Abortion

We believe all human life is sacred and of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, those with disabilities, and every other stage or condition from fertilization to natural death.

“Abortion is the intentional termination of a human pregnancy, with the understanding that this procedure will result in the death of the fetus. The term “fetus” comes from Latin, meaning “bringing forth of young,” “Young still in the womb,” or “offspring.”

Abortions on MS residents in 2021

%

of abortions on MS residents in 2021 were African American women

abortions reported in Mississippi between 1980-2020 (40 years)

%

of all abortions on MS residents between 1980-2020 were on African American women

Did you know?

1973

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade established a "right to abortion" under the 14th Amendment.

2000

After an unusually rushed approval procedure, RU-486 was legalized in September of 2000 for use in the U.S. to terminate pregnancies.

2003

Partial-birth abortion is illegal in the U.S.

June 24, 2022

Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, allowing states to set their own abortion laws.

July 7, 2022

Mississippi’s laws came into effect, restricting abortion to cases of rape (with charges filed) or when the mother's life is at risk.
93% of abortions are performed for reasons other than rape or health risks to the mother.

July 8, 2022

The last abortion facility in Mississippi closed.

1973-2024

Approximately 65 million abortions occurred in the U.S.

Abortion can cause Post-Abortive Syndrome and raise the potential of breast cancer by up to 50% after one abortion.

65% of abortions involve coercion by others, such as partners or parents.

Fathers have no legal say in whether their child is aborted.

Types of Abortion

Pill Abortion

Mifepristone is a drug used to cause an abortion. Between the years 2000-2022, around 5.9 million women used mifepristone for medical termination of their pregnancies. Also known as RU-486, it was legalized in the U.S. after an unusually rushed approval procedure in September of 2000 for use to terminate pregnancies.

How it works

The abortion drug, Mifepristone, blocks the hormone progesterone, which is vital to maintaining a healthy pregnancy. The drug cuts off nourishment to the fetus, leading to its death. Sometimes, a pill abortion is called a “medical” or “chemical” abortion because it
does not involve surgery unless the chemicals fail to kill the baby. Sometimes, the medical provider will add the drug misoprostol as the final step to the pill regimen. Misoprostol causes contractions to expel the fetus and the placenta.

Risks

Between 2000 – 2022, over 4,218 adverse events have been reported to the FDA, and
at least 32 deaths have occurred in the U.S. alone.

Surgical Abortion

Surgical abortion is an action that surgically kills a baby while he/she is growing in his/her mother’s womb. Depending on the age of the baby at the time that the abortion is carried out, different methods can be used.

How it works
Medical providers also use surgical procedures to abort a living fetus in the mother’s womb. These are the four most common procedures used in surgical abortions.
Suction Aspiration:
• Used in the first trimester (5-12 weeks).
• A tube is inserted into the uterus, and a pump suctions out the fetal tissue.
• The most common abortion method used in the first 5 to 12 weeks of pregnancy
• Also used to empty the uterus after a natural miscarriage (not abortion).
Dilation and Curettage (D&C):
• Used in the first trimester (5-12 weeks)
• The cervix is dilated, and a medical instrument is used to remove the fetus in
pieces
• Also used routinely for strictly medical reasons not related to abortion.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E):
• Used in the second trimester
• Forceps are used to remove the fetus in pieces; the skull may be crushed for
removal.
Induction Abortion:
• Used in the third trimester
• The fetus is killed in utero, and labor is later induced to deliver a stillborn.
• This abortion procedure takes days to complete.
Risks

Risks for suction aspiration and D &E procedures include pelvic infection,
incomplete abortion, blood clots, heavy bleeding, and anesthesia complications.
The risks following an induction abortion include severe complications like
infection, heavy bleeding, and uterine rupture. In 2020, the CDC reported six deaths
due to complications from legal abortions. Between 1990 and 2020, annual deaths
ranged from two to 12 women per year.

What is a Pill Abortion?

What is a Suction Abortion?

Abortion and Breast Cancer

Read Now

The Abortion-Breast Cancer Link

By: Karen Malec

How Politics Trumped Science and Informed Consent, 2007

Read Now

Risk of Breast Cancer Among Young Women

By: Janet R. Daling, Kathleen E. Malone, Lynda F. Voigt, Emily White, Noel S. Weiss

Relationship to Induced Abortion – JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 86, Issue 21, 2 November 1994, Pages 1584–1592

Read Now

Abortion as an Independent Risk Factor for Breast Cancer

Issues in Law and Medicine, 2018
By  Joel Brind, Ph.D.; Steven J. Condly, Ph.D.; Angela Lanfranchi, M.D., FACS; and Brent Rooney M.Sc.

Healing After Abortion

1 in 3 women will have an abortion by the age of 45

Abortion may be a relatively common experience, but abortion affects each of us differently. In the weeks and years following an abortion, women may experience physical or psychological after-effects.

Are you or someone you know struggling with these emotions?

Regret, Shame, Anger, Sadness That Often Lead to…

  • Playing the scene over and over again in your head wishing you had done something differently.
  • Asking yourself WHY questions that you can never answer to your satisfaction.
  • Struggling with relationships.
  • Difficulty bonding with children.

You are Not Alone. Reach out to one of these Abortion Recovery Hotlines:

Abortion Recovery Online Resources

    Emotional Risks of Abortion

    Abortion can evoke a wide range of emotions in women, which may vary based on personal, cultural, and situational factors. Some women may experience feelings such as guilt, sadness, or emptiness, while others may feel relief that the procedure is over. There are reports of severe psychological effects following an abortion, including:

    • Depression
    • Grief
    • Anxiety
    • Lowered self-esteem
    • Regret
    • Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
    • Sexual dysfunction
    • Avoidance of emotional attachment
    • Flashbacks
    • Substance abuse

    These emotions can appear immediately after the abortion or gradually over a longer period. They may resurface or intensify during subsequent pregnancies, on the anniversary of the abortion, or at other significant times.

    Pro-Life Mississippi and many pregnancy resource centers across Mississippi offer post-abortion counseling services. Abortion Recovery support groups are available for both women and men, providing a safe path to healing. You can join a local support group in Mississippi by calling 601-956-8636 for assistance.

    Contact

    Phone: 601-956-8636

    Mailing Address:
    P.O. Box 320042, Flowood, MS 39232

    Email: office@prolifems.org

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