Abortion

Reasons Women Choose Abortion

For every 100 births in Canada, about 32 women have an abortion. In 2002, about 105,00 women chose to have an abortion.⁴

The most common reasons women consider abortion are:

• Birth control (contraceptive) failure. Over half of all women who have an abortion used a contraceptive method during the month they became pregnant.⁵
• Inability to support or care for a child.
• To end an unwanted pregnancy.
• To prevent the birth of a child with birth defects or severe medical problems. Such defects are often unknown until routine second-trimester tests are done.
• Pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.
• Physical or mental conditions that endanger the woman's health if the pregnancy is continued.

In Canada, 9 out of 10 abortions are performed in the first 12 weeks (first trimester) of pregnancy.⁶

Illegal abortion

An abortion is legal in Canada. But they may not be available in certain provinces or non-urban areas. Contact your closest Planned Parenthood or other family planning clinic for more information about abortion options in your area.

An abortion performed without professional medical care (illegally) has a much greater risk of complications than one performed legally with good medical care.

Teen pregnancy

About 50% of pregnant teens choose to have an abortion.⁷

The most common reasons that teens and young women choose to have an abortion include:⁸

• Awareness that they are not mature enough to have a child.
• Knowledge that they are financially not able to support or care for a child.
• Concern that having a baby would change their lives and compromise their (and a child's) future—many young mothers don't ever manage to get the education and employment necessary to raise their child above the poverty line.

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Healthwise Medical Writer	Last Updated: March 5, 2008
Medical Review:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Lori A. Boardman, MD, ScM - Obstetrics and Gynecology Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.