# Most Woman Regret Abortions **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 18, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887 "2003-08-18T02:52:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/61 "2003-08-19T23:52:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tramp \* > \*\*:rolleyes: > > kputt, I was on birth control. I was on the pill. I did not have an abortion just to have an abortion, that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. \*\* Is it? I was going to say that birth control isn’t 100% effective. Anyway, it still doesn’t justify an abortion. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/62 "2003-08-20T00:09:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kputt \* > \*\*Look, I’m sorry for getting that worked up about it. I always believe adoption is a better answer than abortion. Also, if a person doesn’t want a baby, then don’t get pregnant. Of course, rape is a different story. > > I get more upset when people want to have sex and not a baby, but don’t use birth control, and they have this abortion for the heck of having an abortion. \*\* In our case, she WAS on birth control. She was taking the pill. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/63 "2003-08-20T00:15:52Z")
No one here is saying that using abortion as your main means of birth control is a good thing. No one here really LIKES abortion, d’uh. No one says, “Gee, I can’t wait to get pregnant and have an abortion! That’ll be keen!” ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/64 "2003-08-20T00:52:29Z")
I didn’t say anyone here did. I said there were people who do use it as a form of birth control. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/65 "2003-08-20T01:46:17Z")
_ooh, a thread that got moved twice!_ kputt, I confess that I myself find the idea of “abortion as a form of birth control” (as you mean it) more than a little disturbing. However, I don’t find it credible that this is a common phenomenon. Abortions are a lousy substitute for other forms of birth control. Even the most callous, careless person would be damn foolish to have that kind of cavalier attitude towards abortions. They are expensive, and painful, and not without some risk. Also, the woman can’t have intercourse for six weeks after such surgery. I think you’re disgusted (understandably)with an idea, but not with an actual, meaningful number of offenders. I just can’t believe there are that many out there. ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/66 "2003-08-20T02:36:51Z")
kputt, it must be terribly exhausting to be so rigid and unforgiving. Even in my church, they hate the sin but love the woman, ---
**Author:** ![ShadiRoxan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@ShadiRoxan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadiRoxan)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/67 "2003-08-20T03:14:55Z")
Oh, what happened while I was at work… Slight pet peeve of mine… There is no such thing as pro-abortion. That would mean that those people believe every pregnancy should be terminated. I have never met a person like this. I don’t think I ever will. Pro-choice is a totally different thing. You can be completely against abortion and still be pro-choice. It only means that you believe the woman has the right to choose. You don’t have to be willing to do it to support that right. Also the point of women using it as birth control is complete bull shit. Yes there may be a few, but they have to have some serious cash flow and either a high tolerance or serious fetish for pain. Mine cost $375, and that’s cheap. I’ve heard of women paying up to $1000 for a first trimester abortion. Mine hurt so bad I was puking the entire day. And the pain doesn’t start or end there. I was six weeks along when I got mine. Six weeks that I couldn’t eat for fear of throwing it back up. Six weeks of back pain and bloating. Brushing my teeth made me gag. Then there was two weeks of bleeding afterwards. And the birth control they have you take afterwards to try to balance out your hormones. My first period after all this was just as painful as the abortion itself. I can’t think of any woman who would willingly put herself through all this. Another thing is there is a lack of education for birth control. I remember one woman that was in the clinic with me. She was married and already had two children. She had been taking birth control and antibiotics. The doctor had not warned her that she needed to use a backup method. She believed she was being safe. She couldn’t afford another child… or rather two since she found out she was possibly carrying twins. I would never recommend an abortion to any one. Whenever any one comes to me for help in the matter I always tell them to think their options out clearly but quickly. And no matter what, do not let any one talk you into or out of anything. Do not second guess yourself. Do what is best for you. You have to live with your decision, whether it results in terminating, giving the child up, or raising the child. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/68 "2003-08-20T03:25:44Z")
I’ve had an abortion, too. I’ve also relinquished a child for adoption, planned one child, kept one that I didn’t plan, and had a miscarriage. Not in that order, though. Of course, I had no choice about the miscarriage. But of the other decisions I had to make, the adoption was by far the toughest. The abortion was also a difficult decision. Really, really difficult. But I don’t regret it. I don’t regret any of the pregnancy-related decisions that I have made. They were _all_ the \*right decisions for me to make, at the time I had to make them. \* No one likes abortion. Not the people that have had them. Not the doctors that perform them. Not the pro-choice advocates who support a woman’s right to choose. Of course, I’d love it if this world was so great, and everyone’s circumstances were so terrific that no one ever felt the need to even think about having an abortion. But the world just isn’t like that. And until we _make_ it like that, taking away the option of a safe, legal abortion is, IMHO, a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/69 "2003-08-20T03:37:01Z")
Hey, I’ll admit to being pro-abortion. Let’s give the Earth a rest for a few years, mmkay? But seriously, **kputt** ’s air tight arguments have totally swayed me. I’m sure I’ve linked to this Onion article before, but it’s completely appropriate for this thread. [I’m Totally Psyched about this Abortion!](http://www.theonion.com/onion3516/psyched_about_abortion.html) > [@](#): > > I seriously cannot wait for all the hemorrhaging and the uterine contractions. This abortion is going to be so amazing. I’m definitely taking lots of pictures so I can remember every last detail of the whole experience for years to come and share my great memories with all of my friends, family and co-workers. ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/70 "2003-08-20T12:40:39Z")
THere are people out there who use abortion as a form of birth control. Common fact. ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/71 "2003-08-20T12:42:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Persephone \* > \*\*I’ve had an abortion, too. I’ve also relinquished a child for adoption, planned one child, kept one that I didn’t plan, and had a miscarriage. Not in that order, though. > > Of course, I had no choice about the miscarriage. But of the other decisions I had to make, the adoption was by far the toughest. The abortion was also a difficult decision. Really, really difficult. > > But I don’t regret it. I don’t regret any of the pregnancy-related decisions that I have made. They were _all_ the \*right decisions for me to make, at the time I had to make them. \* > > No one likes abortion. Not the people that have had them. Not the doctors that perform them. Not the pro-choice advocates who support a woman’s right to choose. Of course, I’d love it if this world was so great, and everyone’s circumstances were so terrific that no one ever felt the need to even think about having an abortion. > > But the world just isn’t like that. And until we _make_ it like that, taking away the option of a safe, legal abortion is, IMHO, a bad idea. \*\* How in the world can choosing adoption be more difficult than killing a life? ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/72 "2003-08-20T12:45:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrankyAsAnOldMan \* > \*\*_ooh, a thread that got moved twice!_ > > kputt, I confess that I myself find the idea of “abortion as a form of birth control” (as you mean it) more than a little disturbing. > > However, I don’t find it credible that this is a common phenomenon. Abortions are a lousy substitute for other forms of birth control. Even the most callous, careless person would be damn foolish to have that kind of cavalier attitude towards abortions. They are expensive, and painful, and not without some risk. Also, the woman can’t have intercourse for six weeks after such surgery. > > I think you’re disgusted (understandably)with an idea, but not with an actual, meaningful number of offenders. I just can’t believe there are that many out there. \*\* I think abortion is a sin, but I don’t hate the sinner. Anyway, abortion to me is like taking a child that has been born and throwing it in the dumpster. What’s the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/73 "2003-08-20T12:46:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kputt \* > \*\*THere are people out there who use abortion as a form of birth control. Common fact. \*\* _ **Not** _ a common fact. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/74 "2003-08-20T12:47:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tramp \* > \*\*kputt, it must be terribly exhausting to be so rigid and unforgiving. > > Even in my church, they hate the sin but love the woman, \*\* Did I ever say hate the sinner? ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/75 "2003-08-20T12:51:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShadiRoxan \* > \*\*Oh, what happened while I was at work… > Slight pet peeve of mine… There is no such thing as pro-abortion. That would mean that those people believe every pregnancy should be terminated. I have never met a person like this. I don’t think I ever will. > > Pro-choice is a totally different thing. You can be completely against abortion and still be pro-choice. It only means that you believe the woman has the right to choose. You don’t have to be willing to do it to support that right. > > Also the point of women using it as birth control is complete bull shit. Yes there may be a few, but they have to have some serious cash flow and either a high tolerance or serious fetish for pain. Mine cost $375, and that’s cheap. I’ve heard of women paying up to $1000 for a first trimester abortion. > > Mine hurt so bad I was puking the entire day. And the pain doesn’t start or end there. I was six weeks along when I got mine. Six weeks that I couldn’t eat for fear of throwing it back up. Six weeks of back pain and bloating. Brushing my teeth made me gag. Then there was two weeks of bleeding afterwards. And the birth control they have you take afterwards to try to balance out your hormones. My first period after all this was just as painful as the abortion itself. I can’t think of any woman who would willingly put herself through all this. > > Another thing is there is a lack of education for birth control. I remember one woman that was in the clinic with me. She was married and already had two children. She had been taking birth control and antibiotics. The doctor had not warned her that she needed to use a backup method. She believed she was being safe. She couldn’t afford another child… or rather two since she found out she was possibly carrying twins. > > I would never recommend an abortion to any one. Whenever any one comes to me for help in the matter I always tell them to think their options out clearly but quickly. And no matter what, do not let any one talk you into or out of anything. Do not second guess yourself. Do what is best for you. You have to live with your decision, whether it results in terminating, giving the child up, or raising the child. \*\* My little pet peeve on the topic is when women say, “It’s my body, I can choose whatever I want to do to it”. My personal feelings on that is that they baby/fetus is not part of a woman’s body, but is there to be nurtured and have a safe haven to grow and develop. I know it’s a lot of pain, more than I’ll ever experience. I’ve done research on abortion, and there can be severe consequences to having them. I knew I came off a little strong, but this is a subject I just don’t understand. I just don’t understand how a woman can (to be more friendly) abort their baby? I know it can’t be easy though. Sorry for sounding so harsh. ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/76 "2003-08-20T12:53:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AvhHines \* > \*\*_ **Not** _ a common fact. Cite? \*\* [Here you go. All about using Abortion as Birth Control and psychological and physical problems.](http://www.epigee.org/guide/abortifacient.html) ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/77 "2003-08-20T13:01:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kputt \* > \*\*Look, I’m sorry for getting that worked up about it. I always believe adoption is a better answer than abortion. Also, if a person doesn’t want a baby, then don’t get pregnant. Of course, rape is a different story. > > I get more upset when people want to have sex and not a baby, but don’t use birth control, and they have this abortion for the heck of having an abortion. \*\* I always find it interesting when the anti-choice people say it’s okay in the case of rape or incest, because that seems to me to reveal the heart of the matter. If the problem is truly that abortion is murder of innocents, why are children engendered by rape or incest less worthy of protection than those conceived in the course of recreational sex? I suspect the idea of almost recreational abortions which is held so dear by the anti-choicers is necessary, because you can find it much easier to detest someone who callously and repeatedly gets pregnant (without birth control!) and aborts, gets pregnant and aborts. A desperate teenager who sees her life falling into ruins about her if she has a baby (even with adoption) is a lot harder to get worked up, since for people of ordinary empathy, her case is more understandable. ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/78 "2003-08-20T13:09:33Z")
Yeah, form of birth control. Goodness no. Mine cost $600. I had to travel 3 hours from the small college town I was living in to get one. I did it medically so I swigged the poison Kool Aid at the clinic, picked up the pills and went home. The father and I had just started a serious relationship. I was 6 months away from getting the hell out of the small college town. He had another whole year of college to finish. When I took the final pills at home, in the privacy of my own room, I thought I was going to die. It hurt so bad , I mean it felt like my insides were being pulled out of me. I puked for 8 hours straight while spending the time between dry heaves curled up in a ball on the bathroom floor bleeding through a huge grandma sanitary pad an hour. It was horrible, it was the worst experience of my entire life. But do I regret it? No. Not at all. I am neither finacially nor mentally ready to take care of another human life. I’m not convinced people use abortion as birth control. $600 and 8 hours of puking? I’m sure there must be another way… ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/79 "2003-08-20T13:21:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AvhHines \* > \*\*I always find it interesting when the anti-choice people say it’s okay in the case of rape or incest, because that seems to me to reveal the heart of the matter. If the problem is truly that abortion is murder of innocents, why are children engendered by rape or incest less worthy of protection than those conceived in the course of recreational sex? > > I suspect the idea of almost recreational abortions which is held so dear by the anti-choicers is necessary, because you can find it much easier to detest someone who callously and repeatedly gets pregnant (without birth control!) and aborts, gets pregnant and aborts. A desperate teenager who sees her life falling into ruins about her if she has a baby (even with adoption) is a lot harder to get worked up, since for people of ordinary empathy, her case is more understandable. \*\* I just mentioned the rape part because I didn’t want to stir up too much more controversy. I actually believe that raped women should not have abortions for this reason. ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887/80 "2003-08-20T13:24:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tramp \* > \*\* No. Not at all. I am neither finacially nor mentally ready to take care of another human life. > \*\* Well, you had another choice, which I think is a lot better. Put the baby up for adoption, or find someone you know and trust and get them to adopt it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-woman-regret-abortions/195887.md?page=5)