1. ABORTION
Chapter 13

2. Outstanding Quote
 From Jane Kaplan author of The Story of
Jane who described the women involved:
“ We were ordinary women, who working together
accomplished something extraordinary. Our action
transformed women potential but also changed us by
becoming more responsible, grew stronger, and more
self assured. In picking up the tools of our own
liberation, in our case of medical instruments, we
broke a taboo. That act was terrifying, but it also
made us felt powerful and wanted other women to fell
the same”

3. History of Abortion in United States
 Abortion was legal until 1880, but antiabortion
legislation band it as a way to control women and
confide them to traditional childbearing.
 Law prohibiting abortion was a great cause for many
deaths due to unsafe, illegal abortions. There are no
exact numbers but many women were treated due to
complications after an illegal unsanitary or self-
induces abortion.
 In 1960’s a network of concerned professionals safer
help women find illegal abortions from well trained
professionals that put them self in risk of going to jail,
fines or loosing their license to practice.
 Around that time women also organized the Women’s
liberation movement to make abortion legal.

4.  In 1973 the US Supreme Court found that
Women’s decision to terminate a pregnancy is
protected by the fourteen amendment.
 Still antiabortion activist make the access to
abortion difficult and for many years had been
fighting the women right to make the choice.
 Insurance founding has been a battleground
since 1976 when congress passed the Hyde
Amendment which restricted federal founding to
cover an abortion.
 There are different laws and regulation, targeted
regulations are known as TRAP Laws, which
requires impose burdensome and medically
unnecessary requirements. Some states also
required parental consent which has push many
teenagers to pursue illegal abortions.

5. Abortion Methods
 Medication Abortion
Consist in two-drugs regimen that ends the
pregnancy privately at home within nine weeks of
pregnancy with minimal complications
 Vaccum Aspiration Abortion
Also called suction abortion is a surgical procedure. It
is the most common method used for first-trimester
abortions It is a safe medical procedure as long as is
done early in pregnancy.

6. Abortion Method after
The First Trimester
 Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
Similar to having a vaccum aspiration procedure. There are two
ways to prepared for this procedure osmotic dilators and
misoprostol same used in medication abortion. Stronger pain
medication or sedatives are used during this procedure in
addition to anesthesia for the cervix area.
 Induction Abortion
This procedure involves medication that cause the uterus to
contract and expel the pregnancy. This is an alternative
procedure when D&E is no longer possible. The experience
is similar to labor but may last a shorter time. a night at the
hospital is needed due to the extent of medical need in this
procedure, such as blood test, ultrasounds, sedatives and
epidural anesthesia.

7. Symptoms to Watch After an
Abortion
Abortion-related complications are rare but
are possible. It is important to look for
medical attention then these any or all
symptoms are present.
 Heavy Bleeding
 Extreme Pain
 Fever
 Continued Symptoms of Pregnancy

8. Reasons women give for
having and abortion
 Having concerns for being responsible
for another individual.
 Inability to afford a child or another
child.
 Interference with their personal life
school and/or work.
 Difficulties with husband or partner
 Not wanting to be a single parent

9. Questions of the Chapter
Teenagers still have difficulty accessing legal
abortions due to the regulation of parental
consent.
 What could be a solution to decrease the risk
of illegal abortions in this population?
 What would be the benefit and the harm of
federal founding (Insurance) coverage for
abortion?