What exactly is abortion?

Abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy, regardless of the reason. It may be performed to manage a miscarriage, because someone chooses not to be pregnant, or when it’s medically unsafe for them to continue the pregnancy. Some conservative lawmakers have tried to redefine "abortion" as applicable only to ending an unwanted pregnancy, which is simply inaccurate.

Abortion is both common and safe. Anti-abortion activists and policymakers work to make patients feel isolated, ashamed, or fearful. But here’s the truth: Decades of research confirm that procedural and medication abortions are safe. A procedural abortion, for example, is safer than wisdom tooth removal. In a comprehensive analysis of over a hundred studies on abortion medication, more than 99% of patients who used the pills had no serious complications.

One in four American women will have an abortion in her lifetime, and most abortion patients are parents—60% already have children. Studies show that 99% of women who have had abortions don’t regret it, with the most common emotion afterward being relief. When negative feelings do arise, they’re usually due to the stigma surrounding abortion, rather than the decision or procedure itself.