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The Facts About Abortions
I’ve Had 2, 3, 4 Abortions. Can I Still Get Pregnant?
Abortions do not harm fertility. The fact that millions of people around the world need and have multiple abortions during their 30+ years of fertility reveals that abortions do not have a negative impact on people’s ability to get pregnant. The research from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology confirms this.
Click here to see stories of people who’ve had more than one abortion.
Are Abortions Safe?
Abortions are very safe. Like any medical procedure or treatment, there are some risks, but one in four pregnant people in the US, and one in three in the UK, will have one or more abortions by the age of 45 and the vast majority will not experience any problems.
Can Abortions Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer?
No, having an abortion will not increase your risk of developing breast cancer. The World Health Organization has published data showing there is no link between abortions and breast cancer, and no increased risk. See page 49 of this study about safe abortions from the World Health Organization: Technical and Policy Guidance for Health Systems.
How Often Does Contraception Fail?
All contraceptive methods have failure rates that are higher than typically advertised, because the risk of failure compounds over time. With nearly four decades of fertile years to navigate, people can and do experience unplanned pregnancies throughout their reproductive lifetimes and many of them wisely and responsibly choose abortions when the time and circumstances are not right for pregnancy, birth and parenting.
Click here to see Twitter stories of more than one abortion.
Can Abortions Harm My Mental Health?
There is no evidence that abortions cause depression. Most women do not regret their decisions. They move on with their lives and are grateful they were able to access care.
Immediately after abortions, people may experience a range of emotions including sadness, relief, or regret, but studies show that the most common feeling is relief.
Click here to see Instagram stories of more than one abortion.
The Turnaway Study — a landmark study by the University of California — found that five years after having an abortion, more than 95% of women said it was the right decision for them.
However, about 70% said they felt they’d be stigmatized by their communities if people knew they had experienced abortions.
The study also shows that people who are denied wanted abortions suffer many problems, including more anxiety, lower self-esteem, and less life satisfaction than women who are able to get abortions.
Who Has Abortions?
People from all walks of life, all ages, all incomes, all faiths choose to have abortions, and their reasons vary widely and are deeply personal. Many people are already parents, some are devoutly religious and some have been advised to terminate a much-wanted pregnancy for medical reasons or severe fetal abnormalities.
Click here to see religious people sharing about more than one abortion.
Also, nonbinary people and trans men need the same access to abortion care as cisgender women. Despite the fact that one in four pregnant people in the US will have one or more abortions in a lifetime — few people talk openly about their experiences. As a result, anti-abortion zealots fill the silence with lies and fear. All of the myths, stigma and restrictions harm black people and people of color the most.
