Abortion: Let’s Talk Truth, Not Hyperbole

While abortion has been a controversial topic for decades, the proverbial s%#* hit the fan this summer when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision that effectively overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade of 1973.

Since then, there has been a lot of information pushed by talking heads, politicians, medical workers, educators and other community leaders and much of it is skirting the truth or twisting reality. Let’s get to the point.

What the Dobbs decision does do:

It nullifies a nationwide right to abortion based on the idea that it is an issue of privacy between a health care provider and a patient. It returns the ability to govern the legality of abortion to the individual states.

What the Dobbs decision does not do:

It in no way outlaws abortion nationwide as some who are either dishonest or uneducated have suggested. The leadership of each state has the right to decide what is fitting for their residents.

Now that that is out of the way, let’s get to the incredible amount of hyperbole that has come as a result of this case and how it is been used (and abused) in campaigns across the nation this fall for state and national office.

Many people are claiming that some politicians want to ban abortion outright. They say this includes extreme cases such as when it comes to the victims of rape or incest. Some even go so far to say this even includes banning the procedure when the life of the mother is in danger. This has been a highlight in many campaign commercials including one that features a former primary care doctor of mine. But the fact is that this is largely untrue. Very few politicians are actually advocating for not allowing exemptions for rape or incest. And I am yet to hear of any who would suggest it is not an option in the event that the life of the mother is in jeopardy. In fact, at that point is would no longer be an abortion rather than a life-saving procedure.

The rhetoric would have to believe that abortion is widely used for these situations. However, the facts show something very different. In fact, internal data from Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortions in the United States, indicates that rape and incest account for 0.3% of all abortions. Physical health, which would seem to be a danger to the mother, is listed as accounting for 2.5%. Conversely, 95.7% are fully elective, meaning they are simply a means for birth control.

One of the original goals was that abortions would be safe and rare. Sadly, the facts don’t bear out either of those as being true. According to the Guttmacher Institute, in 2020, the most recent year with statics available, there were 930,160 abortions performed in the U.S., up from the next most recent data year of 2017 when that total was 862,320. The highest number in the last 22 years was in 2000 at 1,310,000. So with that information, the idea of rare goes right out the window.

Then there’s the issue of safety. While many would have you think abortions are safe, there is substantial evidence that this is not exactly the case.

While we rarely consider the mental toll, studies published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons show that women who have an abortion are 81% more likely to experience mental health issues. Some of these include, substance abuse, insomnia and nightmares, relationship issues, a sense of loneliness and isolation and even suicide.

In terms of physical complications that arise from the procedure, there are many. Broadly recognized medial issues include damage to the cervix, scarring of the uterine lining, future premature births or miscarriages and a strong link to increased chances of breast cancer. And these are the issues that can arise from a procure going as planned with nothing going awry!

None of this is hyperbole; this is science, documented fact, period.

So while abortion remains an option for pregnant women and isn’t going anywhere, these are just some things to consider instead of listening to rhetoric and campaign talk.