Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or foetus. It can be spontaneous or induced, and it can have various health, social and legal implications. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of abortion, including its definition, types, methods, safety, legality and ethics.
Definition of Abortion
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), abortion is "the deliberate interruption of an ongoing pregnancy by medical or surgical means." Abortion can also occur naturally, without any human intervention, due to various causes such as chromosomal abnormalities, infections, trauma, or maternal diseases. This is called a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage, and it occurs in about 30% to 40% of all pregnancies.
Types of Abortion
Abortion can be classified into two main types: induced and spontaneous. Induced abortion is the intentional termination of a pregnancy for any reason, such as personal choice, health concerns, foetal anomalies or social circumstances. Spontaneous abortion is the unintentional loss of a pregnancy before the foetus can survive outside the uterus, usually before 20 weeks of gestation. Spontaneous abortion can be further divided into complete, incomplete, missed, and septic abortions, depending on the extent of tissue expulsion and infection.
Methods of Abortion
The methods of abortion vary depending on the stage of pregnancy, the availability of services, and the preferences of the pregnant person and the provider. The main methods are medical abortion and surgical abortion. Medical abortion involves taking medications that cause the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue. It can be done up to 12 weeks of gestation, and it can be safely self-managed by the pregnant person outside of a healthcare facility with adequate information, support and access to quality medicines .
Surgical abortion involves using instruments to remove the pregnancy tissue from the uterus. It can be done up to 24 weeks of gestation or later in some cases, and it requires trained health workers and appropriate equipment.
Safety of Abortion
Abortion is a safe health care intervention when carried out using a method recommended by WHO appropriate to the pregnancy duration, and by someone with the necessary skills. However, when people with unintended pregnancies face barriers to accessing safe abortion services, they often resort to unsafe abortion. Unsafe abortion is defined by WHO as "a procedure for terminating an unwanted pregnancy either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment lacking minimal medical standards or both". Unsafe abortion can lead to serious complications such as haemorrhage, infection, injury to internal organs, infertility and death. Globally, an estimated 45% of all abortions are unsafe, and 97% of them occur in developing countries.
Legality of Abortion
The legal status of abortion varies widely across countries and regions. Some countries prohibit abortion under any circumstances, while others allow it on request or for certain reasons, such as rape, incest, fetal impairment, or maternal health. The legal restrictions on abortion often do not reflect the actual practice or demand for abortion services. Many people seek illegal or clandestine abortions when they cannot access safe and legal ones. According to WHO, an estimated 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide each year, and 6 out of 10 of all unintended pregnancies end in an induced abortion.
Ethics of Abortion
Abortion is a complex and controversial issue that involves ethical dilemmas and conflicts between different values and interests. Some people consider abortion a fundamental human right that respects the autonomy and dignity of pregnant people. Others view abortion as a violation of the right to life and dignity of unborn human beings. The ethical arguments for and against abortion often depend on different assumptions about the moral status of the embryo or foetus, the rights and responsibilities of pregnant people and their partners, the role of society and the state in regulating reproductive choices, and the consequences of allowing or prohibiting abortion for individuals and communities.
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