As a female who believes in women’s rights, I am concerned that those who are clamoring for abortion to be legalised due to their political, social and economic agenda are not informing the people of this country of the grave health risks posed by having abortions.
The British Journal of Cancer has published research that indicates that the risk of having breast cancer significantly increases with having just one abortion.
Abortion is a “blind procedure” and, as a result, the risks associated with abortions are hemorrhage (excessive bleeding), damage to the cervix, damage to the womb, infection and future miscarriages due to damage to the womb.
Some post abortion women also experience symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) such as flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of babies and pregnant women, difficulty maintaining close relationships, feeling numb, thoughts of suicide and even suicide.
I am encouraging the powers that be to learn from Russia’s experience with legalising abortion.
In 1920, the Russian Soviet Republic became the first country in the world to allow abortion in all circumstances. That decision is now regretted. Russian women began to use abortion as a form of birth control. As of 2010, Russia’s abortion rate was 37.4 abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44 years, the highest of any country reported in UN data.
As a result, Russia's population began to steadily fall (due to both negative birthrates and low life expectancy) and this has become a major source of concern. In fact, even the military has been forced to curtail conscription due to shortages of young males.
In 2001, 1.31 million live children were born in Russia, while 2.11 million abortions were performed. In 2005, 1.6 million abortions were registered in Russia; 20% of these involved girls under the age of 18.
As a result, Russia’s Parliament has recently passed several restrictions on abortion into law to combat “a falling birthrate” and “plunging population.” The restrictions include requiring abortion providers to advertise the dangers of abortion to a woman’s health and making it illegal to describe abortion as a safe medical procedure.
Another requirement which is yet to be approved is that women will have to go through a mandatory ultrasound, because 80% of women will not abort something they see on a screen. Doctors are also now allowed to refuse an abortion unless it is medically necessary.
Let us learn from Russia’s experience. Abortion should only be an option for women facing health risks. This is already the case in Trinidad and Tobago. There is no value to be gained in changing the existing laws with regard to abortion.
Maria Joseph,
Pro Life Feminist,
Chaguanas