There might be several ethical and moral arguments regarding abortion, however women now are basing the pregnancy terminations on current life setting even if their personal religious beliefs go against the notion. Pregnancy termination decisions in general are based on practical and personal reasons rather political or ethical/moral arguments.
A study on women ending their pregnancy revealed how women connected their reproductive decisions with other aspects of their lives and how having an abortion will affect their individual identity and preserve their psychological/physical health – which included coping with abandonment of their partner following birth or abortion.
Several recent studies have indicated that women now prefer ending their pregnancies with Mifepristone and Misoprostol abortion pills than going through a surgery.
A Research on Abortion Options
A recently published research studied twelve respondents who were offered different methods of undergoing termination. Out which 70% chose the medical procedure.
The most common reason why women chose to buy abortion pills is because it provided more privacy and autonomy to patients, while other preferred it because it was less invasive and more natural than surgery. Another study stated that among 86 women ending their pregnancy through medication, 48% wanted to avoid surgery and chose Mifepristone with Misoprostol due to its perceived naturalness of the process and added benefits of having the process done in comfortable seclusion. As FDA has approved home administration of Misoprostol, the patient doesn’t have to return to the office or clinic.
Method
The abortion rights mobilization in New York has funded several clinical trials involving Mifepristone since 1996. At the time when the research was conducted 3,143 women from sixteen sites had took part in the trials.
With some variations, women were given 200 mg of Mifepristone on the first day to the clinic. After one or two days, women took four pills of Misoprostol (800 mcg total) at home where they choose to take it either buccally (in cheek pouches) or vaginally. They were informed to expect stomach cramps and vaginal bleeding as well as given information on different side effects that might occur after taking Misoprostol and how to manage these side effects. They were also guided on how to seek medical aid in case of excessive cramps or bleeding.
Women were interviewed regarding their experience before and after going though the procedure. The questionnaire addressed two open ended question as to ‘what were your concerns while going through the process?’ and ‘what did the procedure mean to you?’
Results of The Study
According to the abortion mobilization research larger number of women stated that having abortion at home was a comfortable experience. For example one woman was prepared for her at-home pregnancy termination by stocking up food, magazines and other things to distract from the pain. This was the opposite of a woman who hadn’t informed anyone and therefore as a reult didn’t have as much as private experience than she had hoped.
Among women who had been informed about the pain, having pregnancy termination at home was more manageable and comfortable at home with intake of one or two pain killers.