Conversations about late-term abortion often contain emotionally charged words and simplified stories. However, to understand why abortions happen later in pregnancy, we need to examine the research and the available data that studies have uncovered.
Abortions that take place later in pregnancy are much less common than those in the first trimester. Still, because these procedures occur when the unborn baby has already undergone significant development, they raise important ethical and medical questions.
How Common Are Late-Term Abortions?
Most abortions happen early in pregnancy. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2022 Abortion Surveillance Report, approximately 7.2% of all reported abortions took place at or after 14 weeks of gestation. When applied to the CDC total number of abortions for that year, there were 44,164 abortions at or after 14 weeks – far more than most people realize. Also, 1.1% (6,747) of those abortions were at or after 21 weeks, the point at which babies can survive outside the womb.
By the second and third trimester, the unborn baby has already reached key developmental milestones. The brain is developing quickly, the baby can move with increasing coordination, and pain may be experienced.
Reasons Often Cited for Later Abortions
Many people assume that abortions later in pregnancy mainly occur due to serious fetal problems or medical emergencies. However, according to a study by the Guttmacher Institute, a leading pro-abortion advocacy group, the reality is that the reasons for late-term abortion are much the same as earlier abortions. Fetal abnormalities were identified as factoring into only 2% of all late-term abortion decisions. Apparently, the life of the mother was such a rare reason that it was not even designated with a statistical number.
Instead, the most frequently stated reasons for late-term abortions include the following: (1) not realizing she was pregnant (71%), (2) difficulty making arrangements for an abortion (48%), (3) fear of telling parents or a partner (33%), and (4) feeling that extended time was needed to make the decision (24%).
Recognizing the Reality of Medicine
Medically speaking, abortions carried out later in pregnancy are more complicated than those done earlier. These procedures usually require several steps and specialized techniques because the fetus is much bigger and more developed. There is an increased risk to the woman for every additional week of gestation. For the fetus, there is the increased risk of experiencing pain before death.
Our Conclusion
Abortion at any stage ends the life of a human being and comes with physical and psychological risks to the woman. However, late-term abortions increase those issues. It is time to honestly acknowledge that late-term abortions are not rare and that they are not being done primarily for medical reasons.
Later abortions are a serious reality that deserves honest public discussion grounded in evidence rather than slogans or assumptions. If we truly care about both women and unborn children, then our response should include clear truth about why these abortions happen and compassionate support that makes them less likely.
Learn more about the various stages of fetal development (conception, first, second, and third trimester) and don’t forget to follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok).