Abortion as an Issue Closely Related to Contraception - Research Paper Example

Contraception and Abortion Introduction Understanding sexuality helps an individual make informed decisions and judgement on emotional and physical wellbeing. Infections and pregnancy are notable consequences of sex (Rowlands, 2007). To some extent, contraception and abortion provide the solution to these consequences, particularly pregnancy. As such, this paper articulates facts on contraception and abortion, evaluating the associated moral and ethical concerns, in an effort to encourage informed decision making. In the modern society, fewer women breastfeed for long as was the case in the ancient days. Furthermore, these women experience about 450 menstrual cycles as contrasted to the estimated 160 during historic times, characterised by prolonged lactational amenorrhoea and repeated births (Rowlands, 2007). Further compounded by smaller families, men and women have shown greater interest in their reproductive lives.Thus, enlightenment on human sexuality issues on contraception and abortion would benefit decision-making with this regard. Contraception Contraception refers to the prevention of egg-sperm union, also defined as the prevention of ovulation. This involves the application of some physical intervention to prevent a new individual from being created (Golanty & Edlin, 2012). Indeed, there are a number of methods used to bar conception, thus considered as contraceptives or conception controllers. Condoms are commonly used, with those made from polyurethane gaining more popularity to those made of latex because of being odourless, easy to don, it transmits heat and is non-allergic despite a poor breakage history. Though gradually facing out, spermicide nonoxinol-9 has also been in use for long. The pills, now in use for about 4 decades, revolutionised contraception to a great extent, becoming the most popular form of contraception. Other forms of contraceptives include injections and implants. Not even the hormonal products that came into the market later changed this. Even though these contraceptives are easily available in pharmacies, unwanted pregnancies are still rampant. In the 1970s, a new concept referred to as emergency contraception was introduced. This involves the use of hormones after sex. In a majority of countries, including the UK and US, they are available over-the-counter (Rowlands, 2007). Golanty and Edlin (2012) cite progestin-only pills as another approach to emergency contraception. The development of emergency contraceptives should have reduced the use of regular contraceptives and curb on abortions. However, Rowlands (2007) documents a contrary observation, noting no compromise in the use of regular contraceptives or even sexual behaviours with the availability of emergency contraceptives across the counter in the US and UK. Furthermore, there has been no significant change in abortion rates. Abortion Abortion is an issue closely related to contraception. To appreciate this, it would be important to note that birth control refers to the prevention of birth of an individual who has already been conceived. This applies whether an individual is just about to be born or whether the individual has just been conceived (Rocca et al., 2014). Therefore, by all standards, abortion is a form of birth control. This means, the birth control pills, NORPLANT, Depo-Provera, intra-uterine devices, IUDs and abortion pills qualify as abortifacient birth control strategies (Hyde & DeLamater, 2008). Golanty and Edlin define abortion as “the intentional, premature termination of pregnancy” (2012, 96). In the US, abortion rate in 2010 stood at 14.6 per 1,000 women aged between 15 and 44 and 228 per 1,000 live births. Women in their twenties were the most common to procure abortions. About 1.5 million abortions are procured yearly, this being about 25% of all pregnancies and 50% of unintended pregnancies (U.S.Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). They have been employed as backup to contraception. When no contraception is used or when a contraceptive fails, abortion would be used as a recourse. Numerous abortion methods exist. According to Golanty and Edlin (2012), surgical abortion became more practical with the introduction of vacuum aspiration in 1960s in Britain. Thereafter, in the 1980s, antiprogestogens were introduced in France. The injection of mifepristone, followed by a minimal dose prostaglandin has proven to be quite safe and effective for abortion (Hyde & DeLamater, 2008).Even so, the earlier a pregnancy is aborted, the lower the death and complication risks. Rowlands (2007) advocates for abortions 2 to 3 weeks after the initial contact with a healthcare provider.Otherwise, the risk of complications sets in. Pro-Lifeand Pro-Choice Perspectives Pro-life perspectives encompass both the moral and religious arguments that criticize abortion. Pro-life activists oppose the pro-choice perception of a foetus as not being intrinsically valuable because of its lack of self-awareness and reasoning ability.They believe that the unborn is a human and thus entitled to all the rights a human would be entitled to, including the right to life. As such, this considers abortion to be unethical since someone else makes the choice for someone else, the foetus, to live or die (Lopez, 2012). As such, abortion should be banned. Pro-life activists do not consider it right to classify artificial contraceptives as anti-life.For over 1,900 years, Christians followed this belief, choosing to be monolithic about contraception. Use of contraception was against the Christian principles (Golanty & Edlin, 2012). However, in 1930, the Christian stand on contraceptives was relaxed. This followedthe approval of use of contraceptives by the Anglican’s Lambeth Conference, albeit the application of this approval only in severely demanding cases. This appeared as a defamation of Church teachings, but was fast embraced by Christians around the world. Today, it is only the Roman Catholic Church that opposes the use of contraception (Rowlands, 2007). Even so, its members ignore this stand and use contraception anyway. However, both the Catholic Church and the other Christians converge on abortion, Lopez (2012) observing that both parties oppose abortion. This borrows from the belief that life is sacred; with abortion being a termination of life, it should not be accepted. Just like Christianity, Islam promotes unlimited procreation within wedlock. However, the religion does not ban the temporary use of contraceptives. It only disallows permanent contraception, unless pregnancy would pose a threat to the life or health of the expectant mother. In the same way, it prohibits abortion unless the health or life of the pregnant woman faces real risk as a result. Should there be serious congenital anomalies with the foetus, abortion could be procured, only if done within the first 40 days of the pregnancy. This could be leniently extended to 120 days from the day of fertilisation (Golanty & Edlin, 2012). Thus, abortion could be procured among Muslims, a stand supported by pro-choice advocates. Pro-choice advocates pay greater attention on those who avoid having children, considering the future implications of such unwanted children. When an adult expresses inability or lack of interest in having a child, it could arouse future disproportionate implication. As noted by Hyde and DeLamater (2008) and Lopez (2012), unwanted babies have led to depression, self-mutilation, drug and alcohol abuse, psychosis and even suicide. Some parents of such babies even displace such dissatisfactory feelings on their children thus causing trauma and low self-esteem. Thus, pro-choice advocates front for reasoning between the involved parties to make choices on abortion as opposed to regulating it. Supporters of artificial contraception seek to separate sex from procreation. When contraception fails, they would opt for abortion. The argument has been that abortion serves as a backup to use of contraception (Rowlands, 2007). The National AbortionRights Action League, NARAL has been a vocal group fronting for abortion as a necessary alternative when contraception fails. Of course, the use of contraception should be widely promoted. Nonetheless, with the modern contraceptive technologies and the high possibility of human errors, abortion should be embraced as a backstop. It should not be preferable to the use of contraception, but once conception occurs, pro-choice supporters argue that it should be allowed as an appropriate method for birth control. Contraceptionafter Abortion Enlightenment on contraception after abortion is a critical consideration in prevention of other unwanted or unplanned pregnancies and possibly, a repeat abortion. According to Rocca et al. (2014), an uncomplicated abortion has no negative effect on future fertility of a woman. In fact, ovulation could take place as soon as 8 days after an abortion, 83% of women noted to ovulate within the first cycle after an abortion. Thus, initiating effective contraception without delay after an abortion should be a standard procedure. The World Health Organisation, WHO documents the eligibility of combining hormonal methods and progestin-only pills immediately after abortion (Hyde & DeLamater, 2008). No adverse effects have been reported with this regard. As such, it could even be introduced on the same day abortion is procured, either through surgery or oral contraception. Conclusion Appreciating the importance of understanding human sexuality, insights on contraception and abortion promote the making of informed decisions and judgement on one’s emotional and physical wellbeing. Whereas contraception prevents ovulation, abortion occurs after fertilisation, preferably within the early days of pregnancy. These two issues affecting human sexuality has elicited immense debate with pro-life opposing their use, arguing for the need to respect the sanctity of life while pro-choice supporting, arguing for the need to safeguard the life of the expectant woman then and in future. With contradictory arguments on contraception and abortion, both men and women should critically analyse their situations and make appropriate decisions seeking to promote the greater good. References Golanty, E. & Edlin, G. (2012). Human sexuality: The basics. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Hyde, J. & DeLamater, J. (2008). Understanding human sexuality (10thed.). New York, NY: Mc-Graw Hill. Lopez, R. (2012). Perspectives on abortion: pro-choice, prolife, and what lies in between. European Journal of Social Sciences, 27(4), 511 – 517. Rocca, C. H., Puri, M., harper, C. C., Blum, M., Dulal, B. & Henderson, J. T. (2014). Post abortion contraception a decade after legalization of abortion in Nepal. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 126(2), 170 – 174. Rowlands, S. (2007). Contraception and abortion. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 100(10), 465 – 468. doi: 10.1258/jrsm.100.465 U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, July 18). Reproductive health: Data and statistics. Retrieved 21 November 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/data_stats/ Read More