Sociology

The debate about abortion has continued to range day after day in all nations developing or otherwise. This can partly be explained by the various physical and mental adverse effects it has on all those who have executed it, authorized it but most importantly those who have experienced it. Its effects however differ depending on why and how it was done. This has in turn stimulated econometric studies on how the changes in abortion policy have affected various social issues of paramount importance being child abuse, crime, risky sexual affairs, demographic changes and last but not least welfare expenditures.

Mandatory Waiting Time for the Pregnant Women
There have been arguments and counter arguments on this hot issue. Abortion rights groups argue that women should be given the right to abort since abortion not only improves the lives of those aborting but also that of the whole community in which they live. Anti-abortion activists on the other hand cite the harm done on the unborn as their major driving force but they soften their stand on the mention of the mandatory waiting periods which are aimed at making sure that a person makes the most informed decision before aborting. (Klick 207)

It would appear as though waiting periods (and the counseling that usually accompanies them) induce a more reasoned approach to the abortion decision, avoiding rash decisions on the part of the pregnant women. Better decision-making processes presumably lead to fewer regrets later on, lowering the incidence of depression and, ultimately, suicide. These results suggest mandatory waiting periods represent public policies that generate large welfare gains for women faced with unwanted pregnancies. (207)
Opponents of waiting periods however cannot hear any of this in spite of how rational it is. They claim that waiting periods only go a step further to exert mental torture on a woman as well as increasing effort and cost of securing an abortion. They say the waiting period can do nothing to prevent a woman from securing an abortion.

The Dangers of Abortion
Think of the potential problems of women seeking back-alley, or illegal abortions if abortion is not kept legal. What is interesting about this argument is that Roe v. Wade basically made people who were previously considered illegal abortionists, now legal abortionists As quoted in Roe v. Wade The state is constitutionally barred, however, from requiring review of the abortion decision by a hospital committee or concurrence in the decision by two physicians other than the attending physician. The Constitution also prohibits a state from requiring that the abortion be in a hospital licensed by the Joint Committee on Accreditation of Hospitals or indeed that it be a hospital at all. By virtually eliminating state regulation of abortions, the Court simply let illegal back-alley abortionists to go legal, with their procedures unchanged. (Williams, 66)

With complete disregard to the potential harm or even death of the unborn, women are more often than not tempted to opt for any kind of abortion, its safety not withstanding. The unborn that is always at the center of pro-life activists discussions has absolutely no power on the decision of whether to abort or not and if to abort which method to use. Women continue to suffer post abortion health complications like severe damages to uterine wall and other muscles keeping in mind that this is usually a surgical process the future effects which could include among other things future miscarriages, scarring, ectopic pregnancies and other related medical complications .The legality of the process has not done much to improve on these dangers and side effects which have even been cited as causes of the increasing number of suicide among aborting women. It would be worth to note that the risk of suicide is up to three times higher than in those women who adopt induced abortion than in those who carry their pregnancy to full term.  (Williams, 71)

Scientific Implications of Abortion
Social effects come not without accompanying scientific implications which are evidence enough of the bodily harm of abortion. A medical researcher by training, Ms. Begin cites several reasons abortions are dangerous. A pregnant woman should never have surgery, let alone major abdominal surgery like abortion, she states. Her blood coagulation factors are extremely vulnerable, and she can easily bleed to death. Shock, coma and death can happen within a few minutes after the onset of hemorrhaging, yet clinics cant be equipped for emergency blood transfusions. (Schuster 23)

The pro-life advocate notes that suction machines often used for the procedure can damage a womans uterus and even cause blood poisoning by sucking in fecal material from the intestines. Blood poisoning can also occur when abortions are incomplete. Cadaver parts remain inside the mothers womb and general blood poisoning septicemia sets in, Ms. Begin says. Thats often fatal.

These are the issues that all activist groups for abortion or against it, for waiting periods or against should keep in mind as they debate their various stands. A woman might become free from mental torture by aborting only to end her life prematurely by securing an abortion. Effects of abortion should therefore be analyzed from all dimensions and just at the face value. (Schuster 25)

Induced Abortion and Associated Complications in the Subsequent Pregnancy
Induced abortion is one of the abortion methods that are considered relatively safe. Being a surgical procedure, it comes with it various risks the main ones being tissue infection and damage. This could further lead to complications in subsequent pregnancies. Low Birth Weights (LBW) has been pointed out as one of the effects of induced abortions. (Zhou 1119)

There are various reasons which people have cited as their driving force while opting for induced abortions. These are when a partner is exchanged, when a woman has had the children she thinks are enough and if the pregnancy does not fit into her career plan .Further, poor social conditions are often attributed to inducing women to procure abortion. They do this in the fear that they might not be in a position to execute their responsibilities as parents which comes with financial responsibilities too.

The underlying reasons not withstanding the harm caused by induced abortion more often than not exceeds the benefits. It should be kept in mind that .Surgical removal of fetal tissue may damage the endometrium and the uterine cavity which may increase the risk of placenta complications in subsequent pregnancies. This is directly attributed to injury sustained during the surgical process. (Zhou 1120)

After a thorough analysis of the abortion issue, it leaves no doubt that women, the whole nation or even the entire universe has nothing positive to show about abortion except where it is done to save a mother who could be in danger. It is evident that women continue to suffer emotionally and physically even after abortion which is contrary to what most pro-choice advocates think that they are empowering women.

It was expected that deaths related to abortion would reduce significantly after Roe v. Wade but statistics show nothing to that effect. More and more women continue to be slaughtered and maimed as they try to secure abortions. Their revelations are clear testimony that abortion is not here to help anyone. This could not have been put better than by Mealey who echoes the same sentiments. Contrary to the benefits they are always promised of or even visualize in their minds, women who abort only end up in more serious problems of varying magnitudes. (Mealey 128)

It is now evident beyond reasonable doubt that women who abort are at a greater risk of suffering from psychological disorders like anxiety, depression or even suicide. This in turn stimulates them to turn to drugs and substances abuse which only goes a step further to add them more woe. They loose total control of their lives and some have even been quoted saying that life would never be the same again. Other receiving the empowerment that they were being promised pro-abortion activists, they end up being powerless and in a bid to save others from such problems they take an about and become anti-abortion activists. This could in part be explained by the feeling of violation that they experienced after the abortion. (Mealey 128)

It is now time to save people from being misled about the benefits of abortion which up to now cannot be clearly be pinpointed, they have been taking place for over three decades now. America can longer ignore the deaths of not only the unborn but also the women who die in the process if they are not fortunate enough to live and experience the post-abortion trauma. It is time to tell the truth. (Mealey 128)

The ball now lies in the court of all activists, state and federal authorities which reconsider the Roe v. Wade in a bid to protect not only the unborn but also the mothers who suffer post abortion health and emotional problems as well as the greater risk of loosing their lives.