Facts About Abortion

-What is abortion?
Abortion ends a pregnancy before birth. It can occur naturally when an embryo or fetus stops developing and the body expels it. This is called spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, or early pregnancy loss. Women choose abortion in less than 25 percent of the 6,000,000 pregnancies that are diagnosed in the U.S. every year — 50 percent of which are unintended. This is called induced abortion.
*This definition comes from Planned Parenthood Federation of America

-Does emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill, cause an abortion?
No, emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy, but it has no effect on an established pregnancy.

-Who chooses abortion?
In 2002, 1.29 million abortions were performed in the United States. At current rates more than 1 in 3 women will have had an abortion by the age of 45.

-How do women feel after an abortion?
After an abortion, women frequently report feeling 'relief and happiness'. For most women the time of greatest distress is likely to be before an abortion. There is no conclusive evidence directly linking abortion to subsequent mental health problems. This being said there is no "right" way to respond to an abortion and if you would like to talk to someone please contact the university Counseling Center.

-When are abortions preformed?
Almost 90% of abortion are performed before 13 weeks of gestation, with 27% performed at or before 6 weeks. Less than 2% of abortions occur at more than 21 weeks of gestation.

-Does abortion cause breast cancer?
No, in 2003 the National Cancer Institute (NCI) concluded that “induced abortion is not associated with an increase in breast cancer risk,” noting that the evidence for such a conclusion met NCI’s highest standard. In 2004, an expert panel convened by the British government came to the same conclusion.

-Will having an abortion affect future pregnancies?
No, the preponderance of evidence from well-designed and well-executed studies shows virtually no connection between abortion and future fertility problems such as premature and low birth-weight delivery, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and birth defects.

-What are the sources for the information on this site? Unless otherwise noted the statistics and information on this site come from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI).

-Where can I find more information?
On the web reliable information can be found at
The Guttmacher Institute
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Planned Parenthood

In Gainesville please visit the local Planned Parenthood office located at
914 NW 13th Street near Applebees or call them at (352) 377-0881.

On campus please visit the Student Health Care Center

WARNING: the facility know as The Women’s Resource Center gives medically inaccurate information, provides no contraceptive options, does not refer to abortion providers, and is not staffed by medical professionals. They are a religious ministry not a women’s health clinic.