Self Induced Abortion in the United States
History
While the history of abortion is long and complex for the purposes of the United States it is easier to think of abortion in terms of pre- and post 1972 and the famous Roe vs. Wade decision. Before this the legality and regulations of abortion varied from state to state but they were less accessible and less safe [1]. This inaccessibility mostly affected lower class women especially women of colour. While a wealthy women would be able to travel in order to find a safer abortion option, poorer had to make do by themselves[1] . Unfortunately this created to phenomenon of “septic wards” created just to treat women with infections stemming from unsafe self induced abortions[1] . After the 1972 decision mortality rates for women plummeted with properly administered abortions becoming a very safe procedure, and yet a small segment of the population is still self inducing abortions[1].
Prevalence
Research in 2018 shows that 1 out of 10 abortions is self induced[2]. Rates of self induced abortion are highest among racial minorities and women of low income [2] . Of these women around 20% will turn to physical force to try and self induce abortion although the majority used either medication or herbs [2].
Side Effects and Treatment
The most common side effect of a self induced abortion, especially if physical measures were attempted, is sepsis as well as heavy bleeding [3]. Aside from those two however the side effects of a self induced abortion are as varied as the methods used. The side effects of injecting soap into the uterus for example can include Renal failure and necrosis of uterine tissues [3]. No matter the side effects a woman experiencing complications from a self induced abortion needs to be able to access medical care as quickly as possible for the best chance at recovery [3]. Unfortunately due to the stigma attached to abortion women tend to only seek out medical treatment until she is very sick [4]. Since even after seeking treatment a woman may not want to tell doctors about her abortion, the possibility of a self induced abortion gone wrong sometimes has to be confirmed by using pregnancy tests, blood tests, and ultrasounds[4] .
Motivations
Women in the United States are obviously choosing to try the risky option of self inducing an abortion for a reason. Some women had a negative experience at a clinic or knew someone who did while others did not want to deal with the stigma attached to using clinic services [5] Some women also do not have accurate information on what a clinic abortion entails and fear going to get one[5]. Other women also believe that self induced abortion are more natural and private preferring not get an abortion in a clinical setting[5] . However even women who want a safe clinic abortion can find it difficult to obtain one[5] . Some states may require that a minor get parental permission before being able to access an abortion creating a barrier to young women who may not want their parents knowing they are pregnant in the first place[5] . Women may also live in rural areas far away from an abortion provider making it more difficult to even get to a clinic [1]. Abortions in the United States can also be very expensive and if the state she lives in has a mandatory waiting period then she may find herself having to choose between paying for travel, accommodations, and the procedure or attempting to self induce an abortion at home [1].
Summary
While safe professional abortion is legal in the United States a small percentage of women are choosing to self induce an abortion instead[2]. This is because while the 1972 Roe vs. Wade decision may have made abortion legal across all states these states were still free to create barriers to accessing these services [1]. These barriers vary from state to state but can include needing parental permission, high costs, or just a lack of clinics[1] . Barriers to access along with misinformation and stigma have led some women to use methods such as drugs, herbs, and physical means to try and induce an abortion at home [3]. Unfortunately this can lead to dangerous side effects and a need to seek medical treatment to save her life [3]. The fact that these women who are mostly minorities or of low income feel the need to put themselves at such risk is made even more tragic by the fact that when done in a professional setting abortions are a very safe procedure.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Hayden, Tiana (2011). "Private Bleeding: Self-Induced Abortion in the Twenty-First Century United States". Gender Issues. 28 Issue 4: 209–225.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Grossman D; et al. (2018). "Lifetime Prevalence of Self-Induced Abortion among a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Women". Contraception. 97 no.5: 460. Explicit use of et al. in:
|last=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Weissman; et al. (1992). "Self-Induced Abortion--the Peril is Still Real". Advances in Contraception : The Official Journal of the Society for the Advancement of Contraception. 8 no.1: 81–88. Explicit use of et al. in:
|last=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 Saultes; et al. (2009). "The Back Alley Revisited: Sepsis After Attempted Self-Induced Abortion". The Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. 10 no.4: 278–280. Explicit use of et al. in:
|last=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Grossman; et al. (2010). "Self-Induction of Abortion among Women in the United States". Reproductive Health Matters. 18 no.36: 136–146. Explicit use of et al. in:
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