Abortion...

[Silversky]

A post on relationships and dating today made me think about a discussion me and my boyfriend had yesterday about protection.
It also made us discuss what we would do if I fell pregnant. He knows that I have quite strong beliefs (non-religious) on abortion.
I was wondering how everyone else felt about it?
Thanks : )

[tazz]

i think if ur not ready 4 a baby then use protection. abortions can effect u in the future ive been told. so if u aint ready then b safe. babies r hard work n 4ever

[Octavius]

On principle I disagree with it, but personally believe that there are certain situations where it can be justified and acceptable, if that is the right phraseology (apologies if not)

[Pippa68]

It is possible for a previous abortion to cause fertility problems, tazz...but it must be stressed that this is a very rare occurance, and happens usually due to post operative infection.

Quite early abortions carry very little risk.

I am pro-choice. Having been a mother and a woman who has had an abortion I made the right decision for me & my family. I certainly would never use it as contraception, and doubt there are many who would either.

[Goodsoulette]

I used to be prolife, as a teenager, but am now very prochoice. Being in the situation is the only way you can truly know how you will feel and speculating until you have an unwanted pregnancy is useless. One situation is no easier than another. There are many reasons a girl may unwittingly end up pregnant and its not all through stupidity.

[tazz]

pippa depending on how old u r it can scar u mantally 4 life, so i beieve if not ready b safe. if ur safe n it happens then thats diff.

[Champagne]

I think it's an individual choice. I couldn't possibly judge anybody on this subject unless I was aware of the entire circumstances. I'd be supportive of any girl friend of mine who felt they wanted to abort... for whatever reason.

[radiogaga]

hmmmmmmm, never an easy subject to broach.
personally i feel if a pregnant woman felt she had to resort to a termination its her decision, which she will live with for the rest of her life. (and be reminded)
people who have children already are maybe not as blown away with the thought of having a child as they already have one, and therefore continue with their pregnancy. although it must be said these woman choose to terminate also due to financial factors.
many woman i know and have spoken to from all walks of live, have had terminations. its a fact of life im afraid.

[Pippa68]

Very true, tazz ~ having a baby at a young age doesn't always produce the best results either.

'Being safe' is all well and good, but even the most diligent of women have had contraception fail.

I had my termination after I had already had two children. It was personal circumstances (not financial). I have gone on to have two more children with no problems. I am not saying I will ever forget my termination...but neither do I regret it, as it was the right choice for me.

Nobody would say that abortion is a good thing. It is, however, neccessary. The choice should never be taken away from anyone IMO.

[radiogaga]

i must get my dig in also, men can and do leave it to the woman to decide. which is wholly unfair.

[tiny e.a]

I think it's a terrible decision for most people to have to make and I feel nothing but pity for those people who have to make it. I would never be critical about someones decision to abort or about that person themselves, unless it was someone who used it as a form of contraceotion, but I don't think that really happens.

On a personal level, if I'd become pregnant when I was younger I would have definitely considered it as an option, now I wouldn't now I'm older and would be able, if I had to, to care for a child, unless I had been the victim of a rape.

[sexyrussiann]

I could never ever ever ever have an abortion EVER.

[tazz]

yes pippa thats diff 4 u, i am a a mum of 2 i can understand your situation. i would if i fell preg now to, n its diff if contraception fails. but not using anything at all is what i ment.

[warpig3]

Legend, "where the women opt for abortion when the guy wants the kid"??? That may be so in some cases, but who is carrying the child, who, in most scenarios were the parents split, will end up raising the child?

I am prochoice, and completely agree with Pippa and Champagne. Having had an abortion myself, I can assure you that it is not a decision most women take lightly.

[Pippa68]

Yep, I understand you now tazz :o)

People who don't use any contraception at all and don't want/aren't ready for a baby need their heads read. Unless of course they don't know what caused the preganancy....

[Octavius]

radiogagga - How is it 'wholly unfair' for a man to let a woman decide?

So long as he supports her in making a decision either way I don�t see how it can be unfair.

Surely if the man decided for her that she should keep it, or that she should abort it, this is removing her fundamental right to choose what happens to her own body and that of the foetus?

[Goodsoulette]

but legend what about when women want the kid and guys push them into abortion. What about when a guy chooses to freeze embryos with the woman he loves and then says no you cant use them!

if I was pregnant and wanted an abortion I would not share the news of my pregnancy with the potential father to be. Is that wrong?

[tiny e.a]

I don't know how moral it is but I would keep it to myself too goodsoulette

[redcrx]

Im pro-choice.
There will always be situations where a woman does not want to continue with a pregnancy.
However I do get annoyed when i hear of stories of women having 3, 4 or 5 abortions as if they are just a trip to the dentist. Abortion is not a means of contraception and should never be taken lightly.

[Pippa68]

What Octavius says is very important.

If the woman decided she wanted to keep the baby and the father was adamant he wanted the pregnancy terminated (and succeeded in court) people would be appalled.