FACTSHEET FEB. 9, 2025
School of Health Sciences: Public Health, Liberty University
HLTH 551
March 2, 2024
Author Note
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed
FACTSHEET FEB. 9, 2025
Fact Sheet:
Access to X-ray Imaging: Why It Matters
Bottom Line: Abortion is a medical procedure for terminating a pregnancy. While often described as a simple
procedure, abortion has its inherent medical risks and complications. A variety of techniques are available,
dependent upon the gestational age; all with differing health hazards. Studies show that abortion procedures can
lead to physical and psychological complications, including increased risks of preterm birth and mental health
disorders.1-3 This fact sheet summarizes the main abortion procedures and their associated health risks.
Health Impacts
Physical Health Risks: Women
may experience infertility, chronic
pelvic pain, and increased risks of
future pregnancy complications.10
Psychological Risks: Studies
indicate that abortion is linked to
higher rates of anxiety, depression,
substance abuse, and even
suicide.11
Public Health Concerns: Repeated
abortions are linked with higher risks of preterm
birth, placental complications, and maternal health
deterioration in subsequent pregnancies.12
Image source: 16
Key
Facts
•Medication (Medical Abortion) Procedure: Employs two medicines,
mifepristone and misoprostol, to affect an abortion up to 10 weeks pregnant.4
Risks: Heavy bleeding, severe pain, infection, incomplete abortion needing
surgery, and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. 5
Aspiration Abortion (Suction Abortion) Procedure: Vacuum aspiration
method removes the fetus from the uterus; During the first trimester.6
Risks: Uterus injury, infection, heavy bleeding, and weakened cervix causing
future pregnancy issues.6
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) Procedure: In second-trimester abortion, the
cervix is dilated, and the fetal tissue is removed surgically using forceps.7
Risks: Uterus and organ damage, early birth risk, infections, and emotional
trauma.7
Induction Abortion Procedure: In this late-term abortion, the induction of
labor is artificially provoked to deliver the fetus.8
Risks: Uterine rupture, heavy bleeding, fatal embolism, and emotional
distress.8
Hysterotomy (C-Section Abortion) Procedure: Surgical procedure like a
cesarean section but used exclusively for abortion in late pregnancy.9
Risks: High risk of heavy bleeding, scarring causing infertility, and higher
maternal death risk.9
FACTSHEET FEB. 9, 2025
Public Health
Leadership and Best Practices
★ Informed Consent: Patients should
receive comprehensive counseling on
medical risks before undergoing an
abortion.13
★ Medical Oversight: Regular
medical follow-ups should be
required post-abortion to monitor for
complications.14
★ Alternative Support Services:
Increased access to crisis pregnancy
centers, prenatal care, and adoption
services should be promoted to
provide women with alternatives.14
★ Policy Considerations:
Governments and healthcare
organizations should consider
implementing stricter regulations on
late-term abortion procedures to
reduce health risks.15
⬅
Safety Risks Chart
No Pregnancy and Abortion
have the highest death counts,
with Abortion exceeding No
Pregnancy.16
Miscarriage:shows a moderate
number of deaths, lower than
Abortion but higher than Birth. 16
Birth:is associated with the
lowest number of deaths among
the categories. 16
FACTSHEET FEB. 9, 2025
Abortion Policies and Maternal Mortality
This chart shows the relationship between live births and
the proportion of maternal deaths due to abortion over
time. It shows how abortion laws affect women's health,
suggesting that stricter abortion laws lead to more deaths
from unsafe abortions. The key data points and trends
include: 17
📊 Crude Birth Rate (blue line): This represents the
number of live births per 1,000 people. The chart shows
fluctuations over the years, with notable declines during
periods of restricted abortion access. 17
📊 Percentage of Maternal Deaths Caused by Abortion
(red line): This tracks the proportion of maternal deaths
directly linked to abortion. The percentage significantly
increases during periods of abortion restrictions and
decreases when restrictions are lifted. 17
📊 Key Annotations:
✔ Abortion Restricted: A sharp rise in maternal deaths
caused by abortion correlates with restricted access to
abortion services. 17
✔ Abortion Restrictions Ended: Maternal deaths
caused by abortion decline sharply as restrictions are
lifted, indicating improved maternal health outcomes. 17
Image: 17
Chart ⬇
Additional Resources
For more on abortion, health risks, and
policies, see these resources:
American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG):– Provides
evidence-based guidelines on abortion and
reproductive health.:https://www.acog.org
World Health Organization (WHO):–
Offers global health data and abortion
safety guidelines.:https://www.who.int
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC):– Abortion surveillance
reports and public health
policies.:https://www.cdc.gov
Guttmacher Institute:– Research and
policy analysis on reproductive health and
rights.:https://www.guttmacher.org
Charlotte Lozier Institute:– Pro-life
research institute focusing on abortion and
maternal health.:https://lozierinstitute.org
National Right to Life:– Advocacy
organization providing information on
alternatives to
abortion.:https://www.nrlc.org
Planned Parenthood – Comprehensive
reproductive health resources, including
abortion care.
https://www.plannedparenthood.org
School of Health Sciences: Public Health, Liberty University | HLTH 551 |
“Fewer women would have abortions
if wombs had windows” 18
Dr. Bernard Nathanson
FACTSHEET FEB. 9, 2025
Biblical Reflections
Being a healthcare professional in the radiology field, one always finds patients who are pregnant and require
imaging services. Such interactions tend to bring out the balance between care for the patient and ethical
considerations, especially in cases involving complications of pregnancy or abortion-related issues. Radiologic
imaging represents a first step in confirming pregnancy viability, detecting fetal abnormalities, and ensuring
maternal health. It requires healthcare professionals to handle the situation with compassion, clinical accuracy,
and respect for life. Scripture provides insights on the sanctity of life and concern for people's basic needs:
📖 Sanctity
of Life: In Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV, 2011), "For you created my inmost being you knit me
together in my mother's womb." It highlights the inherent value of human life and how God is concerned with the
process of creation in detail. Observing fetal development through ultrasound imaging enhances the same
argument about human life's mystery and beauty at its earliest levels.
📖
Defending the Vulnerable: Proverbs 24:11-12 NIV, 2011) exhorts, "Rescue those being led away to
death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter." Healthcare workers have a duty and must ensure that
pregnant patients get the needed care while also considering the health of both the mother and the babies well-
being.
📖
Compassion and Healing: Jesus says, Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go now and leave your
life of sin" to a woman caught in the act of sin in John 8:10-11(NIV, 2011). The message here indicates this is
what post-abortion care is, providing emotional support to the holistic healing of the choices these women need
to make.
📖
Justice and Mercy: Micah 6:8 (NIV, 2011) reminds believers to "act justly, love mercy and walk
humbly with your God." This is one guiding principle that should influence the development and addressing of
policies on abortion issues, ethical considerations, and offering of alternatives to women in crisis.
📖
Caring for the Weak: Isaiah 1:17 (NIV,2011) states, “Learn to do right; see justice. Defend the
oppressed. Plead the case for the widow and for the causes of the fatherless ones." This, among other biblical
dictates, urges supporting the cause for those that may not have support and reaching the expectant mothers with
all needed resources, enabling them to acquire maternal and infant care. A principle which in turn ought to be
one that leads into discussion and resolution upon policies, ethical consideration, and offering of options
regarding women's abortions.
From the biblical standpoint, public health should focus on maternal health support, access to prenatal care, and
other alternatives-humane choices such as adoptions and related counseling. The radiologists are of great
importance in ensuring that imaging is precise to help the physician diagnose pregnancy complications accurately
to provide ethical patient-centered care, incorporating medical best practices with biblical values.
FACTSHEET FEB. 9, 2025
References
1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Medication Abortion Up to 70 Days of Gestation.
ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 225. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;136(4): e31-e47. Available
at::https://www.acog.org
2. Kristiansen MB, Shayo BC, Philemon R, et al. Medical management of induced and incomplete first‐
trimester abortion by non‐physicians in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic review and meta‐
analysis of randomized controlled trials. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica. 2021;100(4):718-
726. doi:10.1111/aogs.14134. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33724458/
3. World Health Organization. Abortion. WHO Fact Sheets. 2022. Available at::https://www.who.int
4. Hinson, L., Bhatti, A.M., Sebany, M. et al. How, when and where? A systematic review on abortion
decision making in legally restricted settings in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
BMC Women's Health 22, 415 (2022).:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01962-0.
5. Ogbu-Nwobodo L, Shim RS, Vinson SY, et al. Mental health implications of abortion restrictions for
historically marginalized populations. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(17):1613-1617.
doi:10.1056/NEJMms2211124. Available at: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMms2211124
6. Owolabi OO, Rossier C, Compaore R, et al. Searching for Needles in a Haystack: Exploring Alternative
Operational Approaches to Classify the Safety of Induced Abortions Using Respondent‐Driven Sampling
Data From Two Sub‐Saharan African Settings. Studies in family planning. 2024;55(4):251-268.
doi:10.1111/sifp.12276. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sifp.12276
7. Zareba K, La Rosa VL, Ciebiera M, Makara-Studzińska M, Commodari E, Gierus J. Psychological effects
of abortion: An updated narrative review. East J Med. 2020;25(3):477-483.
https://jag.journalagent.com/ejm/pdfs/EJM_25_3_477_483.pdf.
8. Raymond EG, Grimes DA. The comparative safety of legal induced abortion and childbirth in the United
States. Obstet Gynecol. 2012;119(2 Pt 1):215-219. Available at::https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
9. Tanne JH. Women denied abortions for dangerous pregnancy problems sue three US states.:BMJ. 2023;
382:2137. Published 2023 Sep 19. doi:10.1136/bmj. p2137. Available at:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37726127/
10. Ndyanabangi B, Livingstone M, Gobeh W, Logan GG, Atukunda L. Unsafe abortion – A Risk factor for
maternal mortality in Liberia - An analysis of the characteristics of unsafe abortion clients and risk factors
for maternal morbidity and mortality. African journal of reproductive health. 2021; 25:43-50. Availabel at:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37585819/
FACTSHEET FEB. 9, 2025
11. Studnicki J, Longbons T, Reardon DC, et al. The Enduring Association of a First Pregnancy Abortion with
Subsequent Pregnancy Outcomes: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Health Serv Res Manag Epidemiol. 2022;
9:23333928221130942. Published 2022 Oct 11. doi:10.1177/23333928221130942. Available at:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36246345/
12. Guttmacher Institute. Global trends in abortion laws and policies. 2023. Available
at::https://www.guttmacher.org/2023/12/state-policy-trends-2023-first-full-year-roe-fell-tumultuous-year-
abortion-and-other
13. CDC. Public health and abortion surveillance. 2023. Available at::https://www.cdc.gov
14. WHO. Guidelines for safe abortion practices. 2022. Available at::https://www.who.int
15. Jones RK, Kirstein M, Philbin J. Abortion incidence and service availability in the United States, 2020.
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2022;54(4):128-141. doi:10.1363/psrh.12215. Available at:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36404279/
16. Abortion is not safer for women than childbirth. NIFLA.org. July 23, 2020. Accessed February 5, 2025.
https://nifla.org/abortion-not-safer-women-childbirth/
17. Haddad LB, Nour NM. Unsafe abortion: unnecessary maternal mortality. Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2009
Spring;2(2):122-6. PMID: 19609407; PMCID: PMC2709326. Available at:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2709326/
18. De Vignemont D. How an American film in 1984 shaped the fetal personhood movement.:New Lines
Magazine. Published October 25, 2024. Accessed February 5, 2025.:https://newlinesmag.com/essays/how-
an-american-film-in-1984-shaped-the-fetal-personhood-movement/
