Abortion is a human right: it should not be restricted

Did you know that over 73 million abortions happen every year around the world? Whether it’s life-saving or a personal choice, abortions happen all over the world, legally and illegally. This medical procedure has been restricted in certain parts of the world, including the U.S., causing women to seek out illegal methods or to accept their fate. There is no reason to restrict a woman’s right to abortion. Women deserve full autonomy over their bodies, especially when it comes to decisions like these. They should not have to take drastic measures for an abortion, they should not have to travel for an abortion, and they should not be denied something that has always been used throughout history.

Abortion has a long history, it is not a sudden or new idea. Our earliest record of abortion was in ancient Egypt, where women took herbal treatments to terminate pregnancy. Abortion has existed throughout history, through taking herbal remedies, using abdominal pressure, surgery with sharp objects, or other unpleasant ways to induce an abortion. It has always been practiced in America, from indigenous tribes to newer inhabitants after its colonization. In the 19th century, abortion was banned throughout America, becoming completely illegal unless it was to save the mother’s life. With this ban, there was an increase in unsafe abortions, but there was also an increase in resistance. Women worked to find ways to get legal abortions, and this led to Roe v. Wade. This court case caused abortion to be legalized in America for nearly 50 years, until recently, when it was overturned by the Supreme Court through the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

Today, the legality of abortion is continuously shifting, with consequences for all women across the U.S. Abortion care is especially important for mothers who need to get an abortion for medical reasons, such as when the fetus’s poor health could risk their health. Many patients travel out of their states, where abortion is banned, in the hope of finding care where it is still legal. In 2024, data from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed that 35,000 patients traveled to Illinois just to receive abortion care. It’s a clear indicator of how many are forced to cross states just for basic health services. In addition, traveling out of state is not just expensive; the abortion itself can also be costly. Both of these factors influence whether a mother can seek out-of-state care. Without the care, the mother or the child could be harmed, and it could lead to death.

When abortion is banned or inaccessible, women often resort to unsafe methods out of desperation. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, unsafe abortions are a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, with a high percentage of 13%, especially in countries with restrictive laws. These procedures are often carried out without proper medical supervision and using dangerous techniques that could lead to death. In the same source, it explains these practices have been documented throughout history, showing that abortion bans don’t eliminate abortions, rather they eliminate a safe way to have one. Women risk infections, internal bleeding, infertility, or even death. Access to legal abortion isn’t just a personal right, it’s a matter of public health.

Women have their own stories of abortion where it is illegal, and they have to go through drastic measures just to have an abortion. Women should not have to go through this much just to have a life-saving abortion. On ABC News, many women shared their stories. One of these women, Kristen Anaya, was forced to wait until her pregancy became life threatening in order to be provided an abortion. She was left untreated until she developed sepsis, a condition in which there is an infection in the blood, before being given an abortion.

Women should have the right to their own bodies, and that includes the right to choose abortion. No law should take away someone’s autonomy, especially when their health is at risk. Abortion will not disappear because of the bans, rather it will only become more dangerous. It will only become a bigger problem, and it will not go away. To protect the lives of women, access to abortion must be protected. Until reproductive rights are respected, the fight for them will continue. It is not just a political issue; it is a fundamental human right.