Abortion: Then & Now

Abortion is one of the most controversial issues in the United States. Almost every third baby conceived in America is killed by abortion. 

An abortion is a procedure that terminates a pregnancy by removing the fetus from the mother's uterus, or womb. An induced abortion is the termination of a pregnancy that is caused deliberately while a therapeutic abortion is performed when the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother. 

Although it was restricted or forbidden by most world religions, the practice of abortion was widespread as a form of birth control in ancient civilizations. However, to protect women from endangering their lives, the English Parliament prohibited induced abortions in 1803. Eventually, though, state legislatures stipulated that a therapeutic abortion was the only exception to the prohibition of abortion. 

Abortions at the woman's request were first allowed in 1920 by the Soviet Union. Liberalized abortion regulations became widespread in the late 1960's. 

There were sixteen states that legalized abortion between 1967 & 1970. Specific conditions applied to these abortions, though. Those conditions included rape, incest, and severe fetal handicap. California and New York were two exceptions because these two states were allowing abortion on demand. 

Presently, there are 54 countries allowing abortion. This is 61 % of our world's population. 

In 1973, 20% of abortions were repeats. Their rate rose to an astonishing 44% by 1987. In 1995, 45% of all abortions in the United States were repeats.