Abortion Is Normal.
Abortion is common.
Around 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide each year. In the U.S., about 25% of people with uteruses will have an abortion.
61% of all unintended pregnancies, and 29% of all pregnancies end in induced abortion.
81% of abortions occur in the first 9 weeks, with 94% occurring before 13 weeks. About 1% of abortions occur after 21 weeks.
63% of US abortions use mifepristone and misoprostol, though that number doesn’t count self managed abortion, an increasingly common way for people terminate pregnancies in the safety, privacy and comfort of their own homes.
Abortion is Safe.
Medical abortion is extremely safe, with serious complications occurring in under .5% of cases. 97% of patients report no complications before 13 weeks, with about 2.5% reporting minor complications.
Death rates for Mifepristone are very low, about 5 per million users, compared to 20 per million for penicillin, or 49 per million for Viagra.
The risk of death from childbirth is about 14 times higher than the risk from abortion.
Abortion is Healthcare.
There are those who claim that abortion can't be healthcare because "pregnancy isn't a disease." But on the one hand, pregnancy isn’t a medically neutral state—it's complex, and complications can arise, sometimes endangering the health or life of the pregnant person. On the other hand, preventative care like routine testing and vaccination are unquestionably healthcare, even though they’re often given to people who are perfectly healthy. People may choose to terminate a planned pregnancy for a variety of reasons, including severe fetal anomalies, risks to their own physical or mental health, the discovery of an unviable pregnancy, or sudden changes in personal circumstances that make continuing the pregnancy untenable. These decisions, like all healthcare decisions, deserve to be made with medical guidance and personal autonomy.
Abortion is normal.
People of all ages and backgrounds have abortions. While most are in their 20s, teens and people in their 30s and 40s also seek care, often due to health concerns, financial instability, or family considerations.
Women, trans men, and non-binary people have abortions. Most (about 60%) are already parents, citing their existing children as a key factor.
Abortion rates vary by race due to systemic inequities in healthcare and economic access. Black and Hispanic individuals have higher rates than white individuals, often linked to financial and healthcare disparities. Many abortion seekers are low-income, citing concerns about affording another child, lack of paid leave, or limited childcare.
Like all healthcare decisions, abortion is deeply personal and shaped by individual circumstances.
Abortion is compatible with religion.
Many faith traditions recognize the moral complexity of pregnancy and uphold a person’s right to make their own reproductive choices. While religious perspectives vary, numerous faith-based organizations affirm that abortion can be an ethical and compassionate decision. Groups such as Faith Aloud, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Interfaith Voices for Reproductive Justice, and SACReD advocate for reproductive freedom as a matter of conscience and dignity. These organizations emphasize that religious teachings often prioritize well-being, autonomy, and moral agency. Faith traditions, including certain Jewish, Christian, Unitarian Universalist, and Buddhist communities, affirm that abortion can be a responsible and just choice. Many religious leaders and scholars argue that forcing someone to continue a pregnancy against their will contradicts core values of compassion, justice, and human dignity.
Despite the dominant narrative that religion uniformly opposes abortion, faith and reproductive rights have long coexisted. Religious leaders have historically played key roles in advocating for abortion access, including during the pre-Roe era when clergy helped people obtain safe abortions. Today, faith-based reproductive justice movements continue to affirm that supporting abortion access upholds care, love, and social responsibility.
Ultimately, no single religious perspective defines abortion’s morality. Many people of faith—including clergy, theologians, and believers—affirm that reproductive choice is not only compatible with religion but, for many, a reflection of their deepest values.
“The truth is that life is unfathomably complex, people with uteruses own their bodies unconditionally, and every abortion story is as unique as the person who lives it.”
Lindy West