Posted on 04/24/2002 8:27:48 AM PDT by Saundra Duffy
New Study Finds Abortion Risks Higher Than Expected
Toronto, CA -- Abortion complications are seriously underreported, leaving women who undergo abortion largely unaware of the range of physical and psychological risks they face, according to a new study by a Canadian bioethics institute.
Breast cancer, pelvic infection, infertility, life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, and subsequent premature births - with higher rates of children born with cerebral palsy - were found to be associated with abortion in a comprehensive review of the world medical literature. Abortion complications were not limited to physical health. While abortion is often regarded as a cure for the depression and stress of a crisis pregnancy, the study found that women are more likely to commit suicide after abortion than after giving birth to a child.
Current abortion rates of 114,000 in Canada and 1.4 million in the U.S. underscore the magnitude of this potential public health issue.
"In the absence of this knowledge, how can a woman give her informed consent to an abortion?" asks Ian Gentles, history professor at York University in Toronto, and one of the authors of the study entitled Women's Health after Abortion: The Medical and Psychological Evidence, published by the deVeber Institute, a nonprofit bioethics and social research group based in Toronto. Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Emory University professor of humanities and women's studies, calls the findings "compelling", and says the study "makes overwhelmingly clear [that] women who seek abortions in the United States and Canada are not even told of the risks they are running."
The study calls for a more accountable system of risk assessment where research data accurately reflect the true risks of abortion to their future health and fertility.
Key abortion risks
An extensive review of the world medical literature reveals abortion is associated with:
* Suicide risk
A woman's risk of suicide is up to 6 times higher after abortion than after giving birth to a child, according to three large worldwide studies.
Gissler M et al. Suicides after pregnancy in Finland 1987-94: register linkage study. British Medical Journal 1996 Dec. 7;313(7070):1431-4.
* Breast cancer
27 worldwide studies, including 13 U.S. studies, show the risk caused by the unprotected internal estrogen exposure a woman receives after an abortion. A young woman who aborts her first pregnancy nearly doubles her lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
Daling JR et al. Risk of breast cancer among young women: relationship to induced abortion. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1994 Nov(2);86(21):1584-92.
* Immediate complications
Pain, bleeding, infection, perforated uterus, and occasional death occur at rates higher than usually reported. True rates are often underestimated by inadequate hospital diagnostic coding.
Heisterberg L, Kringelbach M. Early complications after induced first-trimester abortion. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandanavica,1987;66(3):201-4.
* Infertility, prematurity, cerebral palsy
P> Subsequent infertility, life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, and premature delivery of subsequent children - which increases the risk of cerebral palsy 38 times in the earliest premature babies.
Escobar GJ et al. Outcome among surviving very low birthweight infants: a meta-analysis. Archives of Disease in Childhood 1991;66:204-211.
To order the study from the deVeber Institute visit the website: http://deveber.org/publications2.html#launch
The Pro-Life Infonet is a daily compilation of pro-life news and information. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe" to: infonet-request@prolifeinfo.org. Infonet is sponsored by Women and Children First (http://www.womenandchildrenfirst.org). For more pro-life info visit http://www.prolifeinfo.org and for questions or additional information email ertelt@prolifeinfo.org
Which peer review found those flaws?
Just so you know...I'm a former post abortion counselor. I've seen and heard it all in the world of post abortion. I know the wonderful and miraculous power of forgiveness and the repentance...true repentance...of women in such circumstances.
..and not just for abortion.
Plus, a LARGE segment of society needs YOUR money, money that the Gov't took from you, to exist, so THEY are going to be fighting to keep their largess.
When someone takes another life there is no correction possible. Only God can make a life, we have the power to take it. If the woman could restore the child's life then proper retribution would be made. If I kill a mother is there any woman on the face of this earth who could fully love the mothers child the way she did. NO! Adoption is wonderful but it is not quite the same as having a child grow inside you from a speck to birth. A woman who adopts a child is lucky, a woman who gives birth to a child witnesses a miracle.
When I read this joke I smile because this woman is turning an accident into a miracle.
COURT DOCKET - CASE OF THE PREGNANT LADY
A lady about eight months pregnant got on a bus. She noticed the man opposite her was smiling at her. She immediately moved to another seat.
This time the smile turned into a grin, so she moved again. The man seemed more amused. When, on the fourth move, the man burst out laughing, she complained to the driver and he had the man arrested.
The case came up in court. The judge asked the man (about 20 years old) what he had to say for himself. The man replied, "Well your Honour, it was like this.. When the lady got on the bus, I couldn't help but notice her condition. She sat under a sign that said, "The Double Mint Twins are coming" and I grinned. Then she moved and sat under a sign that said, "Slogan's Liniment will reduce the swelling", and I had to smile. Then she placed herself under a sign that said, "William's Big Stick Did the Trick", and I could hardly contain myself. BUT your Honour, when she moved the fourth time and sat under a sign that said, "Goodyear Rubber could have prevented this Accident"... I just lost it.
Especially during those times! LOL
The joke was funny. Sending it on to my hubby and others. :o)
Best I can discern, O'Reilly is one of those "personally opposed" types who is essentially pro-abortion in his politics. Hannity is strongly pro-life, but he and Colmunist don't talk about it often. Don't know what Greta (reportedly a Scientologist) thinks about abortion.
Loved it when Hannity, a year or so ago, did had an abortionist on the show. He called the guest "mister" rather than "doctor." The abortionist huffed and insisted that Hannity refer to him as "doctor." The very next sentence, Hannity called him "mister" anyway. Great moment.
Anyway, thanks for an enlightening post and for helping spread the word. I wonder when the American Medical Association will weigh in on the risks of abortion?
You has produce a few bias and questionable studies and you expect us to just forget the pain and suffering of women around the world? I will not stand by while even just one women is hurt, all the while killing humans in the process.
BTW - Which other sections of the population do you propose we kill? The Old, the Sick or the mentally disabled. Killing off anyone of these groups or sections of these groups would bring benefits to society as a whole. That what it is about right? Killing one human to benefit another.
What is the "clear agenda" of the American Cancer Society, other than the prevention of or treatement of cancer in its various forms?
Not to mention the fact they leave out whole sections of the population of women, the ones that may give them a undesired outcome.
Do mention them. Be specific. Cite the facts.
You has produce a few bias and questionable studies
As far as I can tell, the only basis you have for claiming them to be "biased" is because they disagree with your expected outcome.
I will not stand by while even just one women is hurt
Eight times as many women die due to live birth than to induced abortions. Spare us your faux concern.
That what it is about right? Killing one human to benefit another.
It is only a particular religious belief that a single (fertilized) cell is a human being in any meaningful sense.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.