RUNNING HEAD: ABORTION

Abortion: A Review of the Literature

The University of Texas at El Paso
Vianey Ramirez

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Abstract
With the ongoing debates about abortion, whether its safe or if it should be illegal, several
important topics need to be addressed and known to society. This literature review will inform

the reader about the effects of abortion to the patients, which methods are safer for most patients
and the discussion of abortion being legal in all states in the U.S. Scholarly articles, research
papers, and statistical data from primary research contributing to the research of abortion will be
discussed and reviewed in this paper.

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Abortion: A Review of Literature

The topic of abortion has been around since back in the 1800s. Back in those days
women would perform an abortion on other women and it was not illegal and there were no
problems. Many women healers in the U.S and Western Europe trained other women to be able
to perform abortions. In the U.S. abortion was practiced until the late 1800s (Blanchard, 2014).
In recent centuries, abortion has now become illegal unless it is performed to use the mothers
life. In more recent decades, the controversies between having legal and illegal abortion have
been discussed over and over. Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy, most of the time it is
performed during the first 28 weeks of the pregnancy. Abortions are viewed as a solution to an
unwanted pregnancy. Many women that have been raped, dont have a way to support the baby,
or just simply dont want the baby, usually seek abortion to end their unwanted pregnancy. As
teen pregnancy has been on the rising in the last decade, so has the abortion rates. Because of this
the pro-life and pro-choice organizations were formed.
The pro-life organization goes by the belief that abortion should not be legal, mainly
because an abortion is the killing of a baby. I never knew that a babys heart starts beating at 18
days. (Melanie, Ohio. Pro-life across America). The pro-life organization is a non-profit, nonpolitical organization, which is dedicated to changing the hearts of the mothers and saving
babies lives. Pro-life has many billboards across America, with the purpose of getting the
attention of people and changing their thoughts about abortion. Pro-life try to give other
options for the mother, which include adoption, instead of abortion.
Unlike pro-life, the pro-choice organization goes by the belief that every woman is in
charge of her own body and it is her choice if she chooses to have an abortion or not. NAF

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(National Abortion Federation), was first founded in 1973 right after the Roe vs. Wade case.
NAF is a very unique organization among pro-choice. NAF believes that trusting the medical
decisions that women make will be the best for them and not anybody else. Many pro-choice
believers are not pro-abortion, only pro-choice.
Many surveys and statistics have proven that most Americans agree with pro-choice.
However, in order for the population of the U.S. to be more informed and aware of the events
that are involved with abortion, pro-life, and pro-choice, a broader understanding should be
encouraged. For that purpose, the following three questions should be considered:
1. Do abortions affect the patient?
2. Are abortions safe for the patient?
3. Should abortion be illegal ?
The following review of literature will: analyze the stages that a patient goes through while
having an abortion and the effects on their body as well as safety procedures and examine the
decision of abortion being legal in all states.
Do abortions affect the patient?
One of the main concerns for the people is the long or short term effects that an abortion

could potentially have on a patient. With the technology of today, walking in a clinic and having
an abortion is safer then back in the 1800s. Many doctors specialize in abortions and know the
safest procedures in order for the patient to come out with no health problems. Post Abortion
Stress Syndrome (PASS) is a common side effect that many women go through after an abortion
(Babbel, 2010). The Post Abortion Stress Syndrome is a psychological aftereffect of abortion,
based on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). (Babbel, 2010). Many of the symptoms may

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include: guilt, anxiety, flashbacks, and depression. Not all women that have an abortion go
through this, in fact, many say that PASS does not exist. Many women though, are affected by
this PASS, and it affects them in their future life if it is not treated.
Authors say that many women suffer from methodological problems and mental health
problems. Most of these problems come from having an inappropriate pregnancy experience.
(Russo, 2014).
Every patient is different and may react different to the abortions method. Abortion does
have some bad and some good effects on the patient; it all simply depends on how their body
reacts, physically and emotionally. It will be the patients choice whether or not to go through

whatever method or procedure of their choice, and they are responsible for the short or long term
effects.

Are abortions safe for the patient?

There are different types of abortion which include Mifepristone and Misoprostol
(abortion pill), MVA, and aspiration. Each type of abortion has its own effects on the womans
body depending whether the procedure was conducted properly or not. (Spitz, 1998). Depending
on what trimester the patient is in, is what they will offer them as an abortion procedure.
Methotrexate & Misoprostol (MTX), Mifepristone and Misoprostol, Manual Vacuum Aspiration
(MVA), and Aspiration are all the types of procedures that are available for a woman who is in
her first trimester. The most effective one is the surgical abortion or the MVA, since its the
fastest and safest.

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Dilation & Curettage (D & C), Dilation & Evacuation (D & E), Induction Abortion are
the abortions methods that are performed while in the second trimester of the pregnancy.
According to the UCSF medical center website, the safest and most effective method is surgical
abortion. Induction Abortion and Dilation and Extraction are the only two methods that are

available as late term abortions. All of the methods mentioned have some effects on the patients
body, it all depends on what the patient is allergic to or how their body reacts to the procedures.
The safest abortion method that can be done in all three trimesters is the surgical abortion. This
method is 99% effective with 1% chance of failure. With all the technology of today it is much
safer to get an abortion than it was years ago. That includes less infections, abortion failures, and
patient deaths (Early options). As many women who are pro-choice fight for their right of their
body and what they chose to do with it.
Should abortions be illegal?
In 1973, the Roe vs. Wade case ruled unconstitutional state law that banned abortions
with the exception of saving the life of the mother. (McBride, 2006). In 1992, the decision made
in the Roe vs. Wade case was modified by the Planned Parenthood v. Casey case. The
framework in the Casey case remains in place but the effective availability of abortion varies
from states to state. Yes, abortion is now legal but with some restrictions in some states. Because
abortion has been legal the pro-life organization has been fighting to help and convince more
mothers to not opt for an abortion but instead have the kid. Many of the targeted moms are
women from the age 15-28. Since teen pregnancy has been on the rising, pro-life and prochoice organization fight to obtain the attention of these teens. Many pro-life believers hope
that these teens do have their baby and keep it. If not they are always available to help for

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adoption. Pro-choice believers hope to reach these teens and let them know that although
abortion is legal, that they should not feel guilty if that is what they opt to do.

Conclusion
There are many issues and controversies when it comes to the topic of abortion. While
many people agree that abortion should be illegal, there are others who believe it should not and
that it is the mothers choice. It is important that they become informed on all sides of this topic,
and listen to all explanations. Having accurate knowledge on a topic like abortion is very
important, because in the end the patient will choose whatever it is that they feel is right for
them.

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References
Abortion, Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century.
Prolife Across America, Billboard. Retrieved from https://prolifeacrossamerica.org
McBride, A. (2006) Roe v. Wade. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/
Oduro, G.Y; Otsin, M. N. A. (2014). Abortion- Its my own body. Health Care for
WomenInternational. Vol. 35 Issue 7-9, p918-936. 19p.
Russo ,N. (2014). Abortion, unwanted childbearing, and mental health, Salud mental.
Vol. 37,No. 4.
OBOS, (2014). U.S. Abortion History. Retrieved from
http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/

Spitz IM, et al. (1998). Early pregnancy termination with mifepristone and misoprostol in
the U.S. New England Journal of Medicine, 338 (18): 1241-1247.
Babbel, S. (2010). Somatic Psychology, Psychology Today. Retrieved from
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/somatic-psychology/201010/post-abortion-stresssyndrome-pass-does-it-exist