Also see introduction: Abortion: Yes or no? 

Q: What is “Roe vs. Wade”?
A: This refers to a U.S. Supreme Court case ruled on January 22, 1973 that a constitutional “right to privacy” exists which protects a woman’s decision to have an abortion. The court at that time established a trimester system that defined the parameters surrounding legal abortions.

Q: I’m feeling guilt from a past abortion. Is this normal?
A: Many women have found that they have feelings of guilt and confusion following abortion. We offer post-abortion support... please contact us for details.

Q: What are the health risks to having an abortion?
A: Risks of any surgical abortion include hemorrhage, infection, infertility, and complications with future pregnancies (i.e. incompetent cervix).1

There may be other risks for you. It is best to seek medical advice before proceeding with any type of surgical procedure.

Q: If I have an abortion, will my baby feel pain?
A: Because circumstances vary, the answer to this question will depend both on the stage of fetus development and method of abortion performed.

It has been determined that as early as eight weeks a fetus is capable of experiencing pain. It is at this point in development that the following necessary structures are in place: sensory nerves (which detect pain), the thalamus (part of the brain that receives pain message from sensory nerves), and motor nerves (which are directed by the brain to pull away from the hurt).2

In addition, “by 13 1/2 to 14 weeks, the entire body surface, except for the back and the top of the head, are sensitive to pain.”3

Q: What is a “partial birth” abortion?
A: The term “partial birth” abortion (also known as Dilation and Extraction, or D & X) refers to a highly controversial abortion procedure that is done in the third trimester of pregnancy. (See related article: How are Abortions Done?)

Q: Is the “morning-after pill” the same as Mifepristone?
No, they are not the same. Mifepristone (RU-486) is taken when a woman knows she is pregnant and with the intention of aborting her unborn child. (See related article: How are Abortions Done?) On the contrary, the so-called “morning-after pill” is sold to women as a form of “emergency contraception” to prevent pregnancy.

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NOTES:
1. MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia (http://medlineplus.gov)
2. Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Willke, Why Can’t We Love Them Both? p.94.
3. S. Reinis & J. Goldman, The Development of the Brain C. Thomas Pub., 1980.

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