Abortion

Abortion During the past century, abortion has been one of the most passionately discussed subjects. Some people are pro-life some pro-choice. I, myself, am a pro-life supporter. Throughout my years as a student, I have heard the pros and cons of abortion. For me abortion is considered killing a human. Pro-choice supporters argue that women have many reasons for wanting to get an abortion; firstly, they are not able to raise the child properly, secondly, they have the right over their body, and lastly they are not yet ready to become a parent. However, as opposed to many pro-choice supporters I am still a pro-life supporter. The reasons I maintain my position can be understood by examining the arguments most frequently heard in opposition. (1) Women should have control of their body. Women claim that they should be able to control their own body. However, by getting an abortion they put their body in danger. According to a 2002 peer-reviewed study published by the Southern Medical Journal of more than 173,000 American women found that women who aborted were 154% more likely to commit suicide than women who carried to term. The risk of death from suicide is two to six times higher for women who have had abortions when compared with women who have given birth. An April 1998 Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology study on men whose partners had abortions found that 51.6% of the men reported regret, 45.2% felt sadness, and 25% experienced depression. Studies also show that abortion has a link to breast cancer. It is common medical knowledge that a full-term pregnancy, especially before the age of 32, acts as a protective mechanism against breast cancer. Therefore, getting an abortion increases the risk of breast cancer. Approximately one-fifth of women procuring abortions are teenagers, and half are younger than 25 years old. Sadly, 1.5 million abortions are performed in the U.S. per year, being one of the most common surgeries in the nation. (2) Not able to provide child with everything it requires. The saying you are responsible for your own mistakes fits best for this argument. Many pro- life supporters such as Mother Teresa, Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul, Susan B. Anthony, Charmaine Yoest, Madonna, Eric Clapton, and many more, agree that abortion is wrong. Mel Gibson once said, "God is the only one who knows how many children we should have, and we should be ready to accept them. One can't decide for oneself who comes into this world and who doesn't. That decision doesn't belong to us." We should not let our mistakes take away an innocent child's life. Everyone wants his or her rights, and will defend them jealously. On the contrary, not everyone wants responsibilities, especially the difficult ones that come with life. (3) An adolescent is neither mentally nor physically ready to continue a pregnancy. Admittedly, being a mother as a teen is difficult and requires many responsibilities. However, it is not always that abortion solves problems; in most cases it causes problems. Michelle Madden was an 18 year old college freshman when she got pregnant. Michelle decided to have an abortion after her doctor told her that the drugs she was taking for epilepsy would cause her baby to be deformed. Three days after her abortion, Michelle collapsed and was taken to the hospital. At the hospital doctors found a leg bone, two pieces of the baby's skull and some of the placenta inside her uterus. Three days later, Michelle died of a blood infection resulting from the abortion. In Michelle’s case, not only did abortion kill her baby but also put an end to her life as well. Therefore, before taking that step women should also take into consideration the consequences of having an abortion. Abortion is a widely discussed topic with two sides. I respect everyone’s opinion but I am a pro-life supporter and will surely stay that way. I do agree that every woman should have the right to her own body. However, killing a child should not be an option for any woman. Many people think that abortion solves problems, when in reality abortion is the cause of many problems. Every woman should look into this topic and be aware of what abortion can do, not only to themselves but also their child and loved ones.