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Reasons for Abortions

Abortion, though legal, is a controversial and sensitive practice of medically terminating a pregnancy. According to WebMD, there are just over 1 million legal abortions per year in the United States. Not every pregnancy is safe or ideal for the pregnant woman. There are social, ethical and medical reasons for abortions, depending on the pregnant woman's condition, status, viewpoints or lifestyle.

  1. Rape/Incest

    • One of the most basic and widely accepted reasons for an abortion is a pregnancy as a result of rape or incest. Women who become pregnant through incest or sexual intercourse with a member of their immediately family risk having a child with significant medical problems due to inbreeding. If a woman gets pregnant after being a victim of rape, AbortionFacts.com considers an abortion trauma-related. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, a medical journal, states that less than 2 percent of women getting abortions cite rape or incest as their reason.

    Unwanted Pregancy

    • An unwanted pregnancy means that the parents did not intend to conceive a child or cannot properly care for a child. Birth control failure is a common reason for abortion, according to WebMD. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health's survey results indicate that a large number of women receiving abortions have many personal or family reasons for having abortions. Some of these reasons include unstable relationships, abusive spouses, economic instability or inability to support the child and job or education obligations that would prevent adequate attention to the child.

    Teen Pregnancy

    • WebMD states that 30 percent of teenagers who become pregnant have abortions. Women under age 18 who get abortions often legally are required to get their parents' permission to obtain one. Pregnant teenagers often terminate their pregnancy because they are too young and cannot financially support their children. Also, there is data, according to WebMD, that shows teen mothers often do not complete their education. Having a baby under age 18 can drastically change a person's life and alter her future.

    Medical Problems

    • There are many medical reasons for abortion. Women with HIV, Rubella or other life-threatening conditions risk passing on their health problems to their children, although not all children born to HIV positive parents get infected. Women with weakened kidneys, livers or hearts risk their lives to give birth and sometimes choose abortion to prevent dying in childbirth. Complications arriving with a child like ectopic pregnancy or toxemia sometimes lead to abortion to prevent injury or death to the mother.

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