Analysis: Vast Majority of Abortions Done for Birth Control

Hotair ^ | 06/05/2024 | Jazz Shaw

[SeekAndFind]

Ever since the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, many states have been moving to enact restrictions on abortions with varying degrees of success. In nearly though not all of these states, exceptions are made for a variety of reasons dealing with cases of rape or incest, risks to the life of the mother, or fetal abnormalities making a fruitful pregnancy unlikely. The rest of the abortions that take place without falling into any of those categories are frequently described as procedures being used as a form of birth control. With these new restrictions coming online, you might imagine that the number of abortions taking place for purposes of birth control would be shrinking in comparison to those done under the exceptions listed above. But according to new research released by LifeNews, you would be incorrect. Nearly 96% of abortions performed in recent years were done for purposes of birth control. By comparison, less than one-half of one percent of them were performed on victims who had been impregnated as a result of being raped. 

After the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, states across the country have enacted laws that limit abortion. Frequently, these state laws make exceptions for abortions for certain reasons, such as rape and incest, risk to the mother’s life or health, or a fetal abnormality. Assessing the number of abortions performed for various reasons can be challenging due to the poor quality of U.S. abortion data resulting from inconsistent reporting requirements. Periodic surveys by pro-abortion organizations have been done of women visiting abortion centers. However, these surveys do not provide a detailed look at abortions specifically performed for common legal exceptions.

For this report, we compiled publicly available data from the eight states that collected and reported 2021 data on women’s reasons for choosing abortion. We selected data from 2021, the year before Dobbs was decided, because many of these states limited abortion after Dobbs. These eight states accounted for approximately 123,000 abortions in 2021, which would have been around 13% of the U.S. total in 2020. Some of these states allow women to report multiple reasons for an abortion or to write in a particular reason, while others ask women to select the top reason or choose from a predetermined list. Additionally, some states provide more precise reasons than others. To develop an estimate of the percent of abortions performed for a given reason, data was combined from each state reporting that particular reason.

Before jumping into this too deeply, LifeNews concedes that the data used in this study was far from comprehensive or complete, so we can't assume that the resultant statistics are rock solid. The study only dealt with a limited number of states and the reporting procedures in place vary significantly from one to the next. One of the categories with questionable data was the "reason" the patient gave for desiring the procedure. Some states barely ask for a reason at all while others offer a list of possible choices including some rather vague answers. But even with all of that said, the disparity between the "classes" of abortions remains rather staggering.

Among the states examined in this study, it appears that less than five percent of all abortions are performed under one of the common exceptions listed above. The "rape or incest" exception seems to be the least common reason given. In some ways that might be viewed as potentially good news because it suggests there may be less of that going on. That's not supported by the data, of course, because while the number of forcible rapes reported in 2022 was down slightly, it was still massively above the low reported in 2011. Data on how many rapes result in pregnancy is sketchy at best and data on incest is notoriously hard to come by. Some of the best data overall comes from Florida, where patients are only allowed to select a single reason for requesting an abortion. Just three percent of those cases listed one of the common exceptions as the reason, so the overall figures are probably in the right ballpark to say the least.

Yet even if we were to assume that the margin of error was much higher, we would still be likely to see at least nine in ten abortions being done as a form of birth control. How is that possible in the modern era given the current state of reproductive science and technology? I realize I've raised this point here before and I hate to sound like a broken record, but we know what causes pregnancy. We've cracked the code. And we know how to prevent it in very nearly every situation if the people involved are not looking to start a family and want to avoid that situation. Perhaps we still have elements of either selfishness or a lack of risk-averse behavior permeating society. The NIH has long recognized that a significant percentage of single American men resist the use of condoms because, well... guys just don't like them. According to a 2022 survey, one in ten women don't use any form of birth control even if they don't want to get pregnant, and more than a third of them said they made that choice because of fears of potential side effects from birth control pills. 

Compare those issues and concerns to the reality of either winding up with a baby that neither of them wanted or scheduling an abortion. It just seems to me that we could and should be doing so much better. This isn't the hippy era anymore, people. It's the 21st century. It boggles my mind that we seem to remain unable to address this situation without needing legislative bans on abortions and all of the resultant court battles. 

[Brian Griffin]

Combined oral contraceptives—Also called “the pill,” combined oral contraceptives contain the hormones estrogen and progestin. It is prescribed by a doctor. A pill is taken at the same time each day. If you are older than 35 years and smoke, have a history of blood clots or breast cancer, your doctor may advise you not to take the pill. Typical use failure rate: 7%.

Progestin only pill—Unlike the combined pill, the progestin-only pill (sometimes called the mini-pill) only has one hormone, progestin, instead of both estrogen and progestin. It is prescribed by a doctor. It is taken at the same time each day. It may be a good option for women who can’t take estrogen. Typical use failure rate: 7%.

Implant—The implant is a single, thin rod that is inserted under the skin of a women’s upper arm. The rod contains a progestin that is released into the body over 3 years. Typical use failure rate: 0.1%.

Levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG IUD)—The LNG IUD is a small T-shaped device like the Copper T IUD. It is placed inside the uterus by a doctor. It releases a small amount of progestin each day to keep you from getting pregnant. The LNG IUD stays in your uterus for up to 3 to 8 years, depending on the device. Typical use failure rate: 0.1-0.4%.

https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/contraception/

[logi_cal869]

Big

DUH

/s

[Falcon4.0]

They should be called,
“recreational abortions”.

[stanne]

Pope Pau VI and his group of theologians were correct

Humanae Vitae was prophetic an common sense

Artificial birth control would result in many evils just one of which is abortion

This encyclical was rejected by many and those silenced in the clergy is a problem.

Those who were/are silenced se: “the objective evil of contraception” was “an authentic expression of (the) magisterium.”

[dadfly]

so typical of fallen humanity. such a very little inconvenience when weighed against a precious life. apart from God and the fall, it’s very hard to understand.

[momincombatboots]

I actually hear the majority of working women in their late 30s early 30s including my own daughter say they aren’t having kids.
I have one that says she is not nurturing.
If you can possibly get your wife out of the toxic be a man girl workplace…you should.

[Bullish]

Ok, I can’t read this right now but aren’t almost ALL abortions done for BC? I’ve always thought that’s the gist of it. Women and sometimes their men don’t want to be inconvenienced by a pregnancy and a child. Which makes it the absolutely most selfish thing a woman could ever do.

[scouter]

Abortion is, strictly speaking, birth control. And what we typically call birth control is really conception control.

That being said, anytime you separate the possibility of conception from sexual intercourse you have reduced it to a form of mutual masturbation. And once you’ve done that, why does it matter who or what you do it with? Any sexual perversion becomes OK. It’s just a matter of personal preference.

Just sayin’.

Think on it before you flame me. I’m not gonna get in any arguments about it. I’m just saying it for the benefit of the one person out there who is willing to hear the truth and consider changing his ways

[daniel1212]

Combined oral contraceptives—Also called “the pill,” combined oral contraceptives contain the hormones estrogen and progestin.

Yet:

In 2015–2017, 64.9% of the 72.2 million women aged 15–49 in the United States were currently using contraception. The most common contraceptive methods currently used were female sterilization (18.6%), oral contraceptive pill (12.6%), long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) (10.3%), and male condom (8.7%). -https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db327.htm

And a study of approx. 64,000 out of 3,664,000 births in 2021 found that only 1.7% may be due to ectopic pregnancies, and with a total of approx 4% being due to health reasons:

"Risk to the woman’s life or a major bodily function: 0.2%[6] Other physical health concerns: 2.5%[7] Abnormality in the unborn baby: 1.3%[8] - Fact Sheet: Reasons for Abortion - Lozier Institute (and accommodating doctors can use "Other physical health concerns" liberally).

So in order to justify the “pro-choice” position - which is denying the subject of extermination any choice in the matter, and is contrary to the normal course of nature - then one must deny that what is inside the womb is a human person (unless pro-choice promoters are willing to be classed as murderers, which they are).

And thus the pro anti-infant choice promoter must justify their basis for determining that.

Will it be the ability to function on its own, though it rather shortly will be able to? If so, then you had best not be laid up for a while if needing life-sustaining support.

And of course, most aged in nursing homes could thus be turned into sources of protein.

Will it be based upon location, meaning outside the womb killing the infant would be murder, but before that it is open game?

Or will the unborn human life be valued at least as much as protected migratory birds are, for due to the procreating nature of the egg of a protected migratory bird and the value placed upon it, then crushing the life of such is outlawed.

The fact is that, as a 1.6 birth rate testifies, children overall are increasingly not desired nor seen as needed, or at least not if they require much sacrifice, while typically spoiling the one or maybe two children parents have on average, and with children being often replaced by pets, which are seen as more worthy of care and cost.

Meanwhile, fornication costs the country greatly.

Biblically, and as a Christian, you either live a celibate, continent life in devotion and service to God and to others, (1 Corinthians 7:32–34) or you prayerfully marry an eligible spouse of the opposite sex, for life. And together, in joint devotion to God and His word, you have all the children God will give you, with temperance being the only birth control. (Genesis 1:28; Psalms 127:3; Psalms 128:3–5; 1 Corinthians 9:25)

And in which stable family the children usually have a few siblings, with whom, as with parents, they can learn to share, communicate, resolve conflicts, and delay gratification, and overcome difficulties, thus better preparing them for life in this world.

And for service in which God will reward in the next, by His grace, for those who effectually believe on the Lord of all, in addition to salvation which is a pure gift, on God/Christ’s expense, by His sinless shed blood, and to His glory.

[maddog55]

Duh!!! As for the headline. That’s what 99% has always been about which is pathetic since birth control is free for the most part or you can simply say no and cross your legs.

[stanne]

People in their 60s, 79s love to have successful kids. By then they have no choice. Either they’ve done what God wanted them to do - have kids and take care of them or they haven’t ( there are exceptions. God let’s people know )

[bert]

In actuality, urban abortions are welfare reduction measures

[daniel1212]

Compare those issues and concerns to the reality of either winding up with a baby that neither of them wanted or scheduling an abortion

Meaning being "punished" for fornication with a baby? Meaning engaging in sexual relations and realizing the natural results which mankind is created to produce by this union. Meaning they should also demand the right to regularly eat cheesecake and not gain weight. Or to commit crimes then demand they be absolved from realizing negative consequences.

My body, my right? Even if someone you invited into your car or house secretly brings a child with them without your consent, then you simply do not have the right to exterminate that life, which is not a lethal threat to you.

In some states, you cannot even shoot suspected burglars unless they manifestly endanger lives, much less a small lost vulnerable child who finds a way into your house since you left the door open to your warm house ("but I did not plan for this, and caring for this unwanted needy child would be a burden for me, as would trying to find someone else to care for this product of conception").

And even more unjustifiable is to kill a child resulting from your choice to engage in a behavior which most naturally produces offspring.

Or will the unborn human life be valued at least as much as protected migratory birds are, for due to the procreating nature of the egg of a protected migratory bird and the value placed upon it, then crushing the life of such is outlawed.

Biblically, nowhere is the product of conception referring to as anything other than a human child.

Isaiah 7:14: Behold, a virgin [‛almâh, which does sometimes denote a virgin] shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us," quoted in Matthew 1:23: "Behold, a virgin shall be with child [G1064-gastēr] and shall bring forth a son."

The Greek for "child" here is almost always used for a child, and never for a non-human:

Mat 1:18 - Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child [G1064] of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 24:19; cf. Mark 13:17; Lk. 21:23 - And woe unto them that are with child, [G1064] and to them that give suck in those days!

1 Thes. 5:3 - For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; [G1064] and they shall not escape.

Revelation 12:2 - And she being with child [G1064] cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

[nesnah]

A condom costs $0.50.

Birth control pills cost $25.00 per month.

An abortion costs $750.00 on average.

This isn’t about birth control or women’s health.

It’s about money.

[ridesthemiles]

MOST women could have told us this-—IF THEY HAD BEEN HONEST ABOUT IT ALL.

[ridesthemiles]

EXACTLY

[ridesthemiles]

SHE CAN GET HER TUBES TIED.

IT IS REVERSABLE IF DESIRED.

[beef]

“In actuality, urban abortions are welfare reduction measures”

You are absolutely correct. There are no Einsteins in that crowd. This is the ONLY issue leftists have left to stand on and if conservatives don’t let it go, we will probably lose. Then there will be more abortions than ever, probably even forced ones. Maybe in a few decades, society will come to it’s senses and reasoned appeals to end abortion will again be in the Overton window. But until then, forget it and be happy that you still have a choice to NOT get an abortion.

[Elsie]

It took Analysis to figger this out??

How much money was spent on THIS little data-gathering episode?