Some Facts about abortions

An abortion is the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus.

Resulting in or caused by its death.

The spontaneous expulsion of a fetus or embryo before the 20th week of gestational age is commonly known as a miscarriage.

Induced abortion is the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus by medical means, surgical or otherwise.

The approximate number of induced abortions performed worldwide in 2003 was 42 million.

This year it could be 48 million.

Throughout recorded history abortion has been in use. The moral and legal aspects of abortions are subjects of intense social debate.

Aspects of this debate may include the the impact on health, crime and the sex-selective practices.

Other debates include 'the abortion-breast cancer hypothesis, post-abortion syndrome, and fetal pain.

Moral arguments often equate abortion to murder. Denial of abortion is, sometimes, equated to oppression of women.