Abortion is an extremely debatable topic that is widely discussed by many, views on this topic range from standpoints of morality, religion, or even science; should these opinions be allowed to affect the well being of women? Last month it was the 16 year ‘anniversary’ of the Food and Drug Administration approving the first “abortion pill,” and today abortion medication accounts for about a quarter of all non hospital abortions in the United States. Not only is this form of abortion safe and ultimately effective, but for the women in the 89 percent of countries that lack an abortion provider, this option becomes attainable when seeking an abortion.

Unfortunately, state legislatures bent on eliminating abortion access have (unsurprisingly)  targeted medication abortion, having passed several new laws with the stated intention of safeguarding women’s health and safety. These laws include limitations on the types of health care providers who can give women these pills, prohibitions on prescribing the pill remotely (through medicine) and bans on home self-administration. The Supreme Court has effectively blocked states from using women’s health as a basis for restricting access to abortion clinics. As a result, it can be expected for more laws against medicinal abortion to arise. Medication abortion is extremely safe, with less than a third of 1 percent of cases resulting in a serious adverse event. Not only are these anti-abortion laws misguided; they also lead to worse outcomes for women’s health.  Charts examined at four Ohio clinics, (Ohio being a state that had been affected by these abortion laws), showed that abortions requiring additional medical treatment rose from 5 percent to 14 percent, including, in some cases, an in-clinic procedure– something that many women were avoiding by wanting to use medication abortion. Abortion will always be a controversial subject, no matter the case or whom it is being discussed among; but should these opinions of others be allowed to affect the health of women?

I myself am pro-choice when regarding abortion. I feel that it is a natural right to decide whether or not you would like to get an abortion. I feel that many views on abortion are based off of people’s feelings and religion, not actual facts and evidence, and in my opinion that makes these people come off as ignorant. I have absolutely no problem with respecting the opinion of others, but what I do have a problem with is people pushing their beliefs on others. A prime example of this would be people standing outside of resources that provide abortions, like Planned Parenthood, and shaming people who go to receive an abortion. A counterargument to this would be pro-choice people protesting the ban of abortion; but then again, a counterargument to that counterargument would be that they’re actually trying to make a positive difference, unlike their counterparts.

If someone is so bent on being pro-life, then what is being done for the children who aren’t aborted, and are put in foster homes or worse, situations that lack proper care for the child leaving them hopeless? Oh, that’s right, nothing is being done. Something that I don’t fully understand is what would happen if pro-lifers get their way. Would women have to regress to getting alleyway abortions with a hanger? Just how much more children will be put in foster care? Why must women have to suffer because of opinions filled with ignorance? If you’re against abortions, then don’t get one. Don’t try to potentially ruin someone’s life because their choices are what you don’t feel as “right.” Segueing back to abortion laws, claims that abortion laws will protect women’s health and safety are just that — claims. We need scientific research that evaluates these law’s actual effects on women and their health. If state legislatures want to create policies around abortion, they should be based on evidence. When policy is not based on science, American women are the ones who pay the price.