contributes to the baby can be rearranged in 8,388,608 different ways to produce the 46 chromosome complement of the new individual. There are more than 8 million ways in which the baby might differ from his/her parents". (Dr. Hymie Gordon, Professor and Chairman, Department of Medical Genetics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN).
Abortion is a surgical procedure. Like all such procedures, abortion has certain associated risks. Abortion can result in:
Every human life begins at conception - "In biology and medicine, it is an accepted fact that the life of any individual organism reproducing by sexual reproduction begins at conception, or fertilization". (Dr. Micheline M. Matthews Roth, Principal Research Associate, Harvard Medical School).
The developing pre-born child is not part of the mother's body! The pre-born child is a separate living being with a separate genetic make-up and a separate blood system from the mother - "The individuality of the unborn baby is established at conception. It is genetically related to its parents, but it is also very different...the 23 chromosomes each parent contributes to the baby can be rearranged in 8,388,608 different ways to produce the 46 chromosome complement of the new individual. There are more than 8 million ways in which the baby might differ from his/her parents". (Dr. Hymie Gordon, Professor and Chairman, Department of Medical Genetics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN).
Abortion is a surgical procedure. Like all such procedures, abortion has certain associated risks. Abortion can result in:
- Damaged cervix - may lead to bleeding, miscarriage, and/or premature births in later pregnancies.
- Perforation of the uterus - results in internal bleeding, which may lead to death.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - infection leading to fever and infertility - common and serious complications reported in up to 30% of all cases.
- Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancies outside the womb) - risk is double for women who have had one abortion, and up to four times for women with two or more previous abortions.
- Breast cancer - women who abort a pregnancy during the first trimester may have twice the risk of developing breast cancer; the risk is higher in women who have had multiple abortions. (Abortion Industry Monitor).
- Infertility.
- Low birth weight babies/premature births in later pregnancies.
- Infection and bleeding.
- Potential death to the mother - between 1972 and 1980, 164 women died from legal abortion.
Abortion - Psychological Facts
Abortion is identified by the American Psychiatric Association as a "psychosocial stressor." It is highly unlikely that a woman will be able to know before an abortion how she will deal emotionally with this "psychosocial stressor" after the abortion is over. Therefore, abortion carries with it certain risks to the mental health of women.
Many women have experienced "post-abortion trauma" and post-abortion depression" following their abortions. Some of the most common symptoms of these two syndromes are:
You may want to know...
Abortion is identified by the American Psychiatric Association as a "psychosocial stressor." It is highly unlikely that a woman will be able to know before an abortion how she will deal emotionally with this "psychosocial stressor" after the abortion is over. Therefore, abortion carries with it certain risks to the mental health of women.
Many women have experienced "post-abortion trauma" and post-abortion depression" following their abortions. Some of the most common symptoms of these two syndromes are:
- Guilt
- Depression
- Anger
- Nightmares
- Withdrawal
- Regret and remorse
- A sense of loss, grief, emptiness
- Feelings of dehumanization/low self-esteem
- Self-destructive behavior - drugs and alcohol
- Preoccupation with "would be" due date of birth
- Inability to forgive self and others
You may want to know...
Abortion affects men as well as women.
- Abortion diminishes the process of procreation, and the "bond" between a man and a woman.
- Abortion alters one's value of life and may conflict with his moral and spiritual values.
- Guilt, fear, anger, or anxiety from abortion may affect his ability to trust others.
- Unresolved psychological effects from abortion may affect future relationships in the roles of husband and/or father.
