Abortion

Worldwide there are an estimated 42 million induced abortions per year, with one in five pregnancies ending in induced abortion. Among American women, nearly 1.25 million abortions were performed in 2005, and it is estimated that 22% of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) ended in abortion. The reasons for abortion vary widely, from convenience, inaccessibility of birth control, an ill-timed pregnancy, coercion, use of abortion as a de facto form of birth control, economic pressures, and young age. Types of abortion and timing in the pregnancy also vary widely. Most American women cite ill timing of a pregnancy in terms of economic and life circumstance as their reason for abortion, and many of these women abort early on in their pregnancies.