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https://www.self.com/story/realize-pregnancy most women find out they're pregnant at about 5-6 weeks.

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affirms the legality of a woman's right to have an abortion under the Fourteenth amendment to the Constitution.

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I think that government should pass a law that helps low income women get abortions because this will stop illegal abortions. If the government helps them, then they don't need to turn to illegal ways to get them, which will stop many criminals from doing them. This will also lower the deaths from illegal abortions since those women would be going to sanitized clean places, which professional doctors. Therefore, I think we should help lower income women get abortions.

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In Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, the Supreme Court upheld rights to abortion. However, the court also gave states the ability to restrict access to abortions.

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The possibility of a women's death due to late abortion is based off the length of the gestation. The risk for a women's death between 16-20 weeks is 1 in 29,000, and the risk increases to 1 in 11,000 after 21 weeks.

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For people who are 8 weeks pregnant or less, it works about 94-98 out of 100 times.

For people who are 8-9 weeks pregnant, it works about 94-96 out of 100 times.

For people who are 9-10 weeks pregnant, it works about 91-93 out of 100 times.

Mifepristone blocks your body’s own progesterone, stopping the pregnancy from growing.

Then you take the second medicine, misoprostol, either right away or up to 48 hours later. This medicine causes cramping and bleeding to empty your uterus.

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2709326/#__sec2title

Many methods in this website show examples of unsafe/ illegal abortion methods

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1821: Connecticut passes first restriction against abortion where you can not abort after you can feel the child move or "quickening."
1873: Anthony Comstock passes a federal law banning the selling or distributing of materials related to contraception and abortion.
1930: During the Great Depression abortions increased significantly. This practice of unregulated abortions lead to a high U.S. maternal mortality rate.
1950: Abortions are allowed if the mother's life is in danger.
1970: 20 states have passed abortion reform or repeal laws.
1972: Supreme Court legalizes the use of birth control pills for all women.
1973: Supreme court settles Roe vs Wade.

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A look at the years before and after Roe v. Wade, the ruling that legalized abortion 40 years ago Tuesday.

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In order for a mother to receive an abortion, she must undergo state-sanctioned counseling. If a minor wants to have an abortion, they must have the consent of a parent. Public funding and state health plans only go towards abortions in cases of rape, incest, or the health of the mother. Public employees only get insurance for an abortion in extreme cases.
https://statelaws.findlaw.com/pennsylvania-law/pennsylvania-abortion-laws.html

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In 2015 there was a total of 638,169 abortions, from around 49 different reporting areas. There was a rate og 11.8 abortions per 1000 women. People in their 20s took for a majority of the abortions while women 30 and older took a smaller percentage

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Late term abortions occur between 12-24 weeks of pregnancy. 88% of abortions occur before 12 weeks, while 1.5% of abortions occur after 21 weeks. The reasons are either the Mother's health is at risk, or after an ultrasound, the Mother knows the baby will be born with a serious physical defect, or a life threatening illness.
ro

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Abortion throughout history started in the 1800s after the Civil War. The law for abortion was codified in legislation under section 1 and 2 of Malicious Shooting and Stabbing Act of 1803.

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Abortion in the 20th Century Pre-Roe v Wade

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Abortion in the 20th Century Pre-Roe v Wade

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During the mid 20th century, arguments over abortion laws heated up because women were frustrated with the lack of control over their own bodies and that abortion was becoming legal in other countries. Women activist groups formed to protest the lack of abortion laws, such as the National Organization for Women (NOW). Dangerous, illegal abortions were not uncommon and often resulted in permanent injuries.

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The abortion rate for 2015 was 11.8 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years, and the abortion ratio was 188 abortions per 1,000 live births.

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uses suction tube device to take "the pregnancy out". 5-10 minutes long. Happens anytime before 14 weeks of pregnancy. https://www.ucsfhealth.org/treatments/surgical_abortion_first_trimester/
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/in-clinic-abortion-procedures/what-happens-during-an-in-clinic-abortion

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Abortions were commonplace and allowed under law but was illegal after "quickening" or when a woman could feel the fetus moving. Not even the Catholic Church believed life was before quickening. By the end of the 19th century, abortions became an issue and became illegal. https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/23/health/abortion-history-in-united-states/index.html

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in 2015 about 1.3 percent of abortions were performed late according to the CDC. people perform abortions for many reasons, to protect the mothers health and life, or from fetal abnormality.
https://www.thelily.com/late-term-abortions-demystified/

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Your support enables the Guttmacher Institute to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights in the United States and globally through our interrelated program of high-quality research, evidence-based advocacy and strategic communications.

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Some common reasons include: The woman was not ready, they could not take care of it properly or wanted to finish school or focus on work. Other reasons may be: if the woman or baby's health may be at risk. Or if the women was raped or abused.

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"As of 2014, some 60% of women having abortions were in their 20s; 59% had one or more children; 86% were unmarried; 75% were economically disadvantaged; and 62% reported a religious affiliation.[1] No racial or ethnic group made up a majority: Some 39% of women obtaining abortions were white, 28% were black, 25% were Hispanic and 9% were of other racial or ethnic backgrounds.[1]"

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Each year, a broad cross section of U.S. women obtain abortions. As of 2014, some 60% of women having abortions were in their 20s; 59% had one or more children; 86% were unmarried; 75% were economically disadvantaged; and 62% reported a religious affiliation.[ 1] No racial or ethnic group made up a majority: Some 39% of women obtaining abortions were white, 28% were black, 25% were Hispanic and 9% were of other racial or ethnic backgrounds.[ 1]

Contraceptive use is a key predictor of whether a woman will have an abortion. In 2011, the very small group of American women who were at risk of experiencing an unintended pregnancy but were not using contraceptives accounted for the majority of abortions.[ 2] Many of these women did not think they would get pregnant or had concerns about contraceptive methods.[ 2] A minority of abortions occured among the much larger group of women who were using contraceptives in the month they became pregnant. Many women who fall into this category have reported difficulty using contraceptives consistently.[ 3]

Abortion is one of the safest surgical procedures for women in the United States. Fewer than 0.05% of women obtaining abortions experience a complication.[ 4]

Since recognizing a woman's constitutional right to abortion in 1973 in Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court has in subsequent decisions reaffirmed that right. The Court has held that a state cannot ban abortion before viability (the point at which a fetus can survive outside the uterus), and that any restriction on abortion after viability must contain exceptions to protect the life and health of the woman. Furthermore, any previability abortion restriction cannot create an "undue burden" on a woman seeking an abortion. This "undue burden" standard was established in Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992 and clarified in the 2016 decision in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. The latter held that scientific evidence must be considered when evaluating the constitutionality of abortion restrictions.[ 5] Some of the most common state-level abortion restrictions are parental notification or consent requirements for minors, limitations on public funding, mandated counseling designed to dissuade a woman from obtaining an abortion, a mandated waiting period before an abortion, and unnecessary and overly burdensome regulations on abortion facilities.

Since 2010, the U.S. abortion landscape has grown increasingly restrictive as more states become hostile to abortion rights. Between 2010 and 2016, states enacted 338 new abortion restrictions, which account for nearly 30% of the 1,142 abortion restrictions enacted by states since the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade.

Pregnancies and Their Outcomes

*In 2011, the 63 million U.S. women of reproductive age (15-44) had six million pregnancies. Sixty-seven percent of these pregnancies resulted in live births and 18% in abortions; the remaining 15% ended in miscarriage.[ 6]

*Approximately 926,200 abortions occurred in the United States in 2014. The resulting abortion rate of 14.6 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age represents a 14% decrease from the 2011 rate of 16.9 per 1,000 women.[ 7]

* In 2014, some 32,030 abortions were provided in Pennsylvania, though not all abortions that occurred in Pennsylvania were provided to state residents, as some patients may have traveled from other states; likewise, some individuals from Pennsylvania may have traveled to another state for an abortion. There was a 12% decline in the abortion rate in Pennsylvania between 2011 and 2014, from 15.1 to 13.3 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. Abortions in Pennsylvania represent 3.5% of all abortions in the United States.[ 7]

Where Women Obtain Abortions

*In 2014, there were 1,671 facilities providing abortion in the United States, representing a 3% decrease from the 1,720 facilities in 2011. Sixteen percent of facilities in 2014 were abortion clinics (i.e., clinics where more than half of all patient visits were for abortion), 31% were nonspecialized clinics, 38% were hospitals and 15% were private physicians' offices. Fifty-nine percent of all abortions were provided at abortion clinics, 36% at nonspecialized clinics, 4% at hospitals and 1% at physicians' offices.[ 7]

*There were 42 abortion-providing facilities in Pennsylvania in 2014, and 20 of those were clinics. These numbers represent an 11% decline since 2011 in overall providers, and no change in clinics from 2011, when there were 47 abortion providers overall, of which 20 were clinics.[ 7]

*In 2014, 90% of U.S. counties had no clinics providing abortions. Some 39% of women of reproductive age lived in those counties and would have had to travel elsewhere to obtain an abortion.[ 7] Of patients obtaining abortions in 2008, one-third had to travel more than 25 miles one way to reach a facility.[ 8]

*In 2014, some 85% of Pennsylvania counties had no clinics that provided abortions, and 48% of Pennsylvania women lived in those counties.[ 7]

Restrictions on Abortion

In Pennsylvania, the following restrictions on abortion were in effect as of May 1, 2018:

A woman must receive state-directed counseling that includes information designed to discourage her from having an abortion, and then wait 24 hours before the procedure is provided.

Health plans offered in the state's health exchange under the Affordable Care Act can only cover abortion if the woman's life is endangered, or in cases of rape or incest, unless individuals purchase an optional rider at an additional cost.

Abortion is covered in insurance policies for public employees only in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest.

The parent of a minor must consent before an abortion is provided.

Public funding is available for abortion only in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest.

The state prohibits abortions performed for the purpose of sex selection.

References

1. Jerman J, Jones RK and Onda T, Characteristics of U.S. Abortion Patients in 2014 and Changes Since 2008, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2016.

2. Sonfield A, Hasstedt K and Gold RB, Moving Forward: Family Planning in the Era of Health Reform, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2014.

3. Frost JJ, Darroch JE and Remez L, Improving contraceptive use in the United States, In Brief, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2008.

4. Weitz TA et al., Safety of aspiration abortion performed by nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants under a California legal waiver, American Journal of Public Health, 2013, 103(3):454-461.

5. Boonstra HD et al., Abortion in Women's Lives, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2006.

6. Special tabulations of data from Finer LB and Zolna MR, Declines in unintended pregnancy in the United States, 2008-2011, New England Journal of Medicine, 2016, 374(9):843-852.

7. Jones RK and Jerman J, Abortion incidence and service availability in the United States, 2014, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2017, 49(1), doi:10.1363/psrh.12015.

8. Jones RK and Jerman J, How far did US women travel for abortion services in 2008? Journal of Women's Health, 2013, 22(8):706-713.

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State Facts About Abortion: Pennsylvania

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National Background and Context Each year, a broad cross section of U.S. women obtain abortions.

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Different states have different laws about getting an abortion too late.

https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/images/381.state_trends_jan23_0.png

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 66 percent of legal abortions occur within the first eight weeks of gestation, and 92 percent are performed within the first 13 weeks.
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/data_stats/abortion.htm

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15-30 minutes for dilation and evacuation, which is a surgical abortion procedure performed after 16 weeks gestation (2nd trimester). A laminaria is inserted into the cervix to dilate it and the next day, the cervix is numbed and a long rod is inserted to take away all tissue from the lining. It is a safe and effective way to completely move out all of the tissue out of the uterus.
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/tw2462
Most women know they are pregnant five to six weeks into the pregnancy

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The type of surgical abortion procedure used is based on the woman's stage of pregnancy. Before seeking a surgical abortion procedure, you should obtain a sonogram to determine if the pregnancy is viable (uterine, non-ectopic pregnancy) and for accurate pregnancy dating.

You can always contact an abortion alternatives specialist to discuss the procedures.

For information about abortion, you may call the APA toll-free helpline at 1-800-672-2296, or search locally by zip code below.

Types Surgical Abortion Procedures

Aspiration
How is aspiration performed?
Aspiration is a surgical abortion procedure performed during the first 6 to 16 weeks gestation. It is also referred to as suction aspiration, suction curettage, or vacuum aspiration. Your abortion provider will give you medication for pain and possibly sedation. You will lie on your back with your feet in stirrups, and a speculum is inserted to open the vagina.

A local anesthetic is administered to your cervix to numb it. Then a tenaculum (surgical instrument with long handles and a clamp at the end) is used to hold the cervix in place for the cervix to be dilated by absorbent rods that vary in size.

The rods may also be put in a few days prior to the procedure. When the cervix is wide enough, a cannula, which is a long plastic tube connected to a suction device, is inserted into the uterus to suction out the fetus and placenta.

The procedure usually lasts 10-15 minutes, but recovery can require staying at the clinic for a few hours. Your doctor will also give you antibiotics to help prevent infection.
What are the side effects and risks of suction aspiration?
Common side effects of the procedure include cramping, nausea, sweating, and feeling faint. Less frequent side effects include possible heavy or prolong bleeding, blood clots, damage to the cervix and perforation of the uterus.

Infection due to remaining tissue or infection caused by an STD or bacteria being introduced to the uterus can cause fever, pain, abdominal tenderness and possibly scar tissue. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if your side effects persist or worsen.

Dilation & Evacuation (D&E)
How is dilation & evacuation performed?
Dilation and evacuation is a surgical abortion procedure performed after 16 weeks gestation. In most cases, 24 hours prior to the actual procedure, your abortion provider will insert laminaria or a synthetic dilator inside your cervix. When the procedure begins the next day, your abortion provider will use a tenaculum to keep the cervix and uterus in place and cone-shaped rods of increasing size are used to continue the dilation process.

A numbing medication will be used on the cervix. A shot may be given before the procedure begins to ensure fetal death has occurred. A cannula (long tube) will then be inserted to begin removing tissue away from the lining.

Then, using a curette (surgical instrument shaped like a scoop or spoon), the lining is scraped to remove any residuals. If needed, forceps may be used to remove larger parts. The last step is usually a final suctioning to make sure the contents are completely removed.

The procedure normally takes between 15-30 minutes. The fetal remains are usually examined to ensure everything was removed and that the abortion was complete. An antibiotic will be given to help prevent infection.
What are the side effects and risks of dilation & evacuation?
Common side effects include nausea, bleeding, and cramping which may last for two weeks following the procedure.

Although rare, the following are additional risks related to dilation and evacuation: damage to uterine lining or cervix, perforation of the uterus, infection, and blood clots. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if your symptoms persist or worsen.

Dilation and Extraction
How are dilation and extraction performed?
The dilation and extraction procedure is used after 21 weeks gestation. The procedure is also known as D & X, Intact D & X, Intrauterine Cranial Decompression, and Partial Birth Abortion.

Two days before the procedure, laminaria is inserted vaginally to dilate the cervix. Your water should break on the third day and you should return to the clinic. The fetus is rotated and forceps are used to grasp and pull the legs, shoulders, and arms through the birth canal.

A small incision is made at the base of the skull to allow a suction catheter inside. The catheter removes the cerebral material until the skull collapses. The fetus is then completely removed.

The availability of any procedure used in the third trimester is based on the laws of that state.
What are the side effects and risks related to dilation and extraction?
The side effects are the same as dilation and evacuation. However, there is an increased chance of emotional problems from the reality of more advanced fetal development. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if your symptoms persist or worsen.

Compiled using information from the following sources:

1. "Induced Abortion." The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2001.

2. Paul M, et al. (1999). A Clinician's Guide to Medical and Surgical Abortion. New York: Churchill Livingstone.

3. Creinin MD, et al. (2001). Medical management of abortion. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Practice Bulletin, no. 26, pg.1-13.

4. Guttmacher Institute. (2015). State Policies in Brief: Bans on "Partial-Birth" Abortions.
https://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_BPBA.pdf

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Surgical Abortion Procedures: Types, Side Effects and Risks

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The type of surgical abortion procedure used is based on the woman's stage of pregnancy. Before seeking a surgical abortion procedure, you should obtain a sonogram to determine if the pregnancy is viable (uterine, non-ectopic pregnancy) and for accurate pregnancy dating. You can always contact an abortion alternatives specialist to discuss the procedures.

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National Center for Biotechnology Information

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National Center for Biotechnology Information

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"Three-quarters said that having a baby would interfere with work, school or other responsibilities, about two-thirds said they could not afford to have a child and half said they did not want to be a single parent or had relationship problems. A multivariate analysis showed young teenagers to be 32 percent more likely than women 18 or over to say they were not mature enough to raise a child and 19 percent more likely to say their parents wanted them to have an abortion. "

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Why do women have abortions? - PubMed - NCBI

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Fam Plann Perspect. 1988 Jul-Aug;20(4):169-76. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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some common reasons are that the woman was sexually assulted

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"The reasons most frequently cited were that having a child would interfere with a woman's education, work or ability to care for dependents (74%); that she could not afford a baby now (73%); and that she did not want to be a single mother or was having relationship problems (48%). Nearly four in 10 women said they had completed their childbearing, and almost one-third were not ready to have a child." 

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"The reasons most frequently cited were that having a child would interfere with a woman's education, work or ability to care for dependents (74%); that she could not afford a baby now (73%); and that she did not want to be a single mother or was having relationship problems (48%). Nearly four in 10 women said they had completed their childbearing, and almost one-third were not ready to have a child." 

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https://www.guttmacher.org/journals/psrh/2005/reasons-us-women-have-abortions-quantitative-and-qualitative-perspectives

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Roe vs Wade was a landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that established a women's legal right to an abortion. 

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Roe vs Wade was a landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that established a women's legal right to an abortion. 

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The court ruled in a 7-2 decision that a woman's right to choose an abortion was protected by the privacy rights guaranteed by the 14th amendment of the Constitution.

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the landmark Supreme Court decision that established a woman's legal right to an abortion, is decided on January 22, 1973. The Court ruled, in a 7-2 decision, that a woman's right to choose an abortion was protected by the privacy rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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In 2015, 638,169 legal abortions were reported to the CDC, making the abortion rate about 12 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44. The abortion ratio was 188 abortions per 1,000 live births.
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/data_stats/abortion.htm

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PA Governor Tom Wolf has said that he will veto against any bill that resembles anything similar to the Alabama Bill. A bill in the House passed that bans abortions made due to the diagnosis of Down Syndrome
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pennsylvania-governor-tom-wolf-says-he-will-veto-any-abortion-ban-bill-that-lands-on-his-desk/