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topics about abortion for a research paper

159 Abortion Research Paper Topics: Creative Ideas List

159 Abortion Research Paper Topics

Abortion is a very controversial issue discussed in different panels all over the world. Because of how vast the topic of abortion is, many interesting research papers can be written about it. For many students, picking the right topic to build their abortion thesis on can seem complicated, and finding the right topic is the bedrock to writing an excellent essay. This article aims at exposing all students to interesting abortion research topics that will help them write high-quality and in-depth research papers on abortion for their university programs. Abortion is simply a medical procedure that intentionally ends a pregnancy before a fetus is born. There are a lot of opinions about abortion, with some opposing it, stating various religious or ethical reasons why it is wrong. Those who support it do that with human rights and medical backing.

What Makes a Good Abortion Thesis Paper?

The first step to writing your essay is picking the right topic, but after you do that, there is a structure to put your thoughts into writing to deliver the best quality thesis paper. This section highlights how to outline and arrange your ideas to produce a good paper at the end. Follow the below outline when writing your abortion essay.

Before Beginning the Paper

Don’t just start writing immediately, do the below pre-writing activities first

Select a Topic : As mentioned above, an essential part of writing an essay is picking the right topic. The right topic should be interesting to you and appeal to your readers. State your Argument : Now that you know the abortion topic you want to write on, what is your argument? Are you going to oppose or support the issue? Your answer will help build a research paper on the topic. Conduct a Research : without proper research, you might end up misinforming your audience. Take time out to dig deep and find evidence that backs up your research. Organize your References : Your references need to be credible. The evidence shows you have done research to back your thesis.

Writing the Paper

After completing your pre-writing exercises, it is time to write your essay properly. Use this as a guideline.

  • The Introduction : your Introduction should aim at grabbing the reader’s interest and ensuring that they are interested enough to read the rest of your paper. The opening is what starts the report. It also lets the reader know that your paper is worth reading.
  • The Body : The body is the main section of the paper. This is where you present your actual writing. Here you state each idea and back it up with evidence. Your tone, style, and grammar must be concise, making your paper interesting enough for your professor to read. Do not miss out on any detail here. You are allowed to be as descriptive as you want.
  • Conclusion : Here, you summarize the main points of your paper and highlight what you would like the reader to remember from reading your work.

Many students find writing a research paper challenging. Following the above structure will help you write a proper essay that will guarantee the best scores. Now that you know how to write a great paper, here are some good topics to help you begin. Before you get acquainted with our perfect list, remember you always have an opportunity to buy a custom research paper from our team of professional helpers. Just c ontact us with a “ do my research paper ” request and get a top grade.

 Abortion Topics for Research Paper

Abortion is a topic that has different opinions and conversations. These are some topics you can explore when writing about abortion.

  • Explore the possible side effects of abortion.
  • Medical reasons for abortions.
  • Different religions and their stands on abortion.
  • Why the government should ban abortion
  • History of abortion.
  • The abortion procedure explained.
  • General misinformation about abortion.
  • What other gender-borne concerns can be connected to abortion?
  • Considering that the legislators who pass pro-life regulations are male, can abortion be considered reproductive control?
  • The Problems of Abortion in Modern Society.
  • Pro-life and Pro-choice Sides of Abortion. Who is right?
  • Is Africa ready to embrace abortion?
  • Abortion and virtue ethics.
  • Legalizing Abortion: Advantages and Justification.
  • Legalization of Abortion for Underage Girls.
  • Abortion as a Crime and the Fight Against It
  • Teenage Pregnancy, Abortion and Sex Education.
  • Abortion in Ireland: Law and Public Opinion.
  • The Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in Canada.
  • Abortion: An Unsolvable Dilemma?
  • Abortion: Premeditated Murder or a Reasonable Way Out?
  • Abortion: Strengths and Limitations
  • Is the abortion rate declining? What are the factors contributing to it?
  • Abortion is legal but is it ethical?
  • The upward trend and demand for abortion in the United States.
  • What is abortion counseling, and who should provide it?

Essay Topics on Abortions

To write a proper essay on abortion, you need to look at different perspectives before deciding on your topic. Here are some essay topics that explore different perspectives of the abortion discussion.

  • Has the legalization of abortion played any part in reducing crime rates in the United States?
  • How Have Abortion Laws Changed Around the World?
  • How Has Abortion and Birth Control Affected the 20th and 21st Century?
  • Who Should Decide the Legality of Abortion?
  • Why Has Abortion Created Serious Debates and Controversies Among the Mainline?
  • Should the Right to Have an abortion lay on the woman alone?
  • Why Should Abortion Remain Legal and With Limitations?
  • Historically, what were the main reasons women of various titles abort children?
  • What were the methods used for abortion before the development of modern medicine?
  • Is the history of abortion relevant to the contemporary debate? Why or why not?
  • Understanding the risks of teenage abortion.
  • Is Self-Defense Abortion Permissible?
  • Should women have the right to abortion if serious handicaps are detected in their children?
  • Third-trimester abortions: Are they ever morally permissible?
  • Is it immoral to force a woman to carry a pregnancy to term against her will?
  • Who can teenagers talk to if they want to get an abortion?
  • Some medical effects of abortion on the woman’s body.
  • How lack of resources affects the occurrences of unsafe abortions in developing countries.
  • Is a woman who has had an abortion considered a mother?
  • Republican and Democratic views on abortion.
  • The roles religion plays in the social discussion and perception of abortion.
  • Is abortion about women’s health, or is it a choice of convenience?
  • What does early and late abortion mean?
  • Who has more rights when it concerns abortion, and why?
  • Should health insurance cover abortions?
  • Abortion and how it affects adoptions.
  • Why do teenagers need consent from a parent before having an abortion?
  • In cases of incest, is abortion morally right?
  • Abortion is always wrong. Explain
  • How do we reduce the rate of abortion in the United States while keeping abortion safe and accessible to all women?
  • What are the rights of a fetus?
  • The effects of repeated abortions on future pregnancies.
  • Abortion rights and patriarchy.
  • The perception of abortion in different cultures.
  • Why do the abortion policies differ per state in the United States?

Abortion Argumentative Topics

Everyone has a different view about abortion, which sometimes leads to intelligent arguments. Some topics that can present your points argumentatively include:

  • Moral and ethical arguments concerning abortion.
  • Abortion laws and how it contradicts women’s fundamental human rights.
  • What are the pros and cons of having an abortion?
  • Under what circumstances should abortion be considered?
  • The abortion and mental health controversy.
  • Abortion in older women. Is it safe?
  • The rights of a father in the abortion decision.
  • Christianity and abortion.
  • Who should have the final say on abortion? The woman, the hospital, or the government?
  • Cultural arguments surrounding abortion.
  • Examine the generation gap in abortion support.
  • How accessible is abortion in Africa?
  • Mental health consequences of refused abortions.
  • Is abortion a mortal sin?
  • Why is there a stigma surrounding abortion?
  • Abortions due to medical mistakes, should there be legal actions?
  • Do mothers regret their actions after abortion?
  • A cross-study of abortion laws in Malawi.
  • Side effects of illegal abortions.
  • The role of parents in the minor’s decision to abort.
  • When is the best time to have an abortion?
  • Psychiatric aspects of abortion.

Abortion Research Questions

There are many complex ethical, moral, legal, and religious perspectives concerning abortion. Some interesting questions you can research include:

  • Should Abortions be legal?
  • In what countries are abortions legal?
  • How does abortion relate to mental health?
  • What issues are agreeable reasons for abortions?
  • Does rape justify abortion?
  • Will abortion affect subsequent pregnancies?
  • What are the abortion laws surrounding teenagers?
  • Why is abortion such a controversial issue?
  • What are the current laws regarding abortion?
  • What do women want from abortion services?
  • Has abortion been politicized?
  • Why is abortion still illegal in some countries?
  • Why is abortion such a controversial issue worldwide?

College Research Topics about Abortion

College students are responsible for writing clear and concise research papers built on good topics. The following are some interesting topics college students can write on.

  • The Physiological effects of having an abortion
  • Controversies surrounding abortion.
  • A critical look at the United States laws concerning abortion?
  • Common misconceptions about abortion.
  • What is incomplete abortion, and how does it affects the woman’s health?
  • Abortion amongst teenagers and adolescents.
  • Understanding induced abortion.
  • The process of legalization of abortion in Japan.
  • When is abortion denied?
  • The adverse effects of self-induced abortions.
  • Post-abortion complications as a result of visiting illegal abortion centers.
  • Childhood trauma and its connection to women seeking an abortion.
  • What is a post-abortion syndrome?
  • Understanding why some women opt for abortion.
  • Barriers to access to abortion
  • Different abortion methods, pros, and cons.
  • Do the fathers have their say in abortion?
  • Abortion laws and restrictions. A cross-examination of The United States and India.
  • Clandestine abortion and all it entails.
  • Abortion laws around the world: progress and pushbacks.
  • Abortion and how it is linked to population growth and reduction.
  • Looking at the punishment for abortion in countries where they ate illegal.
  • Is abortion immoral?
  • Should the rights of the unborn be more important than the mothers?
  • What are the medical arguments for and against abortion?
  • The evolution of abortion laws.
  • What are the changes people opposing abortion are trying to effect?
  • What changes are those supporting abortion trying to effect?
  • What are the cultural arguments for and against abortion?
  • History of the anti-abortion movement.
  • Why do various religions have different views on abortion?
  • Would a complete abortion ban be a correct solution from a religious viewpoint? Why or why not?
  • When applied to abortion, what are the different ethical notions?
  • What would be some negative consequences of an abortion ban?
  • Why is abortion considered to be a feminist issue?
  • Illegal abortions in India, and how it affects the girl child.
  • Post-abortion discussion: How to avoid a repeat case of unwanted pregnancy.

Controversial Abortion Research Paper Topics

Abortion is one of the most controversial subjects in modern society, and there are many strong feelings for or against this topic. Some controversial abortion topics you can build on include:

  • How has the rise of women’s rights affected abortion rates in The United States?
  • What is late-term abortion?
  • What is the difference between the morality and legality of abortion?
  • When is abortion the right option?
  • Why women should be able to have an abortion whenever they please.
  • Canada and China have no legal restrictions on abortion. Any woman in these countries can get an abortion whenever she pleases. Should there be any restrictions on abortion? If not, why not? If so, what should those restrictions be and why?
  • Does life begin at conception?
  • Should we consider the fetus a separate being, or is it a part of its mother?
  • What is a better option: abort an unplanned pregnancy or have the child neglected after birth?
  • Adoption as an alternative to Abortion: Discuss
  • How has legalizing abortion impacted the birth rate?
  • Discuss the abortion debate and human rights.
  • Why does the public support for legal termination of pregnancy remain high?
  • Should men be allowed to discuss the termination of pregnancy?
  • How race, poverty, and choice affect the abortion rate.
  • Abortion vs. using embryos for research and IVF: Evaluate
  • Should an aborting woman go through forced sterilization?
  • Should birth control be considered as wrong as abortions?
  • Why is it hard for some women to have an abortion even if something is wrong with a fetus?
  • Why do many married couples have abortions?
  • Is it better to have an abortion or give birth and place a baby in the orphanage?
  • Is abortion a simple operation, or is it a severe psychological trauma for women?
  • A woman’s life before and after abortion: what changes exactly?
  • Canadian Abortion Laws and Women’s Rights.
  • Debate on Abortion: Ethics and Principles.

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Standardizing abortion research outcomes (STAR): Results from an international consensus development study

Katherine c. whitehouse.

a The UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

Bianca M. Stifani

b Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States

James M.N. Duffy

c Fetal Medicine Research Institute, London, UK

Caron R. Kim

Mitchell d. creinin.

d Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States

Teresa DePiñeres

e Innovations in Reproductive Health, Miami, FL, United States

Beverly Winikoff

f Gynuity Health Projects, New York, NY, United States

Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson

g Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Jennifer Blum

Renee bracey sherman.

h We Testify, Washington, DC, United States

Antonella F. Lavelanet

Dalia brahmi.

i Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Daniel Grossman

j Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California - San Francisco, Oakland, CA, United States

Anand Tamang

k Center for Research on Environment Health and Population Activities (CREHPA), Kathmandu, Nepal

Hailemichael Gebreselassie

l Ipas, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Rodolfo Gomez Ponce de Leon

m Latin American Center of Perinatology, Women and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR), PAHO-WHO, Montevideo, Uruguay

Bela Ganatra

To develop a minimum data set, known as a core outcome set, for future abortion randomized controlled trials.

Study design

We extracted outcomes from quantitative and qualitative systematic reviews of abortion studies to assess using a modified Delphi method. Via email, we invited researchers, clinicians, patients, and healthcare organization representatives with expertise in abortion to rate the importance of the outcomes on a 9-point Likert scale. After 2 rounds, we used descriptive analyses to determine which outcomes met the predefined consensus criteria. We finalized the core outcome set during a series of consensus development meetings.

We entered 42 outcomes, organized in 15 domains, into the Delphi survey. Two-hundred eighteen of 251 invitees (87%) provided responses (203 complete responses) for round 1 and 118 of 218 (42%) completed round2. Sixteen experts participated in the development meetings. The final outcome set includes 15 outcomes: 10 outcomes apply to all abortion trials (successful abortion, ongoing pregnancy, death, hemorrhage, uterine infection, hospitalization, surgical intervention, pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and patients’ experience of abortion); 2 outcomes apply to only surgical abortion trials (uterine perforation and cervical injury), one applies only to medical abortion trials (uterine rupture); and 2 apply to trials evaluating abortions with anesthesia (over-sedation/respiratory depression and local anesthetic systemic toxicity).

Using robust consensus science methods we have developed a core outcome set for future abortion research.

Implications

Standardized outcomes in abortion research could decrease heterogeneity among trials and improve the quality of systematic reviews and clinical guidelines. Researchers should select, collect, and report these core outcomes in future abortion trials. Journal editors should advocate for core outcome set reporting.

1. Introduction

Clinicians rely on research evidence to inform decisions regarding treatment. Ideally, evidence should come from well-designed and methodologically sound clinical trials. However, inconsistencies in research outcomes, even for a single medical topic, can prevent accurate comparisons between trials or systematic evaluation of outcomes across trials [1] . Studies with poorly measured or inconsistently reported outcomes can compromise the quality of systematic reviews and clinical guidelines [2] .

In 2010, researchers, health service users, journal editors, and other key stakeholders came together to establish the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) initiative. Their goal was to facilitate “the development and application of agreed standardized sets of outcomes, known as core outcome sets [ 3 , 4 ].” The aim of a core outcome set is to define a minimum list of outcomes that researchers should report and measure in any clinical trial on a certain subject. COMET also promotes patient/public involvement in outcome set development [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] . If key stakeholders are not involved in the selection of research outcomes, they may lack relevance [2] .

Editors of more than 80 reproductive health journals, including Contraception , endorsed the Core Outcomes in Women's Health (CROWN) initiative, which aims to “harmonize outcome reporting in women's health research” [7] . To date, researchers have developed core outcome sets for a variety of reproductive health topics, including the prevention of preterm birth, endometriosis, and preeclampsia [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] .

The Standardizing Abortion Research (STAR) outcomes project aims to define a core outcome set for abortion-related research. Abortion is a common experience worldwide, with an estimated 73 million abortions annually [12] . Robust, well-developed clinical trials and guidelines on abortion provide information that can enhance safety, effectiveness, and acceptability of these ubiquitous services. Thus far, researchers have reported on a variety of outcomes in abortion clinical trials, with some efforts to standardize medical abortion effectiveness and surgical abortion outcomes reporting [ 13 , 14 ]. The STAR project is a 3-stage international and interdisciplinary effort to identify the most relevant outcomes for abortion-related research [15] . Here, we describe the results of an international consensus development study to agree on the core outcomes that future abortion trials and systematic reviews should select, collect, and report.

2. Materials and methods

We developed a protocol for the STAR project, with reference to the COMET handbook and protocols describing the development of other core outcomes in reproductive health [ 16 , 17 ]. We registered the protocol prospectively in the COMET database and the CROWN initiative endorsed the project [15] . At the start, we formed an international advisory group with experience and expertise in abortion care, research, and core outcome set development. The group included service providers, researchers, advocates, nongovernmental organizations (NGO) representatives, and methodologists from countries across the range of World Bank income classifications [18] . World Health Organization (WHO) researchers provided overall study management.

Guided by the COMET initiative guidelines [ [8] , [9] , [10] , [19] , [20] , [21] ], the STAR project included three stages with all methods described in our published protocol [15] . In brief, during the first stage, we identified a preliminary list of potential core outcomes by performing systematic reviews of randomized clinical abortion trials and qualitative studies on patient experiences with abortion.

We present the second stage, in which we performed a modified Delphi process and held consensus meetings. We described the methods of the second stage in our published protocol with further details here [15] . We aimed to recruit a sample of approximately 200 participants diverse in their sociodemographic characteristics, location, and experience with abortion via the methods outlined in our protocol. To reach abortion patients/representatives, we contacted abortion activists and group networks to share our recruitment invitation and further disseminate it via snowballing. In the survey, we presented the outcomes in lay terms so all participants could understand them. We duplicated most of the outcomes across the domains of surgical and medical abortion. For example, one outcome was “ongoing viable pregnancy after medical abortion” and another was “ongoing viable pregnancy after surgical abortion.” We wanted to assess whether participants viewed outcome importance differently if it was related to medical versus surgical abortion. We used the COMET Delphi Management platform to administer the surveys (Delphi Manager, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK), which only allowed survey access online and in English. We sent e-mail reminders to those who registered but did not complete the survey.

Participants scored outcomes on a Likert scale of 1to 9 with 1to 3 as “not important,” 4to 6 as “important but not critical,” and 7to 9 as “critical,” per Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation guidelines [22] . Participants could skip outcomes, as desired. At the end of round one, participants could contribute additional outcomes. We carried all outcomes from round 1, including the additional ones, into round 2. We invited all registered participants from round 1 to participate in round 2. We reminded them of their round one scores, shared a graph of how each stakeholder group scored the outcomes, and asked them to rescore all the outcomes. At the completion of round 2, we calculated median and interquartile ranges for each outcome and determined if the participants had reached consensus per the COMET definitions of “consensus in” (at least 70% of participants scored an outcome as “critical” and less than 15% scored it as “not important”), “consensus out” (at least 70% of participants scored an outcome as “not important” and less than 15% scored it as “critical”), or “no consensus” (outcomes not meeting the definition of “consensus in” or “no consensus”) [ 15 , 17 ]. After the second round, the study management team determined that participants had achieved sufficient consensus and there was no need for further rounds.

After the Delphi process, we held a series of virtual consultation meetings from Aprilto June 2020 with the study advisory group and the WHO secretariat. We ratified the outcomes that met criteria for “consensus in” and determined which “no consensus” outcomes to retain. If an outcome was important, however not required, the group could designate it as an outcome for “consideration.” We also discussed the semantics of the included outcomes, which were translated back from lay language into technical terms and aimed to align the terminology with existing outcomes literature [ 13 , 14 ]. We assigned gender-neutral terminology to be inclusive of non-binary abortion patients.

We used R (version 3.0.3, 2014) and SAS Studio (20121, Cary, NC) software, with Kruskal-Wallis testing, for comparison of outcome scores across respondent types at a significance level at 5%. The WHO Ethics Review Committee approved the study.

In our literature reviews, we identified 218 abortion clinical trials and 32 qualitative studies, which reported on 177 and 13 outcomes, respectively ( Fig. 1 ). From this initial inventory, we synthesized a preliminary list of 42 outcomes across 15 domains ( Appendix A ). We entered these domains and outcomes into the first round of the Delphi survey. After round one, we added 9 additional outcomes as suggested by survey respondents. In the second round, respondents evaluated 51 outcomes.

Fig 1

Flowchart of identification and selection of core outcomes for abortion trials during the Delphi process and consensus meetings.

Of the 251 invitees who registered to take the surveys, 218 (87%) provided responses of which 203 (81%) completed all questions in round 1. In round 2, 118 of the 218 (42%) participants responded. Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics of the survey and consultation meeting participants. Clinicians were the most represented group in the survey, while the consensus meeting included more researchers. At all stages, most participants identified as white and represented high-income countries in the EURO (Europe) or AMRO (the Americas) regions. The percentage of participants who lived in low and lower-middle income countries ranged from 14 to 18%.

Characteristics of participants in Delphi surveys and consultation meetings conducted to identify core outcomes for abortion trials

Delphi Surveys Consultation meeting (n=16)
All registered (N=251)Started round 1 (n=218)Completed round 1 (n=203)Completed round 2 (n=118)
Stakeholder group
Clinician116 (46)101 (46)95 (47)52 (44)5 (31)
Researcher45 (18)40 (18)37 (18)23 (19)8 (50)
Patient/representative17 (7)15 (7)14 (7)7 (6)1 (6)
NGO representative56 (22)49 (22)44 (22)27 (23)0
Other17 (7)13 (6)13 (6)9 (8)2 (13)
Age in years43.3 ± 1343.5 ± 1344.1 ± 1343.9 ± 13Not available
Race
Asian38 (15)35 (16)31 (15)14 (12)3 (19)
Black27 (11)19 (9)16 (8)13 (11)1 (6)
Latin American13 (5)11 (5)11 (5)8 (7)1 (6)
Mixed or other13 (5)6 (3)6 (3)3 (3)5 (31)
White146 (58)136 (62)130 (64)76 (64)5 (31)
Prefer not to disclose6 (2)9 (4)7 (3)3 (3)1 (6)
Missing8 (3)2 (1)2 (1)1 (1)0
Region
AFRO24 (10)17 (8)12 (6)12 (10)1 (6)
EMRO6 (2)5 (2)5 (2)2 (2)0 (0)
EURO47 (19)40 (18)39 (19)18 (15)6 (38)
AMRO134 (53)116 (54)113 (56)67 (57)8 (50)
SEARO13 (5)14 (6)10 (5)6 (5)1 (6)
WPRO27 (11)26 (12)24 (12)13 (11)0
Country type
Low income14 (6)12 (6)10 (5)7 (6)2 (13)
Lower-middle income30 (12)22 (10)18 (9)13 (11)0
Upper-middle income13 (5)11 (5)9 (4)6 (5)1 (6)
High194 (77)173 (79)166 (82)92 (78)13 (81)

All data presented as n (%) or mean ± standard deviation (SD)

Table 2 shows the outcomes that met “consensus in” criteria across all participants. Appendix B lists the outcomes for which there was “no consensus” after round two. No outcomes met criteria for “consensus out.” We show outcome ratings across stakeholder groups in Table 3 . Of note, patients/representatives more highly rated “anxiety” ( p =0.01) and “sadness” ( p =0.002), though even in that group, the average score for these outcomes was below 7. “Ongoing pregnancy” had average scores above 7 in all groups but had higher scores among clinicians and researchers than other groups ( p =0.03). “Pain” had mean scores above 7 among patients and NGO representatives but not among other stakeholders ( p =0.02).

“Consensus in” a outcomes from all respondent groups c who participated in the second round (n=118) of a Delphi survey conducted to identify core outcomes for abortion trials

Core outcomeParticipant responses (n=118)
Surgical abortion
Damage to internal organs116 (98)
Death115 (97)
Potentially life-threatening treatment side effects 115 (97)
Ongoing viable pregnancy113 (96)
All of the pregnancy was passed or removed111 (94)
Treatments for life threatening side effects 110 (94)
Venous thromboembolic event 94 (80)
Only a portion of the pregnancy was passed or removed93 (79)
Cost to participant 83 (71)
Medical abortion
Potentially life-threatening treatment side effects 117 (99)
Death115 (97)
Treatment for life-threatening side effects 112 (95)
All of the pregnancy was passed or removed112 (95)
Ongoing viable pregnancy112 (95)
Damage to internal organs109 (92)
Only a portion of the pregnancy was passed or removed97 (83)
Venous thromboembolic event 97 (83)
Acceptability of experience reported by participant86 (73)

Data are n (%) of participants across all groups who rated the outcome as critical (score 7–9)

Outcome scores a that differed across respondent groups in the second round of a Delphi survey conducted to identify core outcomes for abortion trials

CliniciansResearchersPatients/ representativesNGO representativesOther -value
Anxiety5.0 (2.0)5.0 (1)6.0 (2.0)6.0 (2.0)6.0 (1.0)0.01
Sadness5.0 (2.0)4.5 (2)6.0 (1.0)6.0 (1.0)6.0 (4.0)0.002
Acceptability of surgical abortion experience reported by participant7.0 (2.0)6.0 (1.0)7.0 (1.0)8.0 (2.0)7.0 (2.0)0.05
Return of menstrual cycle4.0 (1.0)4.0 (1.0)4.0 (1.0)6.0 (2.0)5.0 (2.0)0.001
Attendance to postabortion follow-up visits4.0 (3.0)4.0 (3.0)6.0 (2.0)5.0 (3.0)6.0 (3.0)0.008
Ongoing viable pregnancy9.0 (0)9.0 (0)8.0 (2.0)9.0 (1.0)8.5 (1.5)0.03
Pain7.0 (2.0)6.0 (1.0)7.0 (1.0)8.0 (2.0)6.5 (3.0)0.02
Acceptability of medical abortion procedure reported by healthcare provider6.0 (3.0)5.0 (2.0)7.0 (3.0)6.5 (4.0)6.5 (2.0)0.02
Relief/happiness6.0 (2.0)6.0 (2.0)7.0 (2.0)6.0 (3.0)5.5 (1.5)0.04

All data presented as median (interquartile range presented as the difference between the 3rd and 1st quartile).

At the consensus meeting, we identified a final list of 13 outcomes for medical abortion and 14 outcomes for surgical abortion. After combining the duplicate outcomes for medical and surgical abortion, we obtained a final list of 15 unique outcomes. While venous thromboembolic event (VTE) met criteria for “consensus in,” the group decided to exclude this outcome in the final set, concluding that VTEs were not related specifically to abortion, but to pregnancy in general. Incomplete abortion met criteria for “consensus in,” however the group concluded that this diagnosis is too vague and not always clinically meaningful. Incomplete abortion was retained as an outcome “for consideration” rather than a requirement. Figure 2 shows the final core outcome set, with 15 required outcomes and 2 outcomes for consideration. Some outcomes apply to all abortions, while others apply only to only medical, surgical, or abortion under anesthesia.

Fig 2

Final core outcome set for abortion trials based on the Delphi process and consensus meetings.

4. Discussion

In our project, we used the modified Delphi process and consensus meetings to finalize a core outcome set that future abortion trials, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines should include. These 15 core outcomes span the domains of abortion success, adverse events, side effects, and personal experience of the abortion. Most of the outcomes are the same for medical and surgical abortion, with the exception of uterine rupture (medical abortion), and uterine perforation and cervical injury (surgical abortion, including for an unsuccessful medical abortion). Two outcomes (over-sedation and toxicity from local anesthesia) only apply to abortions with anesthesia.

To improve consistency and comparability of research studies, researchers should report on relevant core outcomes in future clinical trials on abortion. If core outcomes are not relevant, authors should clarify the reason for not reporting them in the publication. Of course, this minimum list does not constrain researchers from reporting other relevant and interesting outcomes. The expert group included 2 outcomes for consideration, “incomplete abortion/retained pregnancy tissue” and “unanticipated participant contact with a healthcare provider.” The group thought that “incomplete abortion/retained pregnancy tissue” was not always clinically meaningful because this diagnosis is often vague and difficult to distinguish from retained blood clots or the normal spectrum of postabortion recovery. The group felt that “unanticipated participant contact with a healthcare provider” (such as phone calls or outpatient visits) was an important marker of resource utilization for both the healthcare system and the participant but also felt that it might not be feasible for all trials to collect these data. Accordingly, researchers are not instructed to report either of these outcomes or justify their omission.

The systematic review identified significant variations in the outcomes and outcome measures reported by previous abortion trials, a variation that spans across reproductive health [ 23 , 24 ]. When synthesizing the final list of outcomes, we aligned our terminology where possible with other relevant terminologies including the PAIRS framework [14] in the adverse events domain and the MARE guidelines for medical abortion outcomes [13] . We also referred to the Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, National Health Service, and other international governing bodies’ definitions of serious adverse events when structuring this domain [25] , [26] , [27] .

This study has several strengths. First, we followed the guidelines for developing a core outcome set as dictated by the COMET initiative, including the involvement of patients/representatives [3] . We engaged an international group of participants in the Delphi process and in the study advisory group. The modified Delphi process offers a robust method for reaching consensus without allowing individuals to exert influence on others or dominate a discussion [10] . Conversely, the Delphi process does not allow participants to interact nor present opportunities to clarify misconceptions. In our project, participants included stakeholders across the realm of abortion care from clinicians and researchers to relevant NGO representatives and those with lived experience of abortion. Another strength of our study is that we did not limit the identification of core outcomes to published clinical trials. We also identified outcomes based on a review of qualitative studies focused on participants’ experiences of abortion and drew from patient-centered frameworks in our consensus discussions [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] .

One limitation of our study is the high attrition rate (42%) between rounds of the Delphi surveys, possibly due to the slightly more than one-year period between rounds one and two, which may have led to disinterest in participating. This rate, however, fell within the reported range of attrition rates (21%–48%) for other core outcome set development studies in reproductive health [11] . We struggled to reach our goal to recruit equal proportions from each stakeholder group. In particular, we had less representation than desired from abortion patients/representatives (<10% of our population). However because we only allowed survey participants to self-select one stakeholder group, we did not capture those who may have identified with more than 1 group. Reports from other researchers corroborate that it can be challenging to recruit lay people to participate in abortion-related research [32] . We tried to compensate for this underrepresentation by placing a high importance on including a patient-centered outcome in the final outcome set. In addition, we performed a qualitative review on abortion outcomes, which contributed greatly to the entire process and will be reported separately. Despite our efforts to invite participants through a broad network of international societies and organizations, we had low representation by people of color (36%). Per our protocol, we invited all corresponding authors of the abortion trials included in our systematic reviews. Most of these authors lived in Europe or North America, which may have skewed our population. Our consultation group was more racially and ethnically diverse, with 63% identifying as people of color. In the final stage of this project, we will further explore the role of technology, such as mobile applications or social media, and try to forge partnerships with relevant organizations to ensure diversity amongst stakeholders.

While our list advises on the outcomes that researchers should include in future abortion trials, it does not define how to measure them. The Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) initiative has published guidelines on how to select outcome measurement instruments for core outcome set developers [33] . COSMIN describes 4 steps to determining outcome measurement instruments, which include conceptual considerations, review of existing instruments, evaluation of instrument quality, and selection of 1 instrument for each outcome [33] . In the next stage of the STAR project, we will define the measurements for our core outcome set. We intend to build on efforts that are already underway to define the measurement of outcomes in medical abortion [34] .

We plan to implement our core outcome set by working with important partners in the field, such as the COMET and CROWN initiatives. We also aim to collaborate with editors of relevant journals to further promote the use of our outcome set. We hope that in time, inclusion, or justification for exclusion, of core outcomes will be required when submitting an abortion clinical trial to a peer-reviewed journal. Researchers should also consider selecting their primary outcome from the core outcome set [35] . We plan to create useful tools, such as generic reporting tables and CONSORT and PRISMA extensions to make it easier for researchers to standardize outcome reporting [20] . These efforts aim to improve the quality of data from abortion trials, systematic reviews and guidelines that use the data from these studies.

Declaration of Competing Interest

Dr. Creinin is a consultant for Danco Laboratories. Dr. Gemzell-Danielsson has received honorariums for giving lectures, participating on international medical advisory boards, or for participation in clinical trials supported by the following organizations: Concept foundation/SunPharma, Exelgyn, HRA Pharma, Mithra, Exeltis, Actavis, Bayer, MSD, Gideon Richter, Natural Cycles, MedinCell, and Cirqle.

This work was supported by the WHO's UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research.

Acknowledgments

The author would like to acknowledge all the participants of the Delphi surveys for the time and input they contributed to this project.

Appendix A. Preliminary list of STAR project outcomes as they appeared to participants of the modified Delphi process

Domain 1: Effectiveness of surgical abortion

Outcome 1 : All of the pregnancy was passed or removed

Outcome 2: Only a portion of the pregnancy was passed or removed

Outcome 3: Ongoing viable pregnancy

Outcome 4 : Pregnancy is passed before a scheduled abortion

Outcome 5 : Time needed to complete abortion (often measured in minutes)

Domain 2: Side effects related to abortion surgery

Outcome 6: Treatment side effects (for example, nausea and vomiting)

Outcome 7: Life threatening treatment side effects (for example, heavy bleeding, allergic reaction, blood infection)

Outcome 8: Blood clots (for example, in the legs and/or lungs)

Outcome 9: Damage to internal organs (for example, poking a hole in the womb)

Domain 3: Treatments for side effects related to abortion surgery

Outcome 10: Treatments for life threatening side effects related to the abortion surgery (for example, blood transfusion or surgery)

Domain 4: Death from abortion surgery

Outcome 11: Death

Domain 5: Experience of abortion surgery

Outcome 12: Pain

Outcome 13: Anxiety

Outcome 14: Sadness

Outcome 15: Satisfaction with surgical abortion experience reported by woman

Outcome 16: Acceptability of surgical abortion experience reported by woman

Outcome 17: Acceptability of surgical abortion procedure reported by healthcare provider

Domain 6: Care after surgical abortion

Outcome 18: Resumption of daily activities (for example, doing daily activities)

Outcome 19: Return of menstrual cycle

Domain 7: Outcomes related to preparing cervix (opening of womb) for surgical abortion

Outcome 20: Cervical dilation ( The softening and/or opening of the cervix (entrance to the womb)

Domain 8: Utilization of resources associated with surgical abortion

Outcome 21: Cost to woman

Outcome 22: Cost to healthcare system

Domain 9: Effectiveness of medical abortion (taking medication to cause abortion)

Outcome 23 : All of the pregnancy was passed or removed

Outcome 24: Only a portion of the pregnancy was passed or removed

Outcome 25: Ongoing viable pregnancy

Outcome 26 : Time needed to complete abortion (often measured in hours)

Domain 10: Side effects related to medical abortion

Outcome 27: Treatment side effects (for example, nausea and vomiting)

Outcome 28: Life threatening treatment side effects (for example, heavy bleeding, allergic reaction, blood infection)

Outcome 29: Blood clots (for example, in the legs and/or lungs)

Outcome 30: Damage internal organs (for example, rupture of womb)

Domain 11: Treatments for side effects related to medical abortion

Outcome 31: Treatments for life threatening side effects related to medical abortion (for example, blood transfusion or surgery)

Domain 12: Death from medical abortion

Outcome 32: Death

Domain 13: Experience of medical abortion

Outcome 33: Pain

Outcome 34: Anxiety

Outcome 35: Sadness

Outcome 36: Satisfaction with medical abortion experience reported by woman

Outcome 37: Acceptability of medical abortion experience reported by woman

Outcome 38: Acceptability of medical abortion procedure reported by healthcare provider

Domain 14: Care after medical abortion

Outcome 39: Resumption of daily activities (for example, doing daily activities)

Outcome 40: Return of menstrual cycle

Domain 15: Utilization of resources associated with medical abortion

Outcome 41: Cost to woman

Outcome 42: Cost to healthcare system

Appendix B. Outcomes that were “no consensus” after the second round of a Delphi survey conducted to identify core outcomes for abortion trials

Surgical abortion (n=17)Medical abortion (n=16)
■ Time needed to complete abortion■ Time needed to complete abortion
■ Treatment side effects■ Treatment side effects
■ Pain■ Pain
■ Anxiety■ Anxiety
■ Sadness■ Sadness
■ Relief/happiness■ Relief/happiness
■ Satisfaction with surgical abortion experience reported by participant■ Satisfaction with medical abortion experience reported by participant
■ Acceptability of surgical abortion procedure reported by healthcare provider■ Acceptability of medical abortion procedure reported by healthcare provider
■ Acceptability of surgical abortion procedure as reported by participant's support person/escort■ Acceptability of medical abortion procedure as reported by participant's support person/escort
■ Abortion-related violence■ Abortion-related violence
■ Resumption of daily activities■ Resumption of daily activities
■ Return of menstrual cycle■ Return of menstrual cycle
■ Attendance to postabortion follow-up visit■ Attendance to postabortion follow-up visit
■ Cost to healthcare system■ Cost to healthcare system
■ Cervical dilation■ Compliance with medications
■ Pregnancy is passed before a scheduled abortion■ Cost to participant
■ Acceptability of surgical abortion experience reported by participant

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Abortion is an issue that has ethical, moral, and religious considerations for many people, making it a topic that impacts all of society. Read the overview below to gain a balanced understanding of the issue and explore the previews of opinion articles that showcase many perspectives on reproductive rights.

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Abortion topic overview.

"Abortion" Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection , Gale, 2024.  

Abortion is a medical or surgical procedure to deliberately end a pregnancy. In 1973 the US Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade ruled that the Constitution protects the right to an abortion prior to the viability of a fetus. Until the 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, Roe v. Wade allowed a person living in any US state to exercise the right to an abortion at their own discretion through the end of the first trimester, around the twelfth week of pregnancy. States were allowed some power to regulate abortion access during the second and third trimesters. The Dobbs ruling, however, ended the federal protections for abortion rights and returned to the states the authority to determine abortion law.

In the decades between Roe and Dobbs , activists and policy makers in many states sought to change legal protections for reproductive rights. In 2020 lawmakers in twelve states tried to use the COVID-19 pandemic as justification to temporarily ban abortion as a "nonessential service." In 2021 several states introduced new restrictions on abortion, implementing over one hundred new abortion restrictions. Though the public has consistently indicated opposition to bans on abortion, several state legislatures passed bans in anticipation of the conservative Supreme Court majority overturning the nearly fifty-year-old Roe decision. Since the decision, new abortion laws have been passed across the country, some restricting and some easing access to abortion.

  Main Ideas

  • Abortion  refers to a procedure to terminate a pregnancy. The term is typically applied to a planned medical or surgical procedure.
  • People who support legal access to abortion typically identify as  pro-choice , while those who support bans and heavy restrictions identify as  pro-life .
  • Medical abortions can take place during the first trimester of a pregnancy. In these procedures, the patient takes a combination of drugs to induce an abortion.
  • In 1973 the US Supreme Court ruled in  Roe v. Wade  that state laws banning abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy were unconstitutional. Reproductive rights advocates challenged subsequent restrictions placed on abortion in federal court.
  • Passed in 1976, the Hyde Amendment forbids the use of federal funds for abortions except under cases of rape, incest, or in which continuing the pregnancy would threaten the woman's health.
  • In 2022 the US Supreme Court ruled in  Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization  that the US Constitution did not guarantee the right to abortion. The decision overturned the court's previous ruling in  Roe v. Wade .
  • After the  Dobbs  ruling, many states passed or implemented abortion bans or restrictions, despite continuing US public support for legal abortion. Bans have increased travel to obtain abortions to states where it remains legal and resulted in increased maternal and infant deaths in states where abortion was banned.

SUPPORT FOR AND OPPOSITION TO ABORTION

Opponents of abortion, who generally refer to themselves as  pro-life , typically object to the practice for religious or ethical reasons, contending that the procedure amounts to the killing of what they consider to be a human life. Supporters of abortion rights, who typically identify as  pro-choice , consider it an issue of human rights, asserting that individuals should be able to make medical decisions about their own bodies and lives. Both movements encompass a range of opinions on the subject. Some pro-life activists may condone abortions in cases of rape or incest, while others argue that all abortion is murder. Within the pro-choice movement, some activists contend that no restrictions should be placed on abortion, while others support laws requiring a waiting period before abortions can be performed or that minors obtain permission from their parents.

The majority of Americans oppose banning abortion altogether, with just 13 percent of respondents to a May 2022 Gallup poll indicating a belief that abortion should be illegal under all circumstances. However, the public has remained divided on the extent to which the government should be allowed to impose restrictions. A 2023 Pew Research Center poll found that 64 percent of US adults believed abortion should be legal in all or most cases, compared to 34 percent who said it should be prohibited in all or most cases. Poll results also showed a partisan divide on abortion that has widened over time, with almost 90 percent of Democrats believing abortion should be legal in all or most cases in 2022 compared to 21 percent of Republicans. According to an April 2023 report from the Pew Research Center, 54 percent of Americans said it would be very or somewhat easy to get an abortion in their area, compared to 65 percent in 2019. A further 34 percent of respondents told Pew it should be easier to have an abortion in their area, up from 26 percent in 2019.

After  Roe  was overturned, protest marches and demonstrations erupted across the United States and lasted for days, with some commentators noting the wide discrepancy between popular support for  Roe  and the court's rejection of it. While abortion has long been considered a feminist or women's rights issue, the protests highlighted its effects on all Americans regardless of gender. The  Dobbs  ruling removed precedents related to the right to privacy and the right to bodily autonomy, neither of which is specifically stated in the Constitution. However, these assumed rights have been foundational to rulings decriminalizing interracial marriage, contraception, nonprocreative sex, and same-sex marriage.

Surgical and Medical Abortions

Most abortions take place within the first trimester of pregnancy. The two types of abortion are  surgical  and  medication . The most commonly performed surgical abortion procedure is  suction abortion , also referred to as  vacuum aspiration , which involves removing tissue from the uterus through a thin tube. The procedure is less invasive than surgeries at later stages of pregnancy, which require labor to be induced. First-trimester surgical abortions performed by trained medical professionals are among the safest and simplest forms of surgery. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that many fewer women die from legal abortions than from childbirth or many other common procedures, leading many medical experts to conclude that abortion is safer than giving birth in the United States.

Abortions achieved with drugs instead of surgery are called  medication abortions  and are considered safe and effective until between nine and eleven weeks after the last menstrual period. The most commonly used drugs for medication abortions in the United States are mifepristone and misoprostol, taken in sequence as prescribed by a health care provider. Patients first take mifepristone (previously called RU-486), which blocks the body's natural production of progesterone, an essential pregnancy hormone. The patient takes the second pill, misoprostol, two days later. This drug causes the uterus to contract and expel the embryo. Medication abortions are different from emergency contraception, a type of birth control pill used after unprotected sexual intercourse that prevents pregnancy.

The number of medication abortions surpassed the number of surgical abortions for the first time in 2020, accounting for an estimated 54 percent of all abortions that year, according to the Guttmacher Institute. In April 2021, due in part to COVID-19's impact on providing and accessing health care services, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted a ban on dispensing abortion medication through the mail. The decision enabled patients to access abortion without risking COVID exposure and allowed abortion providers that operate online to mail pills to more states. The FDA made this change permanent in December 2021.

Roe V. Wade

Abortions were commonly performed in the United States at the time of its founding and were not restricted by law until Connecticut passed the first anti-abortion law in 1821. Until the  Roe v. Wade  ruling in 1973 there was no federal standard for abortion laws, which were left to the discretion of state legislatures. By 1967 forty-nine states and the District of Columbia had classified abortion as a felony crime in most cases. That same year, however, Colorado passed a law that allowed women to seek voluntary abortions. Several states followed Colorado in liberalizing their abortion laws. By 1973 laws prohibiting abortions had been repealed in four states and loosened in fourteen. In states where abortions were prohibited by law, women who wished to terminate their pregnancies sought out illegal abortions provided by health care workers who risked jeopardizing their careers or by individuals without the proper skills or tools to perform the procedure safely.

In  Roe v. Wade , the Supreme Court ruled that restrictive abortion laws are unconstitutional and violate a woman's right to privacy, as implied by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court's decision also determined that an embryo or unviable fetus is not a person in the legal sense. The ruling established that the decision to terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester was the sole decision of the pregnant person and their physician but permitted state governments to regulate abortion during the second trimester. States could ban abortion after the fetus had reached viability, except in cases where the pregnant person's health is endangered.  Viability  refers to a fetus's ability to survive outside of the womb. The point at which viability is achieved during a pregnancy remains a topic of debate, though it is usually accepted as near the end of the second trimester, at around twenty-four weeks.

In  Doe v. Bolton , a companion case to  Roe v. Wade  decided on the same day, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its decision in  Roe v. Wade  by prohibiting laws that require admission to a hospital, approval by a hospital abortion committee, a second and third medical opinion, or legal residence in a state before an abortion can be performed. The decision also extended the definition of what posed a health threat to the pregnant person when performing a post-viability abortion by allowing a health care provider to consider such factors as the woman's age and emotional and psychological health. These two court decisions contributed to a notable decrease in mortality rates among pregnant women.

After  Roe , the Supreme Court heard several cases that challenged the ruling. In  Planned Parenthood v. Danforth  (1976), the court ruled against several restrictions imposed by Missouri's abortion laws, thus expanding access to abortion. One year later, however, the court ruled in  Maher v. Roe  that state governments could choose to deny public funds for an abortion, granting the government additional control over reproductive health care. The  Maher v. Roe  decision took advantage of the Hyde Amendment, legislation passed by Congress in 1976 that excluded abortion from the list of medical services provided and covered through Medicaid, the federal and state government program that subsidizes medical costs for patients with limited financial means.

CAMPAIGN TO OVERTURN  ROE V. WADE

Responding first to a trend in the states toward liberalizing abortion laws and later to the court's decision in  Roe v. Wade , activists founded several organizations in the late 1960s and 1970s, giving rise to a network of fervent pro-life groups. On the one-year anniversary of the  Roe  decision, approximately twenty thousand activists in Washington, DC, participated in the first March for Life, which became an annual event for anti-abortion activists. Activists also commonly hold public demonstrations outside abortion clinics, brandishing signs with disturbing images of fetuses and shouting condemnations toward people entering the buildings. In 1994 the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act made blocking the entrances of places providing abortion counseling or services a federal offense punishable by fines and imprisonment.

Some anti-abortion activists have taken more extreme, surreptitious, or violent measures. Members of groups such as Project Veritas, for instance, have posed as patients and secretly filmed abortion providers, using the footage to create misinformation campaigns alleging unethical and criminal behavior. Anti-abortion groups also operate  crisis pregnancy centers  (CPCs), nonprofit organizations that seek to deter women from terminating unintended pregnancies. CPCs have been accused of using misleading and deceptive advertising and purposefully providing inaccurate information to stop individuals from accessing abortion services. Members of militant pro-life organizations such as Operation Rescue have committed acts of domestic terrorism, including the bombing of clinics and waging of aggressive harassment campaigns. Several doctors who provided abortions have been murdered by pro-life activists.

Meanwhile, in states where pro-life conservatives hold power, legislatures passed laws that placed additional regulations on abortion providers and had the effect of making abortion services more difficult to obtain. Some of these laws included provisions that required the examination rooms in which the procedure would be performed to be a certain size. Other laws required abortion providers and facilities to be affiliated with a hospital or located within a certain distance from a hospital. Pro-choice groups refer to these laws as Targeted Regulation (or Restriction) for Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws. The Supreme Court ruled against TRAP bills from Texas and Louisiana in  Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt  (2016) and  June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo  (2020), determining that such requirements did not produce sufficient medical benefit to justify the imposition placed on women seeking abortions.

Many anti-abortion activists celebrated the election of President Donald Trump in 2016, as he had committed during his campaign to nominating pro-life judges. Anticipating a conservative majority in the Supreme Court, lawmakers in several states began advancing more restrictive anti-abortion legislation, including many laws intended to prohibit abortions before the end of the first trimester. For example, some states passed legislation outlawing abortion after a "fetal heartbeat" is detected. Reproductive health doctors consider this terminology misleading, as they describe the noise heard as the electrical activity of the ultrasound machine rather than a heartbeat produced by a functioning heart. Texas' "fetal heartbeat" law prohibited abortions after six weeks and relied on private citizens for enforcement by allowing anyone in any state to file a civil suit against any person who helps someone get an abortion in Texas. Out of fear of possible litigation, most providers in the state had ceased operations months before the Supreme Court issued its ruling in  Dobbs .

In the courts, pro-life attorneys brought challenges to  Roe  in the hopes the Supreme Court would eventually strike it down, while pro-life activists built an organized pipeline of judicial nominees. In 1982 a group of conservatives and libertarians founded the Federalist Society as a professional network that would support and promote judges who shared a similar legal vision, including the overturning of  Roe v. Wade . The Trump administration nominated several Federalist Society members as federal judges, including Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. As of 2023, six of the nine Supreme Court justices were members of the Federalist Society.

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS

  • What factors do you think prevented federal lawmakers from adding a constitutional amendment or passing a federal law establishing a national standard regarding abortion rights?
  • Under what circumstances, if any, do you think state governments should restrict a person's access to abortion services? Explain your answer.
  • How has the Supreme Court's 2022 overturning of abortion rights affected abortion access in the country? What do you consider to be the most significant effect of those changes?

ABORTION RIGHTS POST- ROE

The  Dobbs  ruling, which denied that the Constitution ever recognized or implied a right to abortion in the US Constitution, has had a significant impact on abortion access throughout the country. In the late 2010s, in anticipation of a conservative majority on the court, lawmakers in some states began passing legislation to safeguard the right to legal and safe abortions in the event  Roe v. Wade  was overturned. In 2019, for example, New York passed the Reproductive Health Act, which removed several restrictions, decriminalized abortion, and limited government interference with the decisions of women and their health care providers. Before  Roe 's overturning, ten states—Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, and New Mexico—had state constitutions protecting abortion rights. As of October 2023, twenty-two states had expanded or protected access to abortion, though the governments of some of these states were challenging those protections.

Before the  Dobbs  ruling, thirteen US states had passed trigger laws that would outlaw abortion in all or most cases, but not all went into effect immediately after the decision. Some triggered the beginning of a process to ban abortion, while others triggered the ban going into effect. Some laws were blocked from taking effect while lawsuits against them moved through the courts. In some states nearly all abortions became illegal, with some not allowing exceptions in instances of rape and incest or when continuing the pregnancy could be fatal.

President Joe Biden issued an executive order aimed at protecting reproductive rights in July 2022, following the  Dobbs  ruling. The order directed federal agencies, including the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to develop plans to protect patient privacy, safety, and security, as well as ensure access to comprehensive and reliable medical information and medical services, including abortion and contraception. Additionally, the order created a reproductive health care task force. Despite the sweeping intentions of the executive order, the Biden administration's ability to affect abortion rights remains limited without congressional action.

Since  Dobbs , states have passed new laws either protecting or restricting abortion. State legislatures introduced 563 abortion restriction provisions, fifty of which were signed into law, and 369 abortion protection provisions, seventy-seven of which were passed. Six states also held ballot initiatives in which voters chose to protect abortion rights, reflecting the 64 percent majority of Americans who reported supporting abortion rights. As of October 2023, the Guttmacher Institute categorized six US states as "very protective" of abortion rights, with Oregon's laws identified as "most protective." An additional nine states, plus Washington, DC, had policies that protected the right to abortion but imposed some restrictions. Eight states were characterized as "restrictive" and three as "very restrictive." Fifteen states—Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, and West Virginia—had the "most restrictive" abortion policies, a significant increase from the five states with the designation in 2022.

One major point of contention between states is the ability of people to travel in order to access abortion. As of June 2023, twenty-five million people who can become pregnant had less access to legal abortion in their state than they did before the ruling, resulting in significant numbers of people traveling across state borders for the procedure. In response, so-called  shield laws , which protect abortion patents and providers from prosecution in states where abortion is illegal, have been passed in fourteen states since  Dobbs , bringing the total to fifteen states. In September 2023, lawmakers in Texas began passing measures restricting access to roadways for people on their way to an abortion appointment. In response to a federal rule allowing military personnel stationed in states where access to abortion is restricted to travel to states where abortion is legal, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R–AL) blocked the Senate from voting on military promotions, leaving several crucial high-level posts vacant for months. As of October 2023, despite pressure to relent from both sides of the aisle, Tuberville's blockade continued.

With the FDA allowing delivery of pills for medication abortion through the mail, pro-choice lawmakers and reproductive rights activists hoped that expanding access to medication abortion through telemedicine would mitigate some of the travel burden. However, in states where abortion is restricted, anti-abortion lawmakers began to explore ways of preventing the use of medication abortion. Despite a lack of medical or scientific evidence, several states passed legislation requiring doctors to inform patients that medical abortions can be interrupted or "reversed" by replacing the second pill with a dose of progesterone. Conservative states and legal groups have also pursued overturning the FDA's approval of mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in medication abortions. In April 2023 the Supreme Court ruled that mifepristone could continue to be prescribed while lawsuits continued.

In the year following  Dobbs , the US maternal death rate, already the highest among industrialized countries, rose in states where abortion access was illegal or highly restricted. According to a January 2023 report by the Gender Equity Policy Institute, pregnant people in states where abortion is banned were up to three times more likely to die during pregnancy or labor or soon after than pregnant people in less restrictive states. Of these deaths, one in seven occurred in Texas. Babies were 30 percent likelier to die during their first month of life in states with abortion bans, and teen birth rates were twice as high in abortion restriction states.

The number of abortions performed in the United States increased after the  Dobbs  decision, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which found about 511,000 abortions performed between January and June 2023, compared to 465,000 in the same period of 2020. Less restrictive states bordering more restrictive states experienced most of the increase, with Illinois providers reporting a 69 percent increase and New Mexico reporting a 220 percent increase. States with total bans or six-week bans had an estimated 114,590 fewer abortions performed within their borders, according to the research group WeCount. Experts have raised concerns that the country's remaining abortion clinics are experiencing unsustainable demand for the procedure.

More Articles

Parental involvement laws can impose harmful burdens on pregnant minors.

"They talked about making sure they did really well in school from now on, so that their abortions weren't in vain."

Francie Diep is a staff writer at Pacific Standard . In the following viewpoint, Diep argues that parental involvement laws for minors seeking abortions can be detrimental to young women's physical and mental health. Discussing a study of minors who sought a judge's approval, a process commonly referred to as judicial bypass, in lieu of obtaining parental consent, the author reveals wide variation among experiences with the process. Diep notes that judicial bypass frequently delays a minor's abortion by several weeks. Citing the experiences of study participants, the author characterizes securing judicial bypass as a humiliating experience and provides several examples of a judge or a minor's guardian ad litem demonstrating anti-abortion bias. Despite these negative experiences, the author maintains, many of the minors subjected to parental involvement laws support such restrictions on minors seeking abortions.

Parental Consent Laws Protect Teens

“According to a national study conducted by researchers associated with Guttmacher, disappointment is the most common response of parents who learn that their teen daughter is pregnant, and almost no parent responds with violence.”

Teresa S. Collett is a professor of law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis.

In the following viewpoint, Collett contends that parental consent laws are constitutional and in the best interest of girls seeking abortion. Citing the likelihood that adult men are most often the fathers of school-age pregnancies, parental involvement ensures that cases of coercion and statutory rape do not go unreported. Additionally, parents are in the best position to provide health information and care for their daughters during a time of acute vulnerability and need.

Late-Term Abortions Are Cruel, Common, and Unjustified

"In one recording taken on May 2, an unidentified woman is able to schedule an abortion at 30 weeks of pregnancy, even after she says there's nothing wrong with the fetus."

Bradford Richardson is a reporter at the Washington Times .

In the following viewpoint, Richardson argues that abortion providers in New Mexico, Louisiana, and Texas frequently terminate pregnancies during the third trimester (twenty-eight to forty weeks) and employ methods that cause the fetus undue harm. Defending comments made by Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential debates, the author disputes assertions made by reproductive rights groups and media outlets that late-term abortions are performed only in special circumstances and that the procedure referred to as partial-birth abortion is not considered legitimate among US medical experts. The author commends the efforts of anti-abortion activists and organizations like the Center for Medical Progress, which made covert recordings of abortion providers, for drawing attention to medical practices employed at reproductive health clinics.

Overregulation Forces Women To Have Late-Term Abortions

"Animal advocates, as well as many scientists, are increasingly questioning the scientific validity and reliability of animal experimentation."

“[A]dding hurdles that force women to obtain an abortion later in pregnancy—or to seek out options on their own, such as online medications of unknown quality—is bad for women’s health.”

Daniel Grossman is a professor in the department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, and director of Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) at the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health.

In the following viewpoint, Grossman argues that restrictions on abortion access contribute to women delaying abortions. He explains how abortions that take place earlier in a pregnancy tend to be safer for the woman’s health than abortions performed later. He argues that women already encounter significant obstacles to obtaining the procedure without additional regulations. He contends that several restrictions prevent patients from choosing medical abortions, which are significantly less invasive than surgical abortions and could be administered by more health care providers than specific state laws allow.

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50 Abortion Essay Topics: Researching Abortion-Related Subjects

abortion essay topics

Abortion remains a contentious social and political issue, with deeply held beliefs and strong emotions shaping the debate. It is a topic that has been at the forefront of public discourse for decades, sparking heated arguments and evoking a range of perspectives from individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide.

The complexity of abortion stems from its intersection with fundamental human rights, ethical principles, and societal norms. It raises questions about the sanctity of life, individual autonomy, gender equality, and public health, making it a challenging yet critically important subject to explore and analyze.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the significance of choosing the right abortion essay topics and abortion title ideas , offering valuable insights and practical advice for students navigating this challenging yet rewarding endeavor. By understanding the multifaceted nature of abortion and its far-reaching implications, students can make informed decisions about their topic selection, setting themselves up for success in producing well-researched, insightful, and impactful essays.

Choosing the Right Abortion Essay Topic

For students who are tasked with writing an essay on abortion, choosing the right topic is essential. A well-chosen topic can be the difference between a well-researched, insightful, and impactful piece of writing and a superficial, uninspired, and forgettable one.

This guide delves into the significance of selecting the right abortion essay topic, providing valuable insights for students embarking on this challenging yet rewarding endeavor. By understanding the multifaceted nature of abortion and its far-reaching implications, students can identify topics that align with their interests, research capabilities, and the overall objectives of their essays.

Abortion remains a contentious social and political issue, with deeply held beliefs and strong emotions shaping the debate on abortion topics . It is a topic that has been at the forefront of public discourse for decades, sparking heated arguments and evoking a range of perspectives from individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide.

List of Abortion Argumentative Essay Topics

Abortion argumentative essay topics typically revolve around the ethical, legal, and societal aspects of this controversial issue. These topics often involve debates and discussions, requiring students to present well-reasoned arguments supported by evidence and persuasive language.

  • The Bodily Autonomy vs. Fetal Rights Debate: A Balancing Act
  • Exploring Abortion Rights: An Argumentative Analysis
  • Gender Equality and Reproductive Freedom in the Abortion Debate
  • Considering Abortion as a Human Right
  • The Impact of Abortion Stigma on Women's Mental Health
  • Abortion: A Controversial Issue
  • Persuasive Speech Outline on Abortion
  • Laughing Matters: Satire and the Abortion Debate
  • Abortion Is Bad
  • Discussion on Whether Abortion is a Crime
  • Abortion Restrictions and Women's Economic Opportunity
  • Government Intervention in Abortion Regulation
  • Religion, Morality, and Abortion Attitudes
  • Parental Notification and Consent Laws
  • A Persuasive Paper on the Issue of Abortion

Ethical Considerations: Abortion raises profound ethical questions about the sanctity of life, personhood, and individual choice. Students can explore these ethical dilemmas by examining the moral implications of abortion, the rights of the unborn, and the role of personal conscience in decision-making.

Legal Aspects: The legal landscape surrounding abortion is constantly evolving, with varying regulations and restrictions across different jurisdictions. Students can delve into the legal aspects of abortion by analyzing the impact of laws and policies on access, safety, and the well-being of women.

Societal Impact: Abortion has a significant impact on society, influencing public health, gender equality, and social justice. Students can explore the societal implications of abortion by examining its impact on maternal health, reproductive rights, and the lives of marginalized communities.

Effective Abortion Topics for Research Paper

Research papers on abortion demand a more in-depth and comprehensive approach, requiring students to delve into historical, medical, and international perspectives on this multifaceted issue.

Medical Perspectives: The medical aspects of abortion encompass a wide range of topics, from advancements in abortion procedures to the health and safety of women undergoing the procedure. Students can explore medical perspectives by examining the evolution of abortion techniques, the impact of medical interventions on maternal health, and the role of healthcare providers in the abortion debate.

Historical Analysis: Abortion has a long and complex history, with changing attitudes, practices, and laws across different eras. Students can engage in historical analysis by examining the evolution of abortion practices in ancient civilizations, tracing the legal developments surrounding abortion, and exploring the shifting social attitudes towards abortion throughout history.

International Comparisons: Abortion laws and regulations vary widely across different countries, leading to diverse experiences and outcomes. Students can make international comparisons by examining abortion access and restrictions in different regions, analyzing the impact of varying legal frameworks on women's health and rights, and identifying best practices in abortion policies.

List of Abortion Research Paper Topics

  • The Socioeconomic Factors and Racial Disparities Shaping Abortion Access
  • Ethical and Social Implications of Emerging Abortion Technologies
  • Abortion Stigma and Women's Mental Health
  • Telemedicine and Abortion Access in Rural Areas
  • International Human Rights and Abortion Access
  • Reproductive Justice and Other Social Justice Issues
  • Men's Role in Abortion Decision-Making
  • Abortion Restrictions and Social Disparities
  • Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Abortion Access
  • Alternative Approaches to Abortion Regulation
  • Political Ideology and Abortion Policy Debates
  • Public Health Campaigns for Informed Abortion Decisions
  • Abortion Services in Conflict-Affected Areas
  • Healthcare Providers and Medical Ethics of Abortion
  • International Cooperation on Abortion Policies

By exploring these topics and subtopics for abortion essays , students can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of the abortion debate and choose a specific focus that aligns with their interests and research objectives.

Choosing Abortion Research Paper Topics

When selecting research paper topics on abortion, it is essential to consider factors such as research feasibility, availability of credible sources, and the potential for original contributions.

Abortion is a complex and multifaceted issue that intersects with various aspects of society and individual lives. By broadening the scope of abortion-related topics, students can explore a wider range of perspectives and insights.

  • Abortion Social Issue
  • Exploring the Complexity of Abortion: Historical, Medical and Personal Perspectives
  • Abortion: A Comprehensive Research
  • An Examination of Abortion and its Health Implications on Women
  • Abortion Introduction
  • Comparative Analysis of Abortion Laws Worldwide
  • Historical Evolution of Abortion Rights and Practices
  • Impact of Abortion on Public Health and Maternal Mortality
  • Abortion Funding and Access to Reproductive Healthcare
  • Role of Misinformation and Myths in Abortion Debates
  • International Perspectives on Abortion and Reproductive Freedom
  • Abortion and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Abortion and Gender Equality in the Global Context
  • Abortion and Human Rights: A Legal and Ethical Analysis
  • Religious and Cultural Influences on Abortion Perceptions
  • Abortion and Social Justice: Addressing Disparities and Marginalization
  • Anti-abortion and Pro-choice Movements: Comparative Analysis and Impact
  • Impact of Technological Advancements on Abortion Procedures and Access
  • Ethical Considerations of New Abortion Technologies and Surrogacy
  • Role of Advocacy and Activism in Shaping Abortion Policy and Practice
  • Measuring the Effectiveness of Abortion Policy Interventions

Navigating the complex landscape of abortion-related topics can be a daunting task, but it also offers an opportunity for students to delve into a range of compelling issues and perspectives. By choosing the right topic, students can produce well-researched, insightful, and impactful essays that contribute to the ongoing dialogue on this important subject.

The 50 abortion essay ideas presented in this guide provide a starting point for exploring the intricacies of abortion and its far-reaching implications. Whether students are interested in argumentative essays that engage in ethical, legal, or societal debates or research papers that delve into medical, historical, or international perspectives, this collection offers a wealth of potential topics to ignite their curiosity and challenge their thinking.

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topics about abortion for a research paper

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Create research questions to focus your topic, featured current news, find articles in library databases, find web resources, find books in the library catalog, cite your sources, key search words.

Use the words below to search for useful information in books and articles .

  • birth control
  • pro-choice movement
  • pro-life movement
  • reproductive rights
  • Roe v. Wade
  • Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (Dobbs v. Jackson)

Background Reading:

It's important to begin your research learning something about your subject; in fact, you won't be able to create a focused, manageable thesis unless you already know something about your topic.

This step is important so that you will:

  • Begin building your core knowledge about your topic
  • Be able to put your topic in context
  • Create research questions that drive your search for information
  • Create a list of search terms that will help you find relevant information
  • Know if the information you’re finding is relevant and useful

If you're working from off campus , you'll be prompted to sign in if you aren't already logged in to your MJC email or Canvas. If you are prompted to sign in, use the same credentials you use for email and Canvas. 

Most current background reading 

  • Issues and Controversies: Should Women in the United States Have Access to Abortion? June 2022 article (written after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade) that explores both sides of the abortion debate.
  • Access World News: Abortion The most recent news and opinion on abortion from US newspapers.

More sources for background information

  • CQ Researcher Online This link opens in a new window Original, comprehensive reporting and analysis on issues in the news. Check the dates of results to be sure they are sufficiently current.
  • Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window Authoritative background reading from specialized encyclopedias (a year or more old, so not good for the latest developments).
  • Gale In Context: Global Issues This link opens in a new window Best database for exploring the topic from a global point of view.

Choose the questions below that you find most interesting or appropriate for your assignment.

  • Why is abortion such a controversial issue?
  • What are the medical arguments for and against abortion?
  • What are the religious arguments for and against abortion?
  • What are the political arguments for and against abortion?
  • What are the cultural arguments for and against abortion?
  • What is the history of laws concerning abortion?
  • What are the current laws about abortion?
  • How are those who oppose access to abortion trying to affect change?
  • How are those who support access to abortion trying to affect change?
  • Based on what I have learned from my research, what do I think about the issue of abortion?
  • State-by-State Abortion Laws Updated regularly by the Guttmacher Institute
  • What the Data Says About Abortion in the U.S. From the Pew Research Center in June 2022, a look at the most recent available data about abortion from sources other than public opinion surveys.

Latest News on Abortion from Google News

All of these resources are free for MJC students, faculty, & staff.

  • Gale Databases This link opens in a new window Search over 35 databases simultaneously that cover almost any topic you need to research at MJC. Gale databases include articles previously published in journals, magazines, newspapers, books, and other media outlets.
  • EBSCOhost Databases This link opens in a new window Search 22 databases simultaneously that cover almost any topic you need to research at MJC. EBSCO databases include articles previously published in journals, magazines, newspapers, books, and other media outlets.
  • Facts on File Databases This link opens in a new window Facts on File databases include: Issues & Controversies , Issues & Controversies in History , Today's Science , and World News Digest .
  • MEDLINE Complete This link opens in a new window This database provides access to top-tier biomedical and health journals, making it an essential resource for doctors, nurses, health professionals and researchers engaged in clinical care, public health, and health policy development.
  • Access World News This link opens in a new window Search the full-text of editions of record for local, regional, and national U.S. newspapers as well as full-text content of key international sources. This is your source for The Modesto Bee from January 1989 to the present. Also includes in-depth special reports and hot topics from around the country. To access The Modesto Bee , limit your search to that publication. more... less... Watch this short video to learn how to find The Modesto Bee .

Browse Featured Web Sites:

  • American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists Medical information and anti-abortion rights advocacy.
  • American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Use the key term "abortion" in the search box on this site for links to reports and statistics.
  • Guttmacher Institute Statistics and policy papers with a world-wide focus from a "research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide."
  • NARAL Pro-Choice America This group advocates for pro-abortion rights legislation. Current information abortion laws in the U.S.
  • National Right to Life Committee This group advocates for anti-abortion rights legislation in the U.S.

Why Use Books:

Use books to read broad overviews and detailed discussions of your topic. You can also use books to find  primary sources , which are often published together in collections.  

Where Do I Find Books?

You'll use the library catalog to search for books, ebooks, articles, and more.  

What if MJC Doesn't Have What I Need?

If you need materials (books, articles, recordings, videos, etc.) that you cannot find in the library catalog , use our  interlibrary loan service .

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  • Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024 1:28 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.mjc.edu/abortion

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100 Original and Nuanced Abortion Essay Topics for Thoughtful Discussions

Abortion is a highly sensitive and polarizing topic, which makes it difficult to write about. Even among other controversial themes, essay topics about abortion are in a league of their own, splitting people along and across the lines of partisan divide, religious affiliation, and other, usually strong predictors of their views. As a rule, you are expected to have a clearly defined position that you make known in the title and defend vehemently from the very first sentence of your essay.

However, in the abortion essay topics we suggest in this post, we tried to balance categorical stances with those more open to different ideas, ready to explore and take a step forward to meet the opposition somewhere in the middle. If we ever want to reach a consensus on this topic, we must keep the conversation going, even if, as it seems at the moment, it is going nowhere.

Persuasive Essay Topics on Abortion

In this section, find specific topics about abortion for a persuasive essay. Some of them are linked to the free samples you can read to inform your opinion or better understand the opposing side's arguments. If you need a sample on topics that a not linked, you can always request an individually customized model paper from our essay service .

  • Prenatal screening and abortion: increased awareness and preparedness or eugenics?
  • Should abortion be legal argumentative essay
  • Pros and cons of abortion essay
  • Kantian and utilitarian view on abortion
  • Summary of the essays on why abortion is wrong and counterarguments to abortion proponents
  • What can be done to reduce the number of abortions while keeping termination a safe and accessible option?
  • Do you think morning-after pills should be legal or outlawed following the abortion ban?
  • Do you think a woman seeking abortion in a state that does not allow the procedure should be permitted to travel out of state to get the abortion, or should it still be considered a violation of state laws?
  • If abortion is made illegal and punishable by law, do you think it's appropriate to introduce punishment for forced impregnation (either rape or deceit like removing protection stealthily?) If so, what punishment would you deem fit in each case?
  • Do you believe that the religious sentiments of the citizens should have a bearing on the abortion debate, or should it stay strictly in the legal and medical plains?
  • Adverse effects of abortion on fertility and health should be made known to any woman seeking the procedure. Agree or disagree?
  • Abortion restriction is a political tool punishing those who already face overlapping systems of oppression. Discuss.
  • Unrestricted abortion will inevitably lead to eugenics as technology progresses, so it must be stopped
  • Criminalizing abortion contradicts the constitutional right of the women
  • Forcing pregnancy and childbirth on unwilling women hurts children as much as it does mothers
  • In the abortion debate, the middle ground is sorely missing. Here is where we could start
  • Can pro-life philosophy be reconciled with assisted reproduction technology that results in live birth but disposes of unimplanted embryos?
  • If abortion is made illegal, do you believe it is ethical to sterilize nulliparous young women per their demand?
  • The criminalization of abortion will bring all miscarriages under suspicion punishing women who already suffer gravely
  • Bringing a child you are not able to care for into the world is disrespectful to human life; therefore, abortion must be allowed

Abortion Argumentative Essay Topics

Most abortion topics for argumentative essays are too categorical and fail to move the discussion forward. We offer you not only to express your opinion on the big question in a definite "yes" or "no" fashion but to explore the issue in all its complexity via a more nuanced approach. Below you will find essay topics on abortion and other closely related bioethical issues that invite a thoughtful discussion.

  • Where do you stand in the abortion rights debate? What are the crucial arguments of your persuasion?
  • Do you believe that better adoption policies could lead to more women choosing to give birth rather than terminate unplanned pregnancies?
  • Do you believe we should focus our efforts on preventing unwanted pregnancies rather than criminalizing abortion?
  • Do you agree that even if the fetus has a right to life, it does not have a right to use a woman's body without her permission?
  • Do you believe that the development of an artificial uterus would solve the abortion debate? If not, what other issues would arise instead?
  • Do you believe both parents must be involved in the abortion decision?
  • Do you believe bodily autonomy trumps all other considerations, even in the case of selective abortion?
  • You can only ban safe abortion: the dangers of illegal abortion and infanticide under the ban
  • Do you believe there could be "reasonable regulation on abortion" without a complete ban?
  • Do you believe abortions should be covered by health insurance policies?
  • Do you believe that the state should take up all medical expenses and the responsibility for the child should it deny abortion to a woman?
  • Do you believe in personhood from conception, from birth, or later in life? Prove your point
  • Do you believe it's ethical to deny abortion to rape and child abuse survivors?
  • If abortion is made illegal in your state, what punishment would you deem appropriate for perpetration? Who should be punished (the woman, the abortion provider, anyone who knew and failed to report)?
  • When Roe is overturned, do you think Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird could be the next targets? Would you support or oppose their overturn?
  • Abortion is an issue of broader civil rights struggle, especially for low-income women and POC. Discuss.
  • Do you believe pregnancy termination should be allowed in case of severe fetal anomalies?
  • Do you believe there is a threshold to personhood? Where should it lie (conception, fetal heartbeat, sentience, viability)?
  • Fetus as a patient: what are doctor's moral obligations to the mother and to the not-yet-born
  • Do you believe there can be a consensus between conservative and liberal views on abortion? What would it look like? What would you suggest as a middle ground?

Ethics of Abortion Research Questions

The undeniable fact is that however polarizing the issue might be, we, as a democratic society, must come to a consensus acceptable to most citizens. In contraversial issues like abortion, where law, health care, morality, reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy, religion, and intimate life are intertwined into the Gordian knot, the help of philosophers and ethicists is required for a nuanced solution. Here are some suggestions for research questions about abortion that look at abortion research topics from the perspective of ethics, philosophy, and morality:

  • Ethics of abortion in case of detected disability of the fetus
  • Ethics of abortion in case of life-threatening condition in the mother-to-be
  • Ethics of selective abortion (sex, race selection, etc.)
  • Abortion and mental health: tokophobia, postpartum depression, infanticide, and suicide
  • Prenatal diagnosis, wrongful birth, and wrongful life: a global perspective on bioethical issues
  • Ethics behind pro-life arguments and their main contradictions
  • Ethics behind pro-choice arguments and their main contradictions
  • Bioethics of IVF, savior siblings, stem cells, and genetic research in abortion rights debate
  • Religion, morality, and reproductive decisions: moral dilemmas about abortion and spirituality
  • Christianity and morality of abortion
  • Islam and the ethics of abortion
  • Judaism and morality of abortion
  • The dilemma of defining acceptable cutoffs for abortion procedures: ethical vs. legal issues
  • Moral decisions going into saving either mother or the child during traumatic and dangerous pregnancy and birth
  • Ethics of parental involvement in teenage abortion: prior and beyond the age of consent
  • Points to consider when covering abortion: ethical journalism, empathy, and respect
  • Ethical dilemma for clinicians: respect for patient's autonomy vs. respect for country's law on abortion
  • Quality of life consideration in medical abortion decisions (psychological wellbeing and physical health)
  • What makes a human: moral arguments about the humanness of the fetus in the abortion debate
  • The social construction of humanity and morality in the abortion debate: natural, immutable values vs. socially constructed

Abortion Controversy Research Paper Topics

Too often, abortion paper topics simplify the issue and search for one clear-cut solution that decides the debate once and for all. However, life is much more complicated. If you are not afraid of facing all the uncomfortable realities and finding nuanced answers, try exploring one of these topics:

  • A historic low was reached in 2017. Why demand for abortion spiked at the anticipation of Roe overturn?
  • Fifty years of anti-abortion campaigns: timeline of restriction policies
  • Sexual orientation and exposure to violence among patients seeking termination
  • Women prosecuted for miscarrying: the grey area of anti-abortion legislation
  • Re-traumatization, stigma, and disability: Case studies of child abuse victims who were denied abortion
  • The trauma of the unwanted: psychological impact for people whose mothers were denied abortion
  • The vicious cycle of abuse: child brides and shotgun weddings in anti-abortion communities
  • Denied abortion, co-parenting with your abuser: when biological fatherhood gives the rapist power over the victim's life
  • Maternity homes for unwed mothers: the reality of sexual double-standards of the past
  • Abortion, closed adoption, open adoption, single-motherhood: tradeoffs of each option for women dealing with unplanned pregnancy
  • The role of ineffective sex education and abstinence-only programs in teenage pregnancy numbers and demand for abortion
  • The adverse effects of the "global gag rule" and Helms Amendment on individual access to health care in underserved communities in the US and globally
  • The disproportionate impact of Hyde's amendment on POC: uncovering racial health disparities
  • Shaming, ideology, and misinformation: fake abortion clinics controversy
  • Data misrepresentation in the abortion debate: a case study
  • Adolescent's right to confidential care when considering abortion
  • Abortion stigmatization via pitting "good" vs. "bad" reasons for abortion
  • The Asian "missing women" generation and other consequences of selective abortions
  • Down syndrome awareness and abortion laws
  • Genetic research, unrestricted abortion, and the eugenics controversy

Demographics of Abortion Research Paper Topics

The following demographics-related abortion topics for research paper give a comprehensive outline of patient characteristics, their met and unmet reproductive needs, and analyze how policies influence the lives of various social groups, including the most disadvantaged ones.

  • Reasons women seek abortion beyond gestational cutoffs
  • Who gets an abortion in the US: a portrait of the typical patient
  • Abortion numbers: age dynamics since (the 1980s to 2020s trends)
  • Factors contributing to the decline in abortion figures in the past decades
  • Income gap and health care access: economic factors in termination decisions
  • Abortion perspectives in Red States post-Roe vs. Wade overturn
  • Future of the IVF treatment and genetic research after the end of Roe
  • Abortion law and statistics in each state
  • Abortion vs. childbirth: Complications, morbidity, and mortality in young girls
  • Politics of abortion: ensuring access to abortion, morning-after pills, and contraception post-Roe
  • Abortion as contraception: verifying myths with data
  • Traveling state lines for care: before and after Roe overturn
  • State funding of abortion under Medicaid
  • Gender-inclusive care for people who can get pregnant
  • Reasons behind the reversal of the long-term decline in US abortion rates
  • Abortion policies at the US prisons and jails
  • Differences in abortion rates between US population by country of origin
  • Disparities in abortion rates among your state's population by race/ethnicity, age, and income level
  • Abortion issues in Latin America
  • Reproductive rights on the African continent

These, of course, are only general suggestions. Feel free to narrow down any of the topics and tailor your research to your state, city, or community. If you need more inspiration, you are welcome to free samples from our library of essays. Also, we encourage you to avail of the personalized help of our writing experts for topic suggestions, unique model papers, editing assistance, and more. Stay curious and empathetic to keep this conversation going!

Jana Rooheart

Jana Rooheart

Jana Rooheart came to WOWESSAYSℱ with a mission to put together and then slice and dice our vast practical experience in crafting all kinds of academic papers. Jana is an aspired blogger with rich expertise in psychology, digital learning tools, and creative writing. In this blog, she willingly shares tricks of pencraft and mind-altering ideas about academic writing any student will find utterly beneficial.

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241 Abortion Essay Topics & Research Questions + Examples

Abortion is a highly controversial issue because it involves a conflict between a woman’s bodily autonomy and a fetus’s right to life. Due to the complicated nature of this problem, one can come up with many research questions on abortion. On this page, you’ll find plenty of interesting and thought-provoking abortion title ideas and essay examples. Read on to get inspired!

📚 Subtopics for Abortion Essays

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Do you need to write a paper on pregnancy termination but don’t know where to begin? Here are some general abortion topics to write about. You can use them as a starting point for developing more nuanced research questions about abortion for your assignment.

đŸ‘©â€âš–ïž Abortion essay titles are often concerned with the question of whether this practice should be legalized. You can explore the pros and cons of laws prohibiting pregnancy termination.
🌐 If you need titles for abortion papers in sociology, consider exploring issues like the impact of abortion on family relationships, the stigma surrounding this practice, and pro-choice and pro-life activism.
⚖ Want to study the ethical side of abortion? Consider such aspects as the moral status of the fetus, bodily autonomy, and religious perspectives.
đŸ‘©â€âš•ïž Abortion research paper topics can study the health effects of different pregnancy termination methods, like medications and surgeries.
🧠 You can write an abortion essay in psychology. For example, research strategies to cope with grief after pregnancy termination and the role of pre and post-abortion counseling.
  • Abortion in Hanafi and Maliki Schools of Islamic Thought
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  • Abortions. Perspectives, Federalism, Court Cases
  • Should Abortion Be Banned?
  • Utilitarianism and Abortion: Mill’s Principle of Utility and Bentham’s Felicific Calculus
  • The Controversy Around Morality of Abortion
  • Deductive and Inductive Arguments: Granting Abortion Rights
  • Should Abortions be Legal?
  • Why Abortions Should Be Legal?
  • The Advantages and the Dangers of Abortion The paper states that the right to abortion allows a woman the freedom to control their body. It also empowers pregnant people to manage their health.
  • Discussion of Legalization of Abortion The paper presents annotated bibliography of sources aims at providing a clear view of various policies and laws around the globe on abortion.
  • Thompson’s ‘A Defense of Abortion’ and Hursthouse’s ‘Virtue Theory and Abortion’ This paper is a reading summary of two articles on the ethics of abortion, such as ‘A defense of abortion’ and ‘Virtue theory and abortion’.
  • The Dilemma of Abortions: Consequentialist and Deontological Points of View Despite numerous discussions and studies regarding the advantages and disadvantages of abortions from the issue remains a problematic area that requires additional analysis.
  • Abortion: An Ethical Dilemma There are many reasons as to why abortion poses an ethical dilemma for most women. Reasons such as religious beliefs, medical concerns are easily resolved by reason and need.
  • Justifying Abortion From Utilitarian Position This paper argues that abortion should be justified since a woman’s body, health and future should depend on her own consensual and conscious decisions.
  • Ethics and the Right to Abortion The paper discusses a case in which a gynecologist must decide to perform an abortion for a woman who is a survivor of abuse in a state that prohibits the practice.
  • Reflection on “A Defense of Abortion” by Judith Jarvis Thomson In her moral philosophy essay, “A Defense of Abortion,” Judith Jarvis Thomson implements thought experiments to argue in support of abortion based on two core premises
  • Is Abortion Beneficial or Harmful To a Teenager? Abortion is the removal of a pregnancy before it is due. It is the elimination of a fetus or embryo from the mother’s uterus before it is due for birth.
  • Fetal Abnormality and Ethical Dilemms of Abortion In the case study “Fetal Abnormality,” four characters face the same problem: an abnormal condition of a fetus and the necessity to decide if to save a child or consider abortion.
  • Abortion Legalization: Empowering Women’s Rights Delve into the complex ramifications of legalizing abortion, examining its effects on women’s autonomy, health, and societal dynamics.
  • Pros and Cons of Abortion: The Importance of Women’s Rights For decades, abortion has been a hotly debated subject, eliciting strong and often firmly entrenched beliefs on all sides of the political spectrum.
  • Abortion: Ethical and Moral Issues Abortion is one of the urgent problems worldwide, and disputes about the permissibility of abortion and infanticide have been conducted since ancient times.
  • Abortion Legalization and Its Implications Legalizing abortion has both social and economic implications, leading to political differences and indifferences.
  • Abortion and Its Legal and Moral Status The legal and moral status of abortion is an issue facing great controversy because of individuals’ strong beliefs in cultural values and moral perspectives.
  • Social and Economic Problems of Abortion Ritualizing abortion involves cultural and religious beliefs that are intended to prevent abortions and their consequent impacts.
  • Abortion: Arguments for Defense Abortion should be accepted as a way of curbing unnecessary maternal death and showing compassion to rape victims.
  • Abortion: Arguments in Support This essay will explore the medical reason for an abortion to be performed. It will ask the pertinent question of why abortion should remain legal with limitations.
  • Abortion: The Ethically Appropriate Procedure Based on the available evidence and the considerations of women’s rights, treating abortions as an ethically appropriate procedure seems to be a more reasonable position.
  • Social Justice Protests Regarding Abortions This study aims to understand abortion rights and how they were significant in women’s equality. Roe v. Rode was a case that challenged the rule about abortion.
  • Abortion in Christian and Non-Christian Ethics The Christian ethical system approaches the issue of abortion through God’s image and character while utilitarianism is concerned with maximizing happiness.
  • Abortion Is a Woman’s Right and Should Be Legal Abortion is one of the most controversial topics in our society. Some believe that a woman has the right to choose what happens to her body and believe that abortion is murder.
  • The Controversy Around Abortion in the US In the US, the issue of abortion has been facing controversy. The disagreement from society is making it difficult to address the problem.
  • Abortion With Limitations: Analysis Since abortion remains a divisive issue due to the presence of divergent opinions, permitting it with specific limitations is a good decision.
  • The Abortion Prohibition Issue Analysis The paper analyzes the issue of the irrationality of abortion prohibition due to the ideological, sociological, medical, and legal perspectives.
  • Abortion Should Be Available in Modern Society Abortions should be allowed for every woman within the framework of respect for human rights and eliminating undesirable consequences for a woman’s health.
  • Ethical Aspects of Abortion: A Moral Dilemma This paper discusses the ethical aspects of abortion, a controversial and highly debated topic that raises religious, moral, and other fundamental issues.
  • Abortion Ban and Its Negative Consequences The choice to ban abortion will have a severe impact on women; doctors must engage judges in case a clinical feticide are necessary, causing a delay that might result in death.
  • Abortion Abolitionists and Pro-Life Activists While both abortion abolitionists and pro-life activists share a variety of fundamental beliefs, they also vary in their approach and interpretation of women’s rights to abortion.
  • American Democrats’ Pro-Abortion Beliefs The US political system consists of liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans. The chosen news article elaborates more on the Federal Abortion ban from these two perspectives.
  • Sex-Selective Abortions Around the World Sex-selective abortion is a problem that must be addressed if we take into account the place of women in society and the effects of sex choice on interpersonal relationships.
  • Decriminalizing Abortion for Women’s Health’s Sake The debate for and against abortion has caused controversies worldwide, with some groups ruling out the act as heinous.
  • Ban on Abortions as Current Civil Rights Issue Even if a woman leaves a child for upbringing due to an unplanned pregnancy, it will be difficult to talk about a good emotional climate in a family.
  • The Morality of Selective Abortion and Genetic Screening The paper states that the morality of selective abortion and genetic screening is relative. This technology should be made available and legal.
  • The Judith Thomson vs. Don Marquis Abortion Debate Thompson agrees that murder is immoral, as the Marquis believes, but a woman has every right to get rid of the fetus, and outsiders have the right to help her.
  • Right to Abortion and Related Ethical Issues This paper applies the utilitarianism approach to ethics in showing that women that have been raped or have some health complications should be free to terminate their pregnancy.
  • “Why Abortion is Immoral” by Don Marquis Don Marquis is an author of an essay that argues that abortions are immoral from a non-religious standpoint. He begins with a general discussion on why killing is wrong.
  • Abortion: A Pro-Choice Rally in Charlotte The article discusses the author’s experience at a pro-choice rally in Charlotte, NC, where a Christian preacher attempted to reason with the protestors and spread God’s message.
  • Women’s Reasons for Seeking Abortions The cause-effect essay aims to contribute to the ongoing discussion by exploring the reasons why women seek abortions.
  • Supreme Court’s Abortion Ruling Sets Off New Court Fights The article discusses the Supreme Court’s decision to ban abortions and give states the right to decide on their local level whether they want to prohibit it or not.
  • Abortion in Public Opinion and Legislation Supporters of abortion believe that embryos and fetuses cannot have full human rights since the fetus is not yet a human being.
  • Right to Abortion: Ethical Issues On the one hand, abortion is the woman’s right to protect her life; on the other hand, abortion touches upon two lives minimum.
  • Women’s Right to Abortion: Religious Perspective Some religious people are right to accept the US court decision on limiting women’s right to abortion. They believe that the act is murder because life starts at conception.
  • Ethical Issue: Abortion Should Be Legal Abortions should be lawful because morally justifiable activities should be legal: it is an injustice to punish behaviors that are not bad.
  • Roe v. Wade: Abortion Rights in the United States Since the beginning of May, the United States has been discussing the possible cancellation of the decision in the Roe v. Wade case.
  • “A Defense of Abortion” by Judith Thomson and Abortion Discussion “A Defense of Abortion” by Judith Thomson tries to bridge the gap between supporters of abortion, and opponents, who believe that a fetus is a person.
  • Ethics: Women’s Right to Abortion In the current paradigm of medicine and healthcare, abortion has become a relatively safe operation due to the increased quality of competencies and equipment.
  • “Abortion Law and Policy Around the World”: Source Evaluation The paper analyzes article “Abortion law and policy around the world” which was written by Marge Berer and published in June, 2017.
  • Abortion: The Lifesaving Procedure Even though abortion is a form of right to life deprivation, the act is not a crime, as some believe hence should be legalized. It can potentially be a lifesaving procedure.
  • Why Should Abortion Be Made Legal? The paper states that doing an abortion before 20 weeks is permissible and has to be an option for women willing to stop their pregnancy.
  • Abortion: Effects and Legalization The social stigma surrounding abortion has a negative impact on people’s mental health and their willingness to seek safe abortion services despite the legal laws.
  • The Right to Abortion Must Be Protected Legal abortion means respecting women’s reproductive freedom, ensuring that all children grow up wanted in safe environments, and improving the general conditions of society.
  • Abortion Legalization and List of Circumstances In some cases where the expectant mother cannot handle a child, abortion in such a scenario needs legalization.
  • Discussion: Legalization of Abortion Aspects The paper argues abortion needs legalization under exceptional grounds, such as when a mother’s life is at risk.
  • Abortion Issues and Safe Practices Fathalla’s Safe abortion discusses solutions to preventing unsafe abortions, including sexual education, increased access to contraceptives, provision of safe abortions, etc.
  • The Abortion Issue Regarding Human Rights This article raises the question of how people should determine what rights should be guaranteed by the constitution and what rights are core rights from birth.
  • The Controversy Over Abortion Rights The paper states that the confrontation between the two movements over the years has led to the fact that abortion has become a controversial topic.
  • The Future of Abortions in the United States This paper examines the different ways United States legislators have used their power to politicize abortion and argues about the future of abortion rights.
  • Reproductive Health and Abortion Practices in Fiji The legalization of abortion has always been a difficult and contentious topic of discussion, both in the academic field and in politics.
  • The Morality of the Abortion Case Abortion is perceived as a morally incorrect action. This paper investigates the morality of the case and which action is supposed to be right or wrong.
  • The Issues Surrounding Abortion This paper aims to find solutions to the issues surrounding abortion and to justify why the proposals need to be considered when implementing abortion laws.
  • Abortion: Comparison and Contrast of Arguments Abortion has been a controversial issue for many decades, with both sides of the argument often feeling very strongly about it.
  • Abortion Policies: History, Current Issues, and Social Workers’ Roles This discussion is aimed at discussing abortion policies with regard to the Constitution, their history, current issues on abortion, and social workers’ roles.
  • Disagreeing With Abortion Encouragement This essay argues that abortions should not be publicly encouraged as it represents a serious decision for women that should be undertaken without pressure.
  • Abortion: The Indispensable Woman’s Right A woman’s freedom to safe, legal abortion is an integral part of her right to privacy and physical and psychological health.
  • Women’s Mental Health after Receiving or Being Denied an Abortion: Summary The results infer women who were refused abortion experienced higher levels of anxiety, lower levels of contentment, and a similar level of depression as those who had an abortion.
  • President’s Power to Affect National Policy: The Case of Abortion Probably, none of the important and controversial policies can be implemented without the participation of the country’s chief executive.
  • Women’s Bodies, Women’s Rights: A Case for Abortion If one holds that a woman has the moral right to make decisions about her health and existence, the only reasonable conclusion is to acknowledge the right to abortion.
  • Abortion Safety as Topic of Sociological Studies Sociological studies show that about half of all abortions are unsafe, while every third abortion is performed in dangerous circumstances.
  • Christianity Views on Abortion Concepts, the Big Bang, and the Evolution Theory The Bible and other Christian articles provide information related to contemporary society, views on abortion concepts, the big bang, and the evolution theory.
  • Debates: Abortions Must Be Legal Access to safe and effective abortions is not only a universal human right but also an indicator of social development concerning women.
  • A Controversial Topic of Abortion Abortion has been a controversial topic globally for many decades. The side of the argument an individual chooses to support depends on many factors.
  • Ethical Issues and Concerns Regarding Abortion The paper is addressing contemporary ethical issues and concerns regarding abortion. The debate over this subject involves ethical arguments.
  • Abortion Dilemma in Pragmatic Ethics The moral acceptability of abortions has always been a disputable issue. From the perspective of pragmatic ethics, the decision to make an abortion can be acceptable and moral.
  • Way Forward for Improving Abortion Healthcare The healthcare field should ensure the safety of those who want to terminate the pregnancy, the first step towards changing the situation is training enough personnel.
  • Moral Arguments Regarding Abortion The paper describes that abortion laws within the US vary dramatically between states, and to understand the reason for this disparity, it is critical to list the moral arguments.
  • “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion” Act and the Judeo-Christian Worldview The purpose of this paper is to analyze the H.R. 7 “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion” act within the framework of the Judeo-Christian worldview and ethics.
  • Social Exchange Theory and Abortion Legalization While the risk of having financial issues influences individuals, they will be more likely to refuse to give birth to a child because of the possible losses in the future.
  • Ethical, Medical, and Legal Aspects of Abortion Abortion is a medical procedure aimed at termination of pregnancy “before the fetus is able to live independently in the extrauterine environment”.
  • Abortions’ Negative Impacts on Modern Society Abortion is an immoral act or rather a crime that has diverse negative implications for individuals and the entire society.
  • The Moral Status of a Fetus and the Acceptability of Abortion The case study involves four individuals presenting their views on the moral status of a fetus and the acceptability of abortion.
  • Decriminalizing Abortion in Victoria, Australia The issue of abortion had been rampant in Australia, particularly in Victoria, to the point that it was considered a crime until 2007 when the government decriminalized it.
  • The Problem of Alabama’s Latest Abortion Bill The problem revolves around Alabama’s latest abortion bill, which punishes abortion, providing doctors with lifetime sentencing.
  • The Controversial Issue of Abortion Legal and ethical issues associated with abortion are becoming controversial every day in modern society; some people support the idea of abortion, while others disagree.
  • Policy Debate: Argument in Support of Abortion Abortion is a critical issue in the support of women’s rights because usually women are more affected by the debate than men (both as a gender and individuals).
  • The Effects of Abortions on the Black Community The paper states that it cannot be confidently stated that the ‘trend’ on abortion among the black community is the result of political conspiracy.
  • Why Abortion Should Be Included in the National Healthcare Plan The abortion debate is one of the most controversial and irrational issues that have lacked a concrete solution for a very long time in America.
  • Ethics of Smoke-Free Legislation and Abortion Laws There are laws that are clear for the population and their importance is undeniable. A bright example is smoke-free legislation, which is crucial for the health of non-smokers.
  • Providing the Argument Against Abortion The paper questions the argument against abortion that is associated with the fact that every aborted child may become a great composer, an artist, or some other prominent person.
  • Fetus Abnormality and Morality of Abortion There are various theories that have been used to determine the fetus’s moral status. Each of them has a significant impact on the choices taken by people.
  • An Exploration of the Abortion Debate The essay aims to examine whether abortion is immoral and stands against central religious practices, or rather anti-abortion laws symbolize reproductive oppression.
  • Legal and Ethical Issues Concerning Abortion in the United Kingdom Samantha can legally have an abortion if she meets the legal requirements stipulated in the United Kingdom abortion Act of 1967.
  • Abortions: Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life The issue of abortions has always been a controversial one leading to multiple clashes between irreconcilable ideologies.
  • Abortion: Comparing Advantages and Disadvantages Pro-life and pro-choice have their respective stands regarding the issue of abortion. The question is whether to terminate or keep the pregnancy.
  • Mandating Ultrasound Prior to Having an Abortion It is hard to stay unbiased when the issue of abortion and human life is under consideration. Each person can support or oppose mandatory ultrasound as well as abortion.
  • “Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions” by Finer The article’s “Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions” aim is to answer the question about the reasons causing U.S. women to end a pregnancy using quantitative and qualitative analysis.
  • Abortion Should Be Encouraged in the United States The legalization of abortion is a disputable issue today in the US. Feticide should be allowed, giving individuals the freedom to determine the fate of their children’s life.
  • Abortion: Analysis of the Main Causes The causes of abortion are not universal around the world; they vary depending on the country and region of residence.
  • Violinist Analogy in Thomson’s “A Defense of Abortion” This example of Thompson’s article demonstrates what kind of a burden women are obliged to deal with in case they live in a society that prohibits abortions.
  • Should Abortions Be Legal? Arguments For and Against Abortions should be legal because, at early stages, fetuses do not experience pain or other sensations, their personhood does not begin until they are born.
  • The Abortion Debate: The Conservative and Liberal Arguments Against In this paper, the author describes two different arguments against abortion and tells about his/her own point of view on this question.
  • Abortion and Catholic Church’s Attitude This paper discusses the theme of abortions, the ways of abortions, and the attitude of Catholic Church to abortion.
  • Abortion Topic in “A Defense of Abortion” by Thomson The purpose of this article is to discuss and analyze the position of Judith Jarvis Thomson and her advocacy arguments for abortion.
  • The Abortion Dilemma: Islam vs. Christianity This discussion compares and contrasts the responses Christians and Muslims present addressing the abortion dilemma.
  • Judith Jarvis Thomson’s Views on Abortion There are numerous arguments in favor of and against abortion, and it continues to be one of the key points in political debates.
  • ‘A Defense of Abortion’ by Judith Jarvis Thomson: Major Arguments for Abortion
  • Abortion Issues: Credible and Non-Credible Sources of Information
  • The Legalized of Abortion in the United States
  • Summary of the Research Article About Abortion
  • The Decision to Seek Abortions
  • Pros and Cons of Abortion
  • Pro-choice vs. Pro-life: The Question of Abortion
  • Abortion as the Fundamental Right of Women
  • Women Have the Right to Decide the Abortion
  • The Issue of Abortion Eligibility
  • Overview of the Abortion as a Legal Issue
  • The Ethics of Abortion and Reproductive Rights
  • The Controversy About Abortion Prohibition and Women’s Rights
  • Abortions Through the Prism of Christianity
  • Women Have the Right to Decide Whether to Have an Abortion
  • Legality of Abortion in the USA: Discussion
  • Abortion: Negative Impacts on Women
  • Pro-Abortion Ethics Case and Argument
  • The Abortion Law in Ireland and Canada
  • The Issue Of Abortion in the United States: Arguments For and Against
  • Abortion: Arguments for and Against
  • Ethics in Society. Abortion Debates: Different Sides
  • The Problem of Abortion
  • Debate of the Dangerous Consequences of Abortion
  • Abnormal Fetus, Its Moral Status and Abortion Ethics
  • Abortion and Moral Status of Fetus with Abnormality
  • Abortion: Pros and Cons
  • Abortion and Moral Theory
  • Debate on Abortion Insurance in South Dakota
  • Health Insurance Abortion Ban in South Dakota
  • Abortion Policy in the United States
  • “Why Abortion Is Immoral” the Article by Don Marquis
  • Abortion in the US: Human Behavior and Social Environment
  • Abortions in Australia Discussed in Media
  • Abortion as a Woman’s Choice and Right
  • Abortion: Legal, Medical, Moral, Religious Issues
  • The Moral and Legal Status of Abortion
  • Abortion from Legal and Public Health Perspectives
  • Abortion in Feminist and Care Ethics
  • Abortion Nursing Care and Patient’s Rights
  • Abortion in Marquis’, Bentham’s, Biblical Theories
  • Ethics in Practice: Abortion Choice
  • President Obama’s Fallacy in Abortion Arguments
  • Abortion in Texas as a Political Issue
  • Ethics of Abortion and Over-the-Counter Drugs
  • Abortion Clinic Access Policy and Women’s Health
  • The Issue of Abortion: Ethics Challenges
  • Abortion as a Moral Controversy in the US
  • Abortions and Rights of a Fetus in the US
  • Florida Abortion Policies and Health Insurance
  • The Need for Abortion and the Moral Status of the Fetus
  • Abortion and Its Moral Status
  • Policy Analysis: Abortion Clinic Access
  • “A Defense of Abortion” by Judith Jarvis Thomson
  • Abortion: Reasons and Issues
  • Anti-Abortion Advocacy of Pro-Life Movement
  • Canadian Abortion Laws and Women’s Rights
  • Abortion: Judith Thomson’s Ethical Perspective
  • Fetal Abnormality and Abortion: Ideal and Discretionary Theories
  • The Ethics of Abortion: Women’s Rights
  • Abortion: Legal, Ethical and Professional Evidence
  • A Defense on Abortion: Ethical Issues
  • Moral Argument in Support of Abortion
  • Should Abortion be Legal or Illegal?
  • Abortion as a Controversy
  • Possible Effects After Abortion
  • Abortion: Women’s Health as Their Integral Right
  • Abortion’s Physical and Psychological Effects
  • What Does the Bible Say About Abortion?
  • What Kind of Connection Exist Between Abortion and Mental Health?
  • Does Abortion Relieve Overpopulation?
  • Why Many Christians Oppose Abortion
  • What Similar Features Are Seen Between Abortion and Slavery?
  • Does Male Age Have an Influence on the Risk of Spontaneous Abortion?
  • What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Abortion?
  • Why Abortion Should Remain Legal?
  • What Are the Reasons for the Choice of Abortion in American Women?
  • What Are the Pros and Cons of Abortion, Prostitution and Gun Control?
  • What Are Opposition and Conflicting Feelings on Abortion?
  • Does Rape Justify Abortion?
  • What Are the Ethical Issues Raised With Abortion?
  • Who Should Decide the Legality of Abortion?
  • Does Abortion Have Severe Psychological Effects?
  • Why Abortion Attitudes Will Always Be Controversial?
  • Does Abortion Affect Subsequent Pregnancy?
  • Why the Abortion Controversy Is Often So Bitter Essay
  • Why the Government Should Ban Abortion Essay
  • Why Has Abortion Become Such a Political Issue? Who Should Have the Final Say?
  • Why Doctors Should Not Perform Induced Abortion?
  • What Are the Religious Arguments Concerning Contraception and Abortion?
  • What Social, Moral and Ethical Dilemma Causes Abortion?
  • Why Abortion Laws Should Be Changed for Teens?
  • Does abortion promote gender equality?
  • Should parental consent be required for minors seeking an abortion?
  • Is a fetus’s right to life more important than a woman’s right to choose?
  • Is abortion acceptable in case of rape or incest?
  • Should waiting periods and pre-abortion counseling be mandatory?
  • Abortion: a relief or a toll on a woman’s physical and mental health?
  • Is abortion justified in case of failed contraception?
  • Should medical professionals be allowed to refuse to perform abortions?
  • Should medically unnecessary abortions be criminalized?
  • Abortion: a personal choice or a social matter?
  • How do religious beliefs affect opinions about the legality of abortions?
  • How do restrictive abortion laws influence women’s access to safe healthcare?
  • What is the role of informed consent in abortion?
  • How do socioeconomic disparities affect women’s decisions regarding abortion?
  • What is the impact of sex education programs on the demand for abortions?
  • What do women experience before, during, and after abortion?
  • How does the media shape public attitudes toward abortion?
  • How do societal attitudes toward abortion differ across the world?
  • How did abortion laws evolve over time?
  • Do the psychological effects of abortion differ from one woman to another?
  • How do cultural perceptions of motherhood affect women’s abortion decisions?
  • How does abortion accessibility influence the rates of self-induced and unsafe abortions?
  • What is the role of grassroots movements in shaping abortion policies?
  • What are the long-term health consequences of multiple abortions?
  • How do technological advancements shape how the public perceives the fetus?
  • How do mandatory waiting periods affect women’s mental well-being?
  • Does telemedicine improve rural women’s access to safe abortion?
  • What is the emotional impact of mandatory pre-abortion ultrasounds on women?
  • How does the availability of abortion affect women’s economic stability?
  • How do personal narratives help reduce the stigma surrounding abortion?

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StudyCorgi . "241 Abortion Essay Topics & Research Questions + Examples." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/abortion-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "241 Abortion Essay Topics & Research Questions + Examples." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/abortion-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Abortion were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 5, 2024 .

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Abortion Research Paper: Example, Outline, & Topics

The long-standing debate surrounding abortion has many opponents and advocates. Groups known as Pro-Choice and Pro-Life argue which approach is better, with no easy solution in sight. This ethical complexity is what makes abortion a popular topic for argumentative writing. As a student, you need to tackle it appropriately.

The picture shows statistics regarding the legal status of abortion.

If this task sounds daunting, read this guide by our custom-writing experts to get excellent writing tips on handling this assignment. You will also find here:

  • abortion topics and prompts,
  • a research paper outline,
  • a free essay sample.
  • đŸ€” Why Is Abortion a Good Topic?
  • ☑ Research Paper Prompts
  • đŸ‘šâ€âš•ïž Abortion Research Questions
  • 📚 Research Topics
  • 🔬 Before You Start
  • ✍ Step-by-Step Writing Guide

📋 Abortion Research Paper Example

🔍 references, đŸ€” why is abortion a good research topic.

Abortion studies are a vast area of research and analysis. It touches upon numerous domains of life, such as politics, medicine, religion, ethics, and human rights perspectives.

Like gun control or euthanasia, the abortion debate offers no evident answers to what kind of regulation is preferable. According to a recent survey, 61% of US adults are in favor of abortion , while 37% think it should be illegal. The arguments from both sides make sense, and there is no “yes-no” solution.

All this makes investigating the abortion debate a valuable exercise to hone your critical analysis skills. It will teach you to back up your claims with sound evidence while giving credit to counterarguments. Besides, expanding the body of abortion research is beneficial for the American community and women’s rights.

☑ Abortion Research Paper Prompts

The first step to writing a successful paper is choosing an appropriate topic. Abortion is surrounded by numerous legal, medical, ethical, and social debates. That’s why the choice of ideas is virtually endless.

Don’t know where to start? Check out the prompts and creative titles below.

Should Abortion Be Legal: Research Paper Prompt 

You can approach this question from several perspectives. For example, propose a new legal framework for regulating eligibility for abortion. Some states allow the procedure under certain circumstances, such as a threat to a woman’s health. Should it be made legal in less extreme situations, too?

Anti-Abortion Research Paper Prompt

The legal status of abortions is still disputed in many countries. The procedure’s most ardent opponents are Catholic religious groups. In an anti-abortion paper, you may list ethical or faith-based claims. Focus on the right-to-life arguments and give scientific evidence regarding embryo’s rights.

Abortion and Embryonic Stem Cell Research Prompt   

Stem cell research is a dubious issue that faces strong opposition from ethical and religious activists. Here are some great ideas for an essay on this topic:

  • Start by explaining what stem cells are.
  • Outline the arguments for and against their use in research.
  • Link this discussion to the status of abortion.

Abortion Law Research Paper Prompt

If you get an abortion-related assignment in your Legal Studies class, it’s better to take a legislative approach to this issue. Here’s what you can do:

  • Study the evolution of abortion laws in the US or other countries.
  • Pinpoint legal gaps.
  • Focus on the laws’ strengths and weaknesses.

Abortion Breast Cancer Research Prompt

Increasing research evidence shows the link between abortion and breast cancer development . Find scholarly articles proving or refuting this idea and formulate a strong argument on this subject. Argue it with credible external evidence.

Abortion Ethics Research Paper Prompt 

Here, you can focus on the significance of the discussion’s ethical dimension. People who are against abortion often cite the ethics of killing an embryo. You can discuss this issue by quoting famous thinkers and the latest medical research. Be sure to support your argument with sound evidence.

đŸ‘šâ€âš•ïž Questions about Abortion for Research Paper

  • How does technology reframe the abortion debate?
  • Is there new ethics of abortion in the 21 st century?
  • How did the abortion debate progress before the Roe v. Wade decision?  
  • How is the abortion debate currently being shaped on social media? 
  • How do abortion rights advocates conceptualize the meaning of life?  
  • Can the abortion debate be called a culture war?
  • What are women’s constitutional abortion rights?
  • How does abortion reshape the concept of a person?
  • How does the abortion debate fit in the post-Socialist transition framework of the European community?  
  • Where does the abortion debate stand in the politics of sexuality?  

📚 Abortion Topics for Research Paper

  • The changing legal rhetoric of abortion in the US.
  • Constructing abortion as a legal problem.
  • Regendering of the US’ abortion problem.
  • Evolution of public attitudes to abortion in the US.
  • Choice vs. coercion in the abortion debate.
  • Abortion and sin in Catholicism.
  • Artificial wombs as an innovative solution to the abortion debate.
  • Religious belief vs. reason in the abortion debate.
  • Introduction of pregnant women’s perspectives into the abortion debate: dealing with fetal abnormalities.
  • The role of ultrasound images in the evolution of women’s abortion intentions.

🔬 Research Papers on Abortions: Before You Start

Before discussing how to write an abortion paper, let’s focus on the pre-writing steps necessary for a stellar work. Here are the main points to consider.

The picture explains the difference between qualitative and quantitative research design.

Abortion Research Design 

Before you start exploring your topic, you need to choose between a qualitative and quantitative research design:

💬 Qualitative studies focus on words and present the attitudes and subjective meanings assigned to the concept of abortion by respondents.

đŸ§Ș Quantitative studies , in turn, focus on numbers and statistics. They analyze objective evidence and avoid subjective interpretations.  

Pick a research design based on your research skills and the data you’re planning to analyze:

  • If you plan to gain insight into people’s opinions, attitudes, and life experiences related to abortion, it’s better to go for an interview and qualitative analysis.
  • If you have a survey and want to focus on descriptive statistics, it’s better to stick to quantitative methods .

Abortion Research Paper Outline Format

Next, it’s time to choose the format of your paper’s outline. As a rule, students use one of the 3 approaches:

Format Example

It’s a high-school standard format for outlining. It uses Roman numerals as the higher-order classification. Next come the capital letters A-Z, and Arabic numbers mark the third level. 

I. Background

II. Moral arguments

A. Fetus’s personhood

1. Opponents

2. Proponents 

While the alphanumeric outline may use keywords and phrases, this format contains only complete sentences to describe the essay’s contents. This approach saves time during the writing phase, as the ideas from the outline can serve as topic sentences.   

I. Abortion is a morally complex issue.

II. We need to evaluate moral arguments from both sides.

A. The first moral issue is the personhood of a fetus.

1. Proponents argue the fetus is no more than a collection of cells.

2. Opponents of abortion try to assign personhood as soon as possible. 

This outline type uses decimals for classification order. If you use it, your first main point will be marked as 1, with its subheadings marked as 1.1, 1.2, and so on. Lower-rank subheadings can be marked as 1.1.1, 1.1.2, and 1.1.3.  

1. Background

2. Moral arguments

2.1 Fetus’s personhood

2.1.1 Opponents

2.1.2 Proponents  

You can learn more about these formats from our article on how to write an outline .

Choosing Headings & Subheadings

A strong title can save your paper, while a poor one can immediately kill the readers’ interest. That’s why we recommend you not to underestimate the importance of formulating an attention-grabbing, exciting heading for your text.

Here are our best tips to make your title and subheadings effective:

  • A good title needs to be brief. It’s up to 5 words, as a rule. Subheadings can be longer, as they give a more extended explanation of the content.
  • Don’t be redundant. Make sure the subheadings are not duplicating each other.
  • Mind the format. For instance, if your paper is in the APA format, you need to use proper font size and indentation. No numbering of headings and subheadings is necessary as in the outline. Ensure the reader understands the hierarchy with the help of heading level distinctions.

Components of an Effective Outline

According to academic writing conventions, a good outline should follow 4 essential principles:

  • Parallelism . All components of your outline need to have a similar grammatical structure. For example, if you choose infinitives to denote actions, stick to them and don’t mix them with nouns and gerunds.
  • Coordination . Divide your work into chunks with equal importance. This way, you will allocate as much weight to one point as to all the others. Your outline’s sections of similar hierarchy should have equal significance.
  • Subordination . The subheadings contained within one heading of a higher order should all be connected to the paper’s title.
  • Division . The minimum number of subheadings in each outline heading should be 2. If you have only one point under a heading, it’s worth adding another one.

Use this list of principles as a cheat sheet while creating your outline, and you’re sure to end up with well-organized and structured research!

Abortion Research Paper Outline Example

To recap and illustrate everything we’ve just discussed, let’s have a look at this sample abortion outline. We’ve made it in the decimal format following all effective outlining principles—check it out!

  • History of abortion laws in the USA.
  • Problem: recent legal changes challenge Roe vs. Wade .
  • Thesis statement: the right to abortion should be preserved as a constitutional right
  • The fundamental human right to decide what to do with their body.
  • Legal abortions are safer.
  • Fetuses don’t feel pain at the early stages of development.
  • Abortion is murder.
  • Fetuses are unborn people who feel pain at later stages.
  • Abortion causes lifelong psychological trauma for the woman.
  • Roe vs. Wade is a pro-choice case.
  • The constitutional right to privacy and bodily integrity.
  • Conclusion.

✍ Abortion Research Paper: How to Write

Now, let’s proceed to write the paper itself. We will cover all the steps, starting with introduction writing rules and ending with the body and conclusion essentials.

Abortion Introduction: Research Paper Tips  

When you begin writing an abortion paper, it’s vital to introduce the reader to the debate and key terminology. Start by describing a broader issue and steadily narrow the argument to the scope of your paper. The intro typically contains the key figures or facts that would show your topic’s significance.

For example, suppose you plan to discuss the ethical side of abortion. In this case, it’s better to structure the paper like this:

  • Start by outlining the issue of abortion as a whole.
  • Introduce the arguments of pro-choice advocates, saying that this side of the debate focuses on the woman’s right to remove the fetus from her body or leave it.
  • Cite the latest research evidence about fetuses as living organisms, proceeding to debate abortion ethics.
  • End your introduction with a concise thesis statement .

The picture shows parts of an introduction in an abortion research paper.

Thesis on Abortion for a Research Paper

The final part of your introduction is a thesis—a single claim that formulates your paper’s main idea. Experienced readers and college professors often focus on the thesis statement’s quality to decide whether the text is worth reading further. So, make sure you dedicate enough effort to formulate the abortion research paper thesis well!

Don’t know how to do it? These pro tips will surely help you write a great thesis:

Self-evident statements are difficult to argue, so it’s better to avoid them.
The thesis statement usually serves as the readers’ roadmap through the body of your text. That’s why it includes the arguments you will use to prove your point.
The thesis statement shouldn’t cause confusion. Instead, it’s meant to communicate your point clearly.  

Abortion Research Paper Body

Now, it’s time to proceed to the main body of your paper. It should expand on the main idea in more detail, explaining the details and weighing the evidence for and against your argument.

The secret of effective writing is to go paragraph by paragraph . Your essay’s body will have around 2-5 of them, and the quality of each one determines the value of the whole text.

Here are the 4 easy steps that can help you excel in writing the main part of your essay:

  • Start each paragraph with a topic sentence. It functions as a mini-thesis statement and communicates the paragraph’s main idea.
  • Then, expand it with additional facts and evidence. It’s better to back that information with external sources, showing that it’s not your guesswork. Make sure you properly analyze the citations and show how they fit into your broader research.
  • A paragraph should end with a concise wrap-up. Write a concluding sentence restating the topic sentence or a transition linking to the next section.

Research Papers on Abortions: Conclusion

The conclusion of an abortion paper also plays a major role in the overall impression that your paper will produce. So, how do you make it interesting?

Instead of simply restating the thesis and enumerating your points, it’s better to do the following:

  • Focus on the broader implications of the issue you’ve just discussed.
  • Mention your study’s limitations and point out some directions for further research.
  • It’s also a good idea to include a call to action , which can help create a sense of urgency in the readers.

Abortion Articles for Research Paper & Other Sources

Every research paper ends with “works cited” or a reference page enumerating the sources used for the assignment. A rule of thumb is to cite credible, authoritative publications from governmental organizations and NGOs and academic articles from peer-reviewed journals. These sources will make your research more competent and professional, supporting your viewpoint with objective scientific information.

Here are some databases that can supply top-quality data to back the abortion-related claims in a research paper:

🌐 A simple-to-use, comprehensive database with peer-reviewed scholarly articles and publications.
🌐 A huge portfolio of 900+ journals covering over 1 million scientific articles.
🌐 A biomedical repository with 34+ million publications, most of which are available in open access.
🌐 A collection of reputable sources offering medical news and extensive clinical trial coverage.
🌐 A US-wide professional association of abortion providers, educating citizens on abortion issues.
🌐 A civil activist group with 4+ million members advocating the Americans’ right to reproductive freedom.
🌐 Another activist group that has been advocating for the ban of abortion since 1968. Its official website contains numerous educational resources, law compilations, and help resources for pregnant women.

Feel free to check these databases for studies related to your subject. It’s best to conduct preliminary research to see whether your topic has enough supporting evidence. Also, make sure there are plenty of new studies to back your arguments! Abortion is a fast-changing field of research, so it’s best only to use publications no more than 5 years old.

To learn more about credible research sources, check out our guide on choosing reliable websites .

We’ve taught you all you need to write a well-researched and thoughtful abortion paper. Finally, we want to give you an example of an essay on the topic “ Should Abortion Rights Be Preserved? ” Check it out to gain inspiration.

Women’s abortion rights in the US are surrounded by debate. Being legal and constitutional since the 1973 decision in , abortion has faced much legal turmoil in the past couple of years. The fight for fetus rights has been productive, culminating in the overturning of the ruling in 2022. Thus, amid the 21 -century scientific and technological advancements, women’s rights to privacy and the freedom to choose what to do with their bodies have been thrown over half a century back.
This paper argues that the right to abortion should be preserved as it allows women to have control over their bodies and prevents unwanted childbirth and child neglect.
The main problem with the pro-life debate is that it does not respect women’s role as life granters. Female bodies possess the power of giving life, but this power should be exercised at the women’s distraction, not as her social obligation or civil duty (Gibson, 2022). Following the law in deciding to leave a child or have an abortion is a non-democratic practice, giving no voice to women and making them captives of their fertility.
Another issue with anti-abortion rhetoric is that it primarily focuses on the fetus as a person at risk. However, pro-life advocates neglect the miserable life of an unwanted child that a woman gave birth to against her will. Jones et al. (2020) found that unwanted children become frequent victims of domestic violence, abuse, and neglect. Besides, abortion restrictions can worsen the socio-economic conditions of many families that cannot afford another child but have to give birth to it under the law (Mitchell, 2019). Thus, it is evident that focusing on the fetus’s life removes the quality of the future child’s life, often making the preserved life miserable.
Summing up the presented evidence, it’s important to note that the right to abortion should be preserved as women’s individual freedom to do what they want with their bodies. Laws banning abortion open a slippery path of unsafe, illegal practices that women will resort to, unwilling to sacrifice their bodies and lives for the sake of unwanted children. The new law also elevates the danger of child abandonment, abuse, and neglect. Therefore, abortion legislation should be softened to incorporate both perspectives and allow greater flexibility for women.

Now you know all the details of abortion paper writing. Use our tips to choose a topic, develop sound arguments, and impress your professor with a stellar piece on this debatable subject!

❓ Abortion Research Paper FAQs

  • First, you need to pick a debatable topic about abortion and develop a thesis statement on that subject.
  • Next, choose the arguments to support your claim and use external evidence to back them up.
  • End the paper with a concise wrap-up.
  • Begin your introduction with a catchy fact or shocking statistics on the issue of abortion.
  • Ask a rhetorical question to boost your readers’ interest.
  • Cite a famous person’s words about the pros and cons of legal abortion.

To compose a strong opening for your abortion essay, make sure to provide some background and context for further discussion. Explain why the debate about abortions is so acute and what the roots of the problem are.

There are many interesting topics related to abortion, spanning the areas of sociology, ethics, and medicine. You can focus on the progression of the abortion debate along with civil rights or discuss abortion from a feminist perspective.

You can choose between qualitative and quantitative approaches for your abortion research. Hold a survey among women and report the findings of your qualitative study in a short report. Or, you can measure factual information in numbers and conduct quantitative research.

  • The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Research Paper: Grammarly
  • Scholarly Articles on Abortion: Gale
  • Unintended Pregnancy and Abortion Worldwide: Guttmacher Institute
  • Why Abortion Should Be Legal: News 24
  • Pro and Con: Abortion: Britannica
  • Organizing Academic Research Papers: The Introduction: Sacred Heart University
  • How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Research Paper: Steps and Examples: Research.com
  • Abortion: American Psychological Association
  • Writing a Research Paper: University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Writing a Research Paper: Purdue University
  • A Process Approach to Writing Research Papers: University of California, Berkeley
  • What Is Qualitative vs. Quantitative Study?: Grand Canyon University
  • Decimal Outlines: Texas A&M University
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Abortion Research and Policy

  • Global Sexual & Reproductive Health This link opens in a new window
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology
  • Women's and Gender Studies This link opens in a new window
  • US and State Policy Research This link opens in a new window
  • Health Services and Policy Research This link opens in a new window
  • Public Policy This link opens in a new window
  • Books and Multimedia
  • Health Statistics This link opens in a new window
  • News Sources This link opens in a new window
  • SPH Population Healthy podcast: Abortion access and reproductive justice Listen to Part 1 here. Listen to Part 2 here.
  • Before Roe: The University of Michigan’s Task Force for Problem Pregnancy Counseling This report uses materials from the Bentley Historical Library to explore how the University of Michigan supported students, faculty, and staff seeking abortion care before the legalization of abortion in the state.
  • Meet the Experts: Women’s Health Post-Roe (Video) 8 Sept 2022. Michigan Medicine experts answer questions about changes to reproductive rights taking place and being discussed here and across the country.
  • Navigating Loss of Abortion Services - A Large Academic Medical Center Prepares for the Overturn of Roe v. Wade Lisa H. Harris, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Michigan Medicine. June 2, 2022.

PubMed feed

  • Kaiser Health News | Latest News On Abortion
  • Associated Press | Abortion - Latest News
  • Access World News: Michigan | Topic: Abortion / Reproductive Rights Access to full text of Michigan newspapers including Detroit News and Ann Arbor News. U-M users only.

Navigation links

On this page..., u-m spotlight |  michigan & u-m  |  us policy resources |  data |   international resources, legislative tracking  |  case law |  think tanks & organizations |  news  |  pubmed articles , michigan-specific and university of michigan information.

  • US Supreme Court Ruling: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
  • The Michigan Penal Code Act 328 of 1931, 328-1931-III
  • Kaiser Family Foundation | Abortion Policies by State: MICHIGAN
  • Guttmacher Institute | State Facts About Abortion: Michigan
  • Michigan Court of Claims ruling declaring unconstitutional the state's 1931 abortion ban
  • Executive Office of the Governor of Michigan | Abortion: Press Releases and Actions
  • University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine | 24 June 2022: Access to Abortion Care
  • Michigan Department of Health & Human Services | Natality, Pregnancy & Abortion Statistics
  • Access World News: Michigan | Topic: Abortion Access to full text of Michigan newspapers including Detroit News and Ann Arbor News. U-M users only.
  • Michigan Executive Order 2022-4 Unavailability of Interstate Extradition Executive Order from July 13, 2022 protecting abortion providers and patients from extradition

US Policy Resources

  • AJPH September 2022 issue: Over the Precipice Into a Post-Roe World The September 2022 issue of the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) features a special section on abortion and reproductive rights.
  • American Health Law Association | Reproductive Health Law Hub
  • Center for Reproductive Rights | "What if Roe Fell?"
  • CQ Researcher Reports addressing health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, technology, and the economy. U-M users only.
  • CQ Researcher | Topic: Abortion, Contraception and Reproductive Issues U-M users only
  • Guttmacher | US Abortion STATE POLICIES ON ABORTION
  • Kaiser Family Foundation | Abortion at the Supreme Court
  • Kaiser Family Foundation | State and Federal Reproductive Rights Litigation Tracker
  • Kaiser Family Foundation | State Profiles for Women’s Health
  • Overton Search for Reproductive Rights Search Query: abortion* OR "reproductive health" OR "reproductive rights" Limits: USA, published after 2021, sorted by publication date Overton is a policy database allowing users to find and access policy reports and documents from diverse sources. One-year trial ending March 15, 2023.
  • Pew Research Center | Abortion
  • Post-Dobbs State Abortion Restrictions and Protections A high-level overview of state abortion restrictions and protections enacted post-Dobbs. developed by the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University in partnership with the Society of Family Planning.
  • Statista | Dossier: Abortion in the U.S. U-M users only
  • UCSF | The Turnaway Study A prospective longitudinal study examining the effects of unwanted pregnancy on women’s lives.
  • MDHHS | Natality, Pregnancy & Abortion Statistics
  • CDC | Abortion Surveillance -- United States, 2019
  • Kaiser Family Foundation | Abortion in the U.S. Dashboard
  • Guttmacher Institute | Data Center
  • Guttmacher Institute | Monthly Abortion Provision Study national and state estimates of the number of abortions provided within the formal health care system in the United States
  • Global Health Data Exchange | Dataset Records: Abortion Data Catalog.
  • FiveThirtyEight | public opinion and analysis on abortion
  • Gallup | polling data on public opinion
  • Roper iPoll U-M users only. Polling data from over 650,000 questions asked on national public opinion surveys from major polling organizations and news organizations.
  • Gallup Analytics U-M users only. Polling data from Gallup. Users can create tables, charts, scatterplots and maps for individual poll question responses.

International Resources

  • WHO Global Abortion Policies Database
  • Population Reference Bureau | Abortion: A Global Overview " In the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, PRB surveyed the state of abortion worldwide and links between access to safe abortion and maternal health outcomes."
  • First ever country level estimates of unintended pregnancy and abortion 24 March 2022
  • WHO Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy Portal Regional and country data.
  • WHO Sexual and reproductive health and rights: Infographic country snapshots, 2021 An overview of national data for 194 countries relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
  • U-M Library: Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Guide

Legislative Tracking

  • Nexis Uni Search for state and federal bill text, or create alerts for tracking.
  • National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Track legislation at the state level for a variety of issues. Provides summaries of statutes and case laws by state.

Case law is based on judicial rulings rather than legislative statutes.

Use Nexis Uni to search for specific cases (either federal or state) [example: Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Org   or   Planned Parenthood v. Casey ​​505 U.S. 833 ]

CNN interactive on the differences between the draft of Dobbs leaked in May 2022 and the final opinion issued in June 2022

  • Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse: cases and documents on reproductive issues in Michigan Documents related to cases Planned Parenthood of Michigan v. Attorney General of Michigan and Whitmer v. Linderman
  • Leaked Draft of Dobbs Draft opinion of Dobbs that leaked in May 2022

Think Tanks & Organizations

  • Guttmacher Institute
  • Kaiser Family Foundation
  • Policy Commons
  • Center for Reproductive Rights

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Abortion Issues: Articles and Arguments about Abortion

  • History of Abortion
  • Articles and Arguments about Abortion
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topics about abortion for a research paper

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  • Should women have the right to an abortion?
  • Can Roe v. Wade be overturned?
  • Should pharmacists or other health care providers be obligated to provide morning after pills even if it's against their beliefs?
  • Should states seeking to ban abortions consider victims of non-consensual sex?
  • Should the government fund abortion providers?

Proquest SIRS Knowledge Base - Abortion

  • Proquest SIRS Knowledge Base - Abortion Abortion has long been a divisive issue in American culture and politics. In 1973, Roe v. Wade legalized abortion under the Fourteenth Amendment's right to privacy provision. The ruling far from settled the public debate or legal battles. While the pro-choice and pro-life movements stand at opposite ideological fences, many Americans advocate for abortion but on a limited basis.

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CQ Researcher

  • Abortion - CQ Researcher Nearly a half-century after the U.S. Supreme Court declared a constitutional right to abortion in Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling is under sustained attack by anti-abortion forces hoping the current court's conservative majority will impose new limits on the procedure or overturn Roe altogether.
  • Abortion Rights The death of liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just six-and-a-half weeks before the 2020 election dramatically shifted the legal landscape for abortion in the United States. Her replacement on the high court, Amy Coney Barrett, altered the court’s makeup, and the new lineup of justices is set to consider its first big challenge to Roe v. Wade, a case involving a highly restrictive Mississippi abortion law. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization will be a crucial test of whether the long-held goal of abortion opponents — overturning Roe, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States — is achievable. Meanwhile, states where anti-abortion lawmakers dominate have stepped up their efforts to restrict the procedure. Abortion rights advocates are hoping President Biden, and Democratic majorities in Congress, will help protect access to abortion.

People at abortion rally

CredoReference Abortion Topic Page

CredoReference Abortion Topic Page

  • Credo Reference Topic Page for Abortion A great starting point with over 3000 articles and images relating to the topic of abortion.

Recommended Databases

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A Sampling of Articles from the Library

  • The Supreme Court and Abortion Rights In Gonzales v. Carhart, the Supreme Court ruled that a physician can be prohibited from performing a partial-birth abortion, even if the physician believes the procedure is necessary to protect a woman's health. The author discusses the important implications of this decision for patients and physicians.
  • Abortion: rights, responsibilities, obligations. - American Journal of Bioethics A fuller defense of the specifically moral right to abortion, I have argued, requires an explication of the notion of a moral right, specifically whether it can be outweighed or relinquished. It also requires an account of the nature of the obligations owed by partners to any embryo or fetus that results from their consensual sexual activity
  • US Supreme Court Ends Constitutional Right to Abortion The US Supreme Court has overturned the 1973 Roe v Wade decision, ending women's 50 year old right to abortion and leaving the issue for individual states to decide.
  • Unborn in the USA: What Happened and What's Next for Roe v Wade and Abortion Rights? "The US appears poised to remove the guaranteed right of access to abortion -- but it was already halfway there."
  • Reframing Conscientious Care: Providing Abortion Care When Law and Conscience Collide Article suggests a broader frame for thinking about claims of conscience in health care highlighting how providers may be motivated by matters of conscience, including relational concerns, in the active provision of certain forms of care. What emerges are two possibilities: not only conscientious refusal to comply with a policy mandate but also conscientious compliance-working conscientiously within a mandate's confines.
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Abortion research that matters: Using core outcomes to enable systematic review

Affiliations.

  • 1 Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, United States.
  • 2 Cochrane Fertility Regulation Review Group, Portland, OR, United States; Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Evidence-based Practice Center, Portland, OR, United States.
  • 3 Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Evidence-based Practice Center, Portland, OR, United States; Department of OB/GYN, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States.
  • 4 Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Evidence-based Practice Center, Portland, OR, United States; Department of OB/GYN, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • PMID: 36055361
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.05.014

Keywords: Abortion; GRADE; Outcomes; Standard outcomes; Systematic reviews.

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  • Correcting the scientific record on abortion and mental health outcomes. Littell JH, Abel KM, Biggs MA, Blum RW, Foster DG, Haddad LB, Major B, Munk-Olsen T, Polis CB, Robinson GE, Rocca CH, Russo NF, Steinberg JR, Stewart DE, Stotland NL, Upadhyay UD, van Ditzhuijzen J. Littell JH, et al. BMJ. 2024 Feb 27;384:e076518. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2023-076518. BMJ. 2024. PMID: 38413135 No abstract available.
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topics about abortion for a research paper

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Abortion Argumentative Essay: Definitive Guide

Academic writing

topics about abortion for a research paper

Abortion remains a debatable issue even today, especially in countries like the USA, where a controversial ban was upheld in 13 states at the point this article was written. That’s why an essay on abortion has become one of the most popular tasks in schools, colleges, and universities. When writing this kind of essay, students learn to express their opinion, find and draw arguments and examples, and conduct research.

It’s very easy to speculate on topics like this. However, this makes it harder to find credible and peer-reviewed information on the topic that isn’t merely someone’s opinion. If you were assigned this kind of academic task, do not lose heart. In this article, we will provide you with all the tips and tricks for writing about abortion.

Where to begin?

Conversations about abortion are always emotional. Complex stories, difficult decisions, bitter moments, and terrible diagnoses make this topic hard to cover. Some young people may be shocked by this assignment, while others would be happy to express their opinion on the matter.

One way or another, this topic doesn't leave anyone indifferent. However, it shouldn’t have an effect on the way you approach the research and writing process. What should you remember when working on an argumentative essay about abortion?

  • Don’t let your emotions take over. As this is an academic paper, you have to stay impartial and operate with facts. The topic is indeed sore and burning, causing thousands of scandals on the Internet, but you are writing it for school, not a Quora thread.
  • Try to balance your opinions. There are always two sides to one story, even if the story is so fragile. You need to present an issue from different angles. This is what your tutors seek to teach you.
  • Be tolerant and mind your language. It is very important not to hurt anybody with the choice of words in your essay. So make sure you avoid any possible rough words. It is important to respect people with polar opinions, especially when it comes to academic writing. 
  • Use facts, not claims. Your essay cannot be based solely on your personal ideas – your conclusions should be derived from facts. Roe v. Wade case, WHO or Mayo Clinic information, and CDC are some of the sources you can rely on.

Arguments for and against abortion

Speaking of Outline

An argumentative essay on abortion outline is a must-have even for experienced writers. In general, each essay, irrespective of its kind or topic, has a strict outline. It may be brief or extended, but the major parts are always the same:

  • Introduction. This is a relatively short paragraph that starts with a hook and presents the background information on the topic. It should end with a thesis statement telling your reader what your main goal or idea is.
  • Body. This section usually consists of 2-4 paragraphs. Each one has its own structure: main argument + facts to support it + small conclusion and transition into the next paragraph.
  • Conclusion. In this part, your task is to summarize all your thoughts and come to a general conclusive idea. You may have to restate some info from the body and your thesis statement and add a couple of conclusive statements without introducing new facts.

Why is it important to create an outline?

  • You will structure your ideas. We bet you’ve got lots on your mind. Writing them down and seeing how one can flow logically into the other will help you create a consistent paper. Naturally, you will have to abandon some of the ideas if they don’t fit the overall narrative you’re building.
  • You can get some inspiration. While creating your outline, which usually consists of some brief ideas, you can come up with many more to research. Some will add to your current ones or replace them with better options.
  • You will find the most suitable sources. Argumentative essay writing requires you to use solid facts and trustworthy arguments built on them. When the topic is as controversial as abortion, these arguments should be taken from up-to-date, reliable sources. With an outline, you will see if you have enough to back up your ideas.
  • You will write your text as professionals do. Most expert writers start with outlines to write the text faster and make it generally better. As you will have your ideas structured, the general flow of thoughts will be clear. And, of course, it will influence your overall grade positively.

abortion

Abortion Essay Introduction

The introduction is perhaps the most important part of the whole essay. In this relatively small part, you will have to present the issue under consideration and state your opinion on it. Here is a typical introduction outline:

  • The first sentence is a hook grabbing readers' attention.
  • A few sentences that go after elaborate on the hook. They give your readers some background and explain your research.
  • The last sentence is a thesis statement showing the key idea you are building your text around.

Before writing an abortion essay intro, first thing first, you will need to define your position. If you are in favor of this procedure, what exactly made you think so? If you are an opponent of abortion, determine how to argue your position. In both cases, you may research the point of view in medicine, history, ethics, and other fields.

When writing an introduction, remember:

  • Never repeat your title. First of all, it looks too obvious; secondly, it may be boring for your reader right from the start. Your first sentence should be a well-crafted hook. The topic of abortion worries many people, so it’s your chance to catch your audience’s attention with some facts or shocking figures.
  • Do not make it too long. Your task here is to engage your audience and let them know what they are about to learn. The rest of the information will be disclosed in the main part. Nobody likes long introductions, so keep it short but informative.
  • Pay due attention to the thesis statement. This is the central sentence of your introduction. A thesis statement in your abortion intro paragraph should show that you have a well-supported position and are ready to argue it. Therefore, it has to be strong and convey your idea as clearly as possible. We advise you to make several options for the thesis statement and choose the strongest one.

Hooks for an Abortion Essay

Writing a hook is a good way to catch the attention of your audience, as this is usually the first sentence in an essay. How to start an essay about abortion? You can begin with some shocking fact, question, statistics, or even a quote. However, always make sure that this piece is taken from a trusted resource.

Here are some examples of hooks you can use in your paper:

  • As of July 1, 2022, 13 states banned abortion, depriving millions of women of control of their bodies.
  • According to WHO, 125,000 abortions take place every day worldwide.
  • Is abortion a woman’s right or a crime?
  • Since 1994, more than 40 countries have liberalized their abortion laws.
  • Around 48% of all abortions are unsafe, and 8% of them lead to women’s death.
  • The right to an abortion is one of the reproductive and basic rights of a woman.
  • Abortion is as old as the world itself – women have resorted to this method since ancient times.
  • Only 60% of women in the world live in countries where pregnancy termination is allowed.

Body Paragraphs: Pros and Cons of Abortion

The body is the biggest part of your paper. Here, you have a chance to make your voice concerning the abortion issue heard. Not sure where to start? Facts about abortion pros and cons should give you a basic understanding of which direction to move in.

First things first, let’s review some brief tips for you on how to write the best essay body if you have already made up your mind.

Make a draft

It’s always a good idea to have a rough draft of your writing. Follow the outline and don’t bother with the word choice, grammar, or sentence structure much at first. You can polish it all later, as the initial draft will not likely be your final. You may see some omissions in your arguments, lack of factual basis, or repetitiveness that can be eliminated in the next versions.

Trust only reliable sources

This part of an essay includes loads of factual information, and you should be very careful with it. Otherwise, your paper may look unprofessional and cost you precious points. Never rely on sources like Wikipedia or tabloids – they lack veracity and preciseness.

Edit rigorously

It’s best to do it the next day after you finish writing so that you can spot even the smallest mistakes. Remember, this is the most important part of your paper, so it has to be flawless. You can also use editing tools like Grammarly.

Determine your weak points

Since you are writing an argumentative essay, your ideas should be backed up by strong facts so that you sound convincing. Sometimes it happens that one argument looks weaker than the other. Your task is to find it and strengthen it with more or better facts.

Add an opposing view

Sometimes, it’s not enough to present only one side of the discussion. Showing one of the common views from the opposing side might actually help you strengthen your main idea. Besides, making an attempt at refuting it with alternative facts can show your teacher or professor that you’ve researched and analyzed all viewpoints, not just the one you stand by.

If you have chosen a side but are struggling to find the arguments for or against it, we have complied abortion pro and cons list for you. You can use both sets if you are writing an abortion summary essay covering all the stances.

Why Should Abortion Be Legal

If you stick to the opinion that abortion is just a medical procedure, which should be a basic health care need for each woman, you will definitely want to write the pros of abortion essay. Here is some important information and a list of pros about abortion for you to use:

  • Since the fetus is a set of cells – not an individual, it’s up to a pregnant woman to make a decision concerning her body. Only she can decide whether she wants to keep the pregnancy or have an abortion. The abortion ban is a violation of a woman’s right to have control over her own body.
  • The fact that women and girls do not have access to effective contraception and safe abortion services has serious consequences for their own health and the health of their families.
  • The criminalization of abortion usually leads to an increase in the number of clandestine abortions. Many years ago, fetuses were disposed of with improvised means, which included knitting needles and half-straightened metal hangers. 13% of women’s deaths are the result of unsafe abortions.
  • Many women live in a difficult financial situation and cannot support their children financially. Having access to safe abortion takes this burden off their shoulders. This will also not decrease their quality of life as the birth and childcare would.
  • In countries where abortion is prohibited, there is a phenomenon of abortion tourism to other countries where it can be done without obstacles. Giving access to this procedure can make the lives of women much easier.
  • Women should not put their lives or health in danger because of the laws that were adopted by other people.
  • Girls and women who do not have proper sex education may not understand pregnancy as a concept or determine that they are pregnant early on. Instead of educating them and giving them a choice, an abortion ban forces them to become mothers and expects them to be fit parents despite not knowing much about reproduction.
  • There are women who have genetic disorders or severe mental health issues that will affect their children if they're born. Giving them an option to terminate ensures that there won't be a child with a low quality of life and that the woman will not have to suffer through pregnancy, birth, and raising a child with her condition.
  • Being pro-choice is about the freedom to make decisions about your body so that women who are for termination can do it safely, and those who are against it can choose not to do it. It is an inclusive option that caters to everyone.
  • Women and girls who were raped or abused by their partner, caregiver, or stranger and chose to terminate the pregnancy can now be imprisoned for longer than their abusers. This implies that the system values the life of a fetus with no or primitive brain function over the life of a living woman.
  • People who lived in times when artificial termination of pregnancy was scarcely available remember clandestine abortions and how traumatic they were, not only for the physical but also for the mental health of women. Indeed, traditionally, in many countries, large families were a norm. However, the times have changed, and supervised abortion is a safe and accessible procedure these days. A ban on abortion will simply push humanity away from the achievements of the civilized world.

abortion2

Types of abortion

There are 2 main types of abortions that can be performed at different pregnancy stages and for different reasons:

  • Medical abortion. It is performed by taking a specially prescribed pill. It does not require any special manipulations and can even be done at home (however, after a doctor’s visit and under supervision). It is considered very safe and is usually done during the very first weeks of pregnancy.
  • Surgical abortion. This is a medical operation that is done with the help of a suction tube. It then removes the fetus and any related material. Anesthesia is used for this procedure, and therefore, it can only be done in a hospital. The maximum time allowed for surgical abortion is determined in each country specifically.

Cases when abortion is needed

Center for Reproductive Rights singles out the following situations when abortion is required:

  • When there is a risk to the life or physical/mental health of a pregnant woman.
  • When a pregnant woman has social or economic reasons for it.
  • Upon the woman's request.
  • If a pregnant woman is mentally or cognitively disabled.
  • In case of rape and/or incest.
  • If there were congenital anomalies detected in the fetus.

Countries and their abortion laws

  • Countries where abortion is legalized in any case: Australia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, etc.
  • Countries where abortion is completely prohibited: Angola, Venezuela, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Oman, Paraguay, Palau, Jamaica, Laos, Haiti, Honduras, Andorra, Aruba, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Sierra Leone, Senegal, etc.
  • Countries where abortion is allowed for medical reasons: Afghanistan, Israel, Argentina, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ghana, Israel, Morocco, Mexico, Bahamas, Central African Republic, Ecuador, Ghana, Algeria, Monaco, Pakistan, Poland, etc. 
  • Countries where abortion is allowed for both medical and socioeconomic reasons: England, India, Spain, Luxembourg, Japan, Finland, Taiwan, Zambia, Iceland, Fiji, Cyprus, Barbados, Belize, etc.

Why Abortion Should Be Banned

Essays against abortions are popular in educational institutions since we all know that many people – many minds. So if you don’t want to support this procedure in your essay, here are some facts that may help you to argument why abortion is wrong:

  • Abortion at an early age is especially dangerous because a young woman with an unstable hormonal system may no longer be able to have children throughout her life. Termination of pregnancy disrupts the hormonal development of the body.
  • Health complications caused by abortion can occur many years after the procedure. Even if a woman feels fine in the short run, the situation may change in the future.
  • Abortion clearly has a negative effect on reproductive function. Artificial dilation of the cervix during an abortion leads to weak uterus tonus, which can cause a miscarriage during the next pregnancy.
  • Evidence shows that surgical termination of pregnancy significantly increases the risk of breast cancer.
  • In December 1996, the session of the Council of Europe on bioethics concluded that a fetus is considered a human being on the 14th day after conception.

You are free to use each of these arguments for essays against abortions. Remember that each claim should not be supported by emotions but by facts, figures, and so on.

Health complications after abortion

One way or another, abortion is extremely stressful for a woman’s body. Apart from that, it can even lead to various health problems in the future. You can also cover them in your cons of an abortion essay:

  • Continuation of pregnancy. If the dose of the drug is calculated by the doctor in the wrong way, the pregnancy will progress.
  • Uterine bleeding, which requires immediate surgical intervention.
  • Severe nausea or even vomiting occurs as a result of a sharp change in the hormonal background.
  • Severe stomach pain. Medical abortion causes miscarriage and, as a result, strong contractions of the uterus.
  • High blood pressure and allergic reactions to medicines.
  • Depression or other mental problems after a difficult procedure.

Abortion Essay Conclusion

After you have finished working on the previous sections of your paper, you will have to end it with a strong conclusion. The last impression is no less important than the first one. Here is how you can make it perfect in your conclusion paragraph on abortion:

  • It should be concise. The conclusion cannot be as long as your essay body and should not add anything that cannot be derived from the main section. Reiterate the key ideas, combine some of them, and end the paragraph with something for the readers to think about.
  • It cannot repeat already stated information. Restate your thesis statement in completely other words and summarize your main points. Do not repeat anything word for word – rephrase and shorten the information instead.
  • It should include a call to action or a cliffhanger. Writing experts believe that a rhetorical question works really great for an argumentative essay. Another good strategy is to leave your readers with some curious ideas to ponder upon.

Abortion Facts for Essay

Abortion is a topic that concerns most modern women. Thousands of books, research papers, and articles on abortion are written across the world. Even though pregnancy termination has become much safer and less stigmatized with time, it still worries millions. What can you cover in your paper so that it can really stand out among others? You may want to add some shocking abortion statistics and facts:

  • 40-50 million abortions are done in the world every year (approximately 125,000 per day).
  • According to UN statistics, women have 25 million unsafe abortions each year. Most of them (97%) are performed in the countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 14% of them are especially unsafe because they are done by people without any medical knowledge.
  • Since 2017, the United States has shown the highest abortion rate in the last 30 years.
  • The biggest number of abortion procedures happen in the countries where they are officially banned. The lowest rate is demonstrated in the countries with high income and free access to contraception.
  • Women in low-income regions are three times more susceptible to unplanned pregnancies than those in developed countries.
  • In Argentina, more than 38,000 women face dreadful health consequences after unsafe abortions.
  • The highest teen abortion rates in the world are seen in 3 countries: England, Wales, and Sweden.
  • Only 31% of teenagers decide to terminate their pregnancy. However, the rate of early pregnancies is getting lower each year.
  • Approximately 13 million children are born to mothers under the age of 20 each year.
  • 5% of women of reproductive age live in countries where abortions are prohibited.

We hope that this abortion information was useful for you, and you can use some of these facts for your own argumentative essay. If you find some additional facts, make sure that they are not manipulative and are taken from official medical resources.

EXPOSITORY ESSAY ON ABORTION

Abortion Essay Topics

Do you feel like you are lost in the abundance of information? Don’t know what topic to choose among the thousands available online? Check our short list of the best abortion argumentative essay topics:

  • Why should abortion be legalized essay
  • Abortion: a murder or a basic human right?
  • Why we should all support abortion rights
  • Is the abortion ban in the US a good initiative?
  • The moral aspect of teen abortions
  • Can the abortion ban solve birth control problems?
  • Should all countries allow abortion?
  • What consequences can abortion have in the long run?
  • Is denying abortion sexist?
  • Why is abortion a human right?
  • Are there any ethical implications of abortion?
  • Do you consider abortion a crime?
  • Should women face charges for terminating a pregnancy?

Want to come up with your own? Here is how to create good titles for abortion essays:

  • Write down the first associations. It can be something that swirls around in your head and comes to the surface when you think about the topic. These won’t necessarily be well-written headlines, but each word or phrase can be the first link in the chain of ideas that leads you to the best option.
  • Irony and puns are not always a good idea. Especially when it comes to such difficult topics as abortion. Therefore, in your efforts to be original, remain sensitive to the issue you want to discuss.
  • Never make a quote as your headline. First, a wordy quote makes the headline long. Secondly, readers do not understand whose words are given in the headline. Therefore, it may confuse them right from the start. If you have found a great quote, you can use it as your hook, but don’t forget to mention its author.
  • Try to briefly summarize what is said in the essay. What is the focus of your paper? If the essence of your argumentative essay can be reduced to one sentence, it can be used as a title, paraphrased, or shortened.
  • Write your title after you have finished your text. Before you just start writing, you might not yet have a catchy phrase in mind to use as a title. Don’t let it keep you from working on your essay – it might come along as you write.

Abortion Essay Example

We know that it is always easier to learn from a good example. For this reason, our writing experts have complied a detailed abortion essay outline for you. For your convenience, we have created two options with different opinions.

Topic: Why should abortion be legal?

Introduction – hook + thesis statement + short background information

Essay hook: More than 59% of women in the world do not have access to safe abortions, which leads to dreading health consequences or even death.

Thesis statement: Since banning abortions does not decrease their rates but only makes them unsafe, it is not logical to ban abortions.

Body – each paragraph should be devoted to one argument

Argument 1: Woman’s body – women’s rules. + example: basic human rights.

Argument 2: Banning abortion will only lead to more women’s death. + example: cases of Polish women.

Argument 3: Only women should decide on abortion. + example: many abortion laws are made by male politicians who lack knowledge and first-hand experience in pregnancies.

Conclusion – restated thesis statement + generalized conclusive statements + cliffhanger

Restated thesis: The abortion ban makes pregnancy terminations unsafe without decreasing the number of abortions, making it dangerous for women.

Cliffhanger: After all, who are we to decide a woman’s fate?

Topic: Why should abortion be banned?

Essay hook: Each year, over 40 million new babies are never born because their mothers decide to have an abortion.

Thesis statement: Abortions on request should be banned because we cannot decide for the baby whether it should live or die.

Argument 1: A fetus is considered a person almost as soon as it is conceived. Killing it should be regarded as murder. + example: Abortion bans in countries such as Poland, Egypt, etc.

Argument 2: Interrupting a baby’s life is morally wrong. + example: The Bible, the session of the Council of Europe on bioethics decision in 1996, etc.

Argument 3: Abortion may put the reproductive health of a woman at risk. + example: negative consequences of abortion.

Restated thesis: Women should not be allowed to have abortions without serious reason because a baby’s life is as priceless as their own.

Cliffhanger: Why is killing an adult considered a crime while killing an unborn baby is not?

Argumentative essay on pros and cons of abortion

Examples of Essays on Abortion

There are many great abortion essays examples on the Web. You can easily find an argumentative essay on abortion in pdf and save it as an example. Many students and scholars upload their pieces to specialized websites so that others can read them and continue the discussion in their own texts.

In a free argumentative essay on abortion, you can look at the structure of the paper, choice of the arguments, depth of research, and so on. Reading scientific papers on abortion or essays of famous activists is also a good idea. Here are the works of famous authors discussing abortion.

A Defense of Abortion by Judith Jarvis Thomson

Published in 1971, this essay by an American philosopher considers the moral permissibility of abortion. It is considered the most debated and famous essay on this topic, and it’s definitely worth reading no matter what your stance is.

Abortion and Infanticide by Michael Tooley

It was written in 1972 by an American philosopher known for his work in the field of metaphysics. In this essay, the author considers whether fetuses and infants have the same rights. Even though this work is quite complex, it presents some really interesting ideas on the matter.

Some Biological Insights into Abortion by Garret Hardin

This article by American ecologist Garret Hardin, who had focused on the issue of overpopulation during his scholarly activities, presents some insights into abortion from a scientific point of view. He also touches on non-biological issues, such as moral and economic. This essay will be of great interest to those who support the pro-choice stance.

H4 Hidden in Plain View: An Overview of Abortion in Rural Illinois and Around the Globe by Heather McIlvaine-Newsad 

In this study, McIlvaine-Newsad has researched the phenomenon of abortion since prehistoric times. She also finds an obvious link between the rate of abortions and the specifics of each individual country. Overall, this scientific work published in 2014 is extremely interesting and useful for those who want to base their essay on factual information.

H4 Reproduction, Politics, and John Irving’s The Cider House Rules: Women’s Rights or “Fetal Rights”? by Helena Wahlström

In her article of 2013, Wahlström considers John Irving’s novel The Cider House Rules published in 1985 and is regarded as a revolutionary work for that time, as it acknowledges abortion mostly as a political problem. This article will be a great option for those who want to investigate the roots of the abortion debate.

incubator

FAQs On Abortion Argumentative Essay

  • Is abortion immoral?

This question is impossible to answer correctly because each person independently determines their own moral framework. One group of people will say that abortion is a woman’s right because only she has power over her body and can make decisions about it. Another group will argue that the embryo is also a person and has the right to birth and life.

In general, the attitude towards abortion is determined based on the political and religious views of each person. Religious people generally believe that abortion is immoral because it is murder, while secular people see it as a normal medical procedure. For example, in the US, the ban on abortion was introduced in red states where the vast majority have conservative views, while blue liberal states do not support this law. Overall, it’s up to a person to decide whether they consider abortion immoral based on their own values and beliefs.

  • Is abortion legal?

The answer to this question depends on the country in which you live. There are countries in which pregnancy termination is a common medical procedure and is performed at the woman's request. There are also states in which there must be a serious reason for abortion: medical, social, or economic. Finally, there are nations in which abortion is prohibited and criminalized. For example, in Jamaica, a woman can get life imprisonment for abortion, while in Kenya, a medical worker who volunteers to perform an abortion can be imprisoned for up to 14 years.

  • Is abortion safe?

In general, modern medicine has reached such a level that abortion has become a common (albeit difficult from various points of view) medical procedure. There are several types of abortion, as well as many medical devices and means that ensure the maximum safety of the pregnancy termination. Like all other medical procedures, abortion can have various consequences and complications.

Abortions – whether safe or not - exist in all countries of the world. The thing is that more than half of them are dangerous because women have them in unsuitable conditions and without professional help. Only universal access to abortion in all parts of the world can make it absolutely safe. In such a case, it will be performed only after a thorough assessment and under the control of a medical professional who can mitigate the potential risks.

  • How safe is abortion?

If we do not talk about the ethical side of the issue related to abortion, it still has some risks. In fact, any medical procedure has them to a greater or lesser extent.

The effectiveness of the safe method in a medical setting is 80-99%. An illegal abortion (for example, the one without special indications after 12 weeks) can lead to a patient’s death, and the person who performed it will be criminally liable in this case.

Doctors do not have universal advice for all pregnant women on whether it is worth making this decision or not. However, many of them still tend to believe that any contraception - even one that may have negative side effects - is better than abortion. That’s why spreading awareness on means of contraception and free access to it is vital.

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245 Abortion Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

📑 aspects to cover in an abortion essay, 🏆 best abortion topic ideas & essay examples, đŸ„‡ most interesting abortion topics to write about, 💡 good essay topics on abortion, 📌 simple & easy abortion essay titles, 📑 good research topics about abortion, 🎓 abortion argumentative essay topics, ❓ questions about abortion for research paper.

If you need to write an abortion essay, you might be worried about the content, arguments, and other components of the paper. Don’t panic – this guide contains the key aspects that will make your essay on abortion outstanding.

Historical Perspectives

First of all, you should think about the historical perspectives on abortion. It is true that unwanted pregnancies were a thing long before any legislation in this area has been enacted. If you want to write on this topic, consider the following:

  • Historically, what were the main reasons for women of various titles to abort children?
  • What were the methods used for abortion before the development of modern medicine?
  • Were there any famous historical examples of women who aborted?
  • Is the history of abortion relevant to the contemporary debate? Why or why not?

Religious Arguments

In an abortion essay, pro-life arguments usually stem from religious beliefs. Hence, there are plenty of possibilities for you to explore religious arguments related to the debate on abortion. Here are some things to think about:

  • What are the ideas about abortion in different religions?
  • Why do various religions have different views on abortion?
  • Were there any other factors that affected how different religions saw abortion (e.g., political or social)?
  • Would an complete abortion ban be a correct solution from a religious viewpoint? Why or why not?

Moral Arguments

Abortion is probably one of the most popular topics in the study of ethics. Moral arguments exist for both pro-choice and pro-life views on abortion, and you can thus explore both sides of the debate in your paper. These questions will help you to get started:

  • Why is abortion considered an ethical dilemma?
  • What do different ethical theories show when applied to abortion?
  • From a moral viewpoint, should the life of an unborn child be more important than the physical, psychological, and socioeconomic well being of the mother? Why or why not?
  • What would be some negative consequences of an abortion ban?

Women’s Rights

Abortion essay topics are often linked to the issue of women’s rights. According to most feminists, abortion is related to women’s bodily autonomy, and thus, legislators should not try to limit access to safe abortions. If you wish to explore the relationship between women’s rights and abortion, focus on the following:

  • Why is abortion considered to be a feminist issue?
  • Who should be involved in decisions about abortion?
  • Considering that most legislators who pass pro-life laws are male, is it correct to understand abortion legislation as reproductive control?
  • What are other gender issues associated with abortion?
  • From the feminist viewpoint, what would be the best way to approach the problem of high abortion rates?

Essay Structure

The structure of your essay is just as important as its content, so don’t forget about it. Here is what you could do to make your paper stand out:

  • Read sample papers on abortion to see how other people structure their work.
  • Write a detailed abortion essay outline before you start working.
  • Make sure that your points follow in a logical sequence – this will make your paper more compelling!
  • For a good abortion essay conclusion, do not introduce any new sources or points in the final paragraph.

By covering the aspects above, you will be able to write an influential paper that will earn you an excellent mark. Before you begin researching, check our website for free abortion essay examples and other useful content to help you get an A*!

  • Pros and Cons of Abortion to the Society Argumentative Essay In the case of rape or incest, keeping a pregnancy is very traumatizing to the person raped as no one would wish to keep a child that is a result of this, and the best […]
  • Abortions: Causes, Effects, and Solutions The principal causes for the abortion problem are the social cause, which mandates ethical attitudes; the political cause, which affects legislation; and the environmental cause, which illuminates the initial stages of human development.
  • Ethics and Abortion In weighing the options concerning whether to perform an abortion and how to care for the patient, a healthcare entity must consider the legal implications, the patient’s and provider’s beliefs as well as the health […]
  • Christian Ethics Issues and Abortion As for the rights and interests of the mother, when comparing them with the rights and interests of the child, there is a possibility of an axiological preference for the goods of the latter.
  • Abortion: An Ethical Dilemma and Legal Position The core concerns in the controversy are whether women should have the right to decide to terminate a pregnancy or whether the unborn child has the right to life.
  • Should Abortion Be Legal In addition to the burden of carrying the unborn baby, in most cases research findings have indicated that, majority of individuals who father some babies are unwilling to take the responsibility of contributing to the […]
  • Abortion and Virtue Ethics Those who support the right of a woman to an abortion even after the final trimester makes the assertion that the Constitution does not provide any legal rights for a child that is still within […]
  • Abortion in Marquis’s vs. Thompson’s Arguments Overall, the argument against the morality of abortion using the premise that the fetus has a right to live just like the mother is self-defeating in nature. It would be beneficial for the opponents of […]
  • Nursing Ethics Regarding Abortion Currently, several articles exist that highlight different facets of this issue in nursing, including the ability of nurses to object to abortion, their confrontation with the law, and their perception of specific types of abortion.
  • The Politics of Abortion in Modern Day Jamaica In the first part of the dissertation, the influence of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861 was discussed on abortion practices and laws around the world, including Jamaica.
  • Abortion: To Legalize or Not If a mother is denied an abortion due to its illegality, that mother then will be forced to go through the pregnancy, the labor, the birth, and the raising of an unwanted child. Another concern […]
  • Abortion in Australia: Legal and Ethical Issues A woman’s sexual companion is not needed to be informed of an abortion, and the judicial system does not give orders to stop the termination even when the complainant is the biological father of the […]
  • The “Why Abortion Is Immoral” Article by Don Marquis Don Marquis gives a different argument regarding the immorality of abortion from the standard anti-abortion argument in his “Why Abortion Is Immoral” article.
  • The Burning Debate on Abortion Certain researchers note that, abortion is practically the most common surgical procedure in the world today because regardless of the laws or moral issues surrounding the issue, abortion is a very common practice for women […]
  • Abortion in Teenagers: Proposal Argument In the overwhelming majority of cases, the teenager who has encountered such problems is inclined to violate the law, which often leads her to illegal and sometimes unsafe abortion. According to WHO, it is the […]
  • Abortion-Related Ethical Considerations As a health practitioner, following the required professional standards and regulations on abortion will enable me to avoid the wrath of the law.
  • Texas Abortion Ban as Current Political Topic Furthermore, denying women the right to make decisions regarding their bodies leads to the denial of bodily autonomy, which, in turn, must be regarded as a severe infringement on basic human rights.
  • Abortion Law Reform and Maternal Mortality: Global Study Some of the criteria for selecting a credible source include the authors’ reputation, the time elapsed since published, and the legality of the publishing company or database.”Abortion Laws Reform May Reduce Maternal Mortality: An Ecological […]
  • The Ethics of Abortion in Nursing The sanctity of human life, non-maleficence, and the right to autonomy and self-determination are some of the fundamental ethical ideas frequently addressed regarding abortion.
  • Utilitarian Permissive Concept for Women’s Right to Choose Abortion Utilitarians believe that the right to choose abortion should be protected under the law as a matter of justice since a woman should have the right to make decisions concerning her own body and health.
  • Abortion: Positive and Negative Sides To sum up, despite abortion being presented as an illegal intervention against human life, proponents believe that as a safe medical procedure, it protects the lives of mothers.
  • Abortion vs. Right to Life Among Evangelical Protestants The issue of abortion is critical to many citizens, especially women. In addition to restricting women’s rights, the issue of abortion affects well-being.
  • Abortion and Significant Health Complications Considering the effects of abortion, such as excessive bleeding, infection, and perforation of the uterus, surgical abortion procedures due to incomplete abortion or even death abortion can be fatal to life and one’s health.
  • Abortion as an Ethical Issue in Medicine In resolving the conflict between the decision to obtain an abortion from a minor adolescent and the nurse, there may be the following solution.
  • Teen Abortion: Legal and Ethical Implications The second legal implication is that the patient has the right to medical privacy and confidentiality, and the doctor may not be able to legally tell the patient’s mother about the pregnancy or abortion without […]
  • Abortion as a Medical Necessity Moreover, in case of fetal death, abnormalities, ectopic pregnancy, or harm to the woman’s health, it is obligatory to follow the recommendations of doctors who objectively assess the situation. Hence, individual factors influence the development […]
  • Abortion Ban: Ethical Controversies and History of Laws Abortion bans are the attempt to restrict the rights of women to procure an abortion when needed. On the other hand, arguments against the abortion ban focus on the bodily autonomy of women and the […]
  • Impact of Abortion Bans on Black Women Black women and other females of color will be disproportionately affected by the United States Supreme Court’s ruling to invalidate the right to an abortion as guaranteed by the Constitution.
  • The Problem of Late-Term Abortion Late-term abortion is associated with high-risk complications for the mother and inhumane treatment of the unborn child. There is an immense violation of the child’s rights if abortion is to be done after 20 weeks […]
  • Abortion With Limitations: Discussion Such insights support the notion that such a medical practice could be pursued in a professional manner when the life of the mother appears to be at risk.
  • Elizabeth Leiter’s The Abortion Divide Review Undeniably, The Abortion Divide film adequately shows the gradual growth in differences between the pro-choice and pro-life supporters but fails to bring a solution to the moral problem of abortion.
  • Abortion and Mental Health as Controversial Issues There have been issues related to the use of face masks and the number of cases of infected people. The topic of autism is a huge controversy due to denial or a lack of awareness.
  • Philosophical Reasoning About Deliberately Induced Abortion The philosophical discussion about the relationship between the right to life and bodily autonomy has become especially aggravated in the modern world.
  • The Abortion Theme in Society and Literature The author does not directly mention whether the couple or the parent had opted for abortion but relating to how society handles unwanted pregnancy, the thought must have crossed people’s minds, and that is how […]
  • The Government Stance on Abortion as an Ethical Issue Throughout the years, the practice has been both legalized and prohibited in the US, with the government’s shift in attitudes being central to the ambiguity of the issue.
  • Is Abortion Moral From Kantian Standpoint? The difficulties in using Kantian deontology to discuss the morality of abortion are defining whether the fetus is a human, and the role ethics play in actual decision-making.
  • Abortion of a Fetus With Disability It is worth paying attention to the fact that it is precise because of such things that terminations of pregnancy occur so that a person does not come into contact with obvious prejudices still actively […]
  • Pro-Abortion Arguments and Justification In general, terminating a pregnancy is the key to a woman’s prosperity, social and moral well-being, and ability to control the future.
  • Researching of Abortion Rights The authors of the three articles support my viewpoint by depicting the health-related and ethical risks that may take place if abortion laws continue to be restrictive.
  • Aspects Against Abortion Rights Having reviewed both the supporters and opponents of abortion in the legal and ethical contexts, the writers express their pro-life views, saying that life should be respected while offering their ideas on the aforementioned contexts.
  • Religious Beliefs and Medical Ethics: The Dilemma of Abortion in Cuban Society The process of giving birth to a child is considered a holiday for Cubans, and the family supports the woman after giving birth in every possible way.
  • Legislative Powers in Texas: Case of Abortions In this particular situation, the Speaker of the House supports my position in the role of trustee, but here the position of the lieutenant governor is much more critical since the bill is heard in […]
  • Abortion Backlash and Leadership Issues Although the issue of abortion in the United States remains one of the weightiest issues, with a high possibility of affecting the well-being of the people, it has been entirely politicized.
  • Anti-Abortion Laws: The Roe v. Wade Case Therefore, the Roe case is similar to the Griswold case, making the use of the latter as a precedent justifiable. The precedent case in Roe v.
  • Majority Opinion on Abortion Legalization vs. Prohibition Abortion is not the result of a nation’s historical or even cultural experience but merely the result of the adoption of restrictions.
  • The Right to Abortion: Childless Women The issue of inferential statistics in this example is motivated by considering the possibility of extrapolating results from the sample to the general population in the context of the population mean, i.e, no children for […]
  • Abortion and Women’s Right to Control Their Bodies However, the decision to ban abortions can be viewed as illegal, unethical, and contradicting the values of the 21st century. In such a way, the prohibition of abortion is a serious health concern leading to […]
  • Role of Abortion Policies Discussion The introduction of regulation and informed consent measures in the case of abortion policies is feasible from the perspective of eliminating health risks for the population.
  • Abortion-Related Racial Discrimination in the US In spite of being a numerical minority, Black women in the U.S.resort to abortion services rather often compared to the White population.
  • Should Abortions Be Illegal as Form of Homicide? When it comes to the difference between my opinion and the status quo, I believe that abortions cannot be considered a form of homicide and cannot be persecuted.
  • Abortions: Abortions Stigmatization Another issue regards the unavailability of abortions and the consequences of women being denied in abortions, and the necessity of choice for women to terminate or not terminate a pregnancy.
  • Socio-Psychological Factors of Abortion in Women of Different Age Groups It is necessary to conduct a theoretical analysis of the pregnancy termination problem, reflected in psychological research. In addition, it is essential to improve the state of social stability.
  • Women in Marriage & Sex, Abortion, and Birth Control The historical period chosen is from the eighteenth to the twentieth century to demonstrate the advancement of social structures for women.
  • Constitutional Issues of Abortion Rights Constitution, regulating the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, laid the legal basis for the practical implementation of the American concept of civil rights. The amendments that were passed later on the base of the […]
  • Abortion Trends in the United States The history of the legalization of abortion in the United States has a history of several decades and is still the problem of reproductive rights today is quite acute.
  • Texas Abortion Laws for Victims of Sexual Assault A female will have approximately two weeks in the law to evaluate her situation, verify the conception with a test, determine how to handle the pregnancy, and undergo an abortion.
  • Discussion of Abortion Accesion for Women Other individuals perceive abortion as a rather reasonable and necessary procedure that should exist as a part of healthcare and be accessible to the women who refuse to give birth to a child due to […]
  • A Controversial Process of Abortion Abortion is morally wrong and should not occur at any stage of human life because it only deprives the fetus of a right to life.
  • The Mother and the Challenges of Abortion In conclusion, it is clear that despite having procured abortions in the past, she wanted to be a mother to her children.
  • Abortion Politics and Moral Concerns Supporters of the third position think that abortion is a form of killing a person since the embryo is a person with the right to life from the moment of conception.
  • Conservative and Liberal Arguments on Abortion Governments and health organizations’ move to control access to abortion led to the emergence of groups and movements supporting and opposing abortion.
  • “On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion” Article by Warren In the first section of the paper, Mary Ann Warren suggests that it is impossible to establish whether abortion is morally permissible, provided one accepts that the fetus is a being with a full right […]
  • Abortion on the Grounds of Disability Removing a fetus from the woman’s womb results in death which is contrary to the morals of the community that is against killing.
  • Abortion: The Role of Nursing Staff In addition, the task of the nurse may be to inform the patient about the abortion process and its possible consequences. Medical personnel must respect the decision and rights of a woman who decides to […]
  • Abortion and Its Physical and Psychological Effects Physiological and physical disorders that may develop in the long run due to abortion have a wide range of unfavorable consequences.
  • Discussion of Abortion Rights Aspects 1, 2017, pp. It would be best used to illustrate the argument in favor of abortion rights based on the [regnant women’s right to health, which is its major strength.
  • Do We Need to Legalize Abortions? Therefore, every person should take a moment to research this uncomfortable subject and think about the consequences of unsafe and illegal abortion for women, children, and society.
  • Ethical Dilemma of Abortion Triumphalism In this issue and other matters, the affected person’s experience may not be a determining factor for the expression of opinion but is unique.
  • The Texas Abortion Law: A Signal of War on Women’s Rights and Bodies The purpose of this paper is to examine the structure and implications of the Texas Abortion Law in order to demonstrate its flaws.
  • Abortion and Menstrual Health and Society’s Views Limited resources, menstrual materials, and access to facilities are often a result of the lack of policy dedicated to the sexual health of individuals.
  • The Problem of Abortion in Today’s World Therefore, the choice of the topic of late abortion is justified because of the importance and need to cover this issue.
  • Abortion in the Context of Ethics and Laws The aim of this paper is to analyze abortion in the context of the law, ethics, and human rights and to identify the solution to the issue.
  • Societal Approach to Abortion at Various Levels Due to its relevance in society, the issue of abortion has those affirmative, the proposers, and those who think that abortion is a vice against humanity and unethical, the opposers.
  • The Problem of Abortion: Key Aspects Abortion should not be permitted because any procedure that results in the termination of pregnancy before viability is contrary to the religious idea.
  • Abortion as a Modern-Day Dilemma for the US Community For this reason, the right for abortion must be seen as the integral part of a system of human rights, specifically, those that must be given solely to women based on the reality of their […]
  • Abortion: Ethical and Religious Aspects From the Christian perspective, the miracle of human life is the most valuable gift, as the creation of human beings in imago Dei allows them to experience the blessings of life and exercising the service […]
  • The Ethical Dilemma on Abortion From the perspective of the Christian philosophy, a person is a product and manifestation of the love of God, hence the sanctity of any human life.
  • An Abortion Versus Fetus’s Right Dilemma On the other hand, she is afraid that the child will serve as a reminder of the rapist and she has set a lot of plans for her studies and career path.
  • “What I Saw at the Abortion” by Richard Selzer This sight made Selzer imagine that the fetus was struggling with the needle in this way, that he was scared and hurt, that he was trying to save itself.
  • Abortion: Pro-Life and Pro-Choice Argumentation To convince the States to provide access to abortion services for women legally, the article’s author refers to standards of human rights to health and other fundamental human rights. The article’s author refers to international […]
  • Discussion of Abortions: Advantages and Disadvantages The topic of abortions is, arguably, one of the most controversial and emotionally charged in the medical history, and it continues to cause a divide in healthcare even today.
  • The Effects of Age and Other Personal Characteristics on Abortion Attitudes This is tantamount to seeking a face-saving compromise where the core issues are in black and white and is similar to the uncompromising stands of those for and against homosexual marriage; of pederasts, pedophiles and […]
  • Supporting the Women Undergoing Abortion One in every five pregnancies in the world results in abortions. The main aim of the paper is to study the perceptions of nurses attending to abortion patients.
  • Abortion as Moral and Ethical Dilemma Despite the conflicting approaches to solving the moral and ethical dilemma of abortion, experts agree that it is possible to reduce the severity of the problem with the help of more excellent sexual education of […]
  • Regarding Abortion vs. Adoption In such cases, the couple, or more specifically, the woman is forced to face the reality of her situation and make a decision that will definitely affect the rest of her life.
  • Class Action Against the Enforcement of Texas Abortion The specific grounds of inconsistency are that the laws seek to prohibit an attempt to obtain or the actual procurement of an abortion regardless of the circumstances with the exception of the special circumstance of […]
  • Ethics in Health Care-Pro-Abortion There has been myriad of reported cases of failure to uphold the integrity of the unborn and the possible health related problems that would affect a mother’s health especially in the event of unsuccessful abortion.
  • The Benefits of Declining an Abortion Procedure The women may feel that they do not deserve the love of their children, and a sincere act such s a child refusing to suckle is perceived as the child directing hatred to the mother […]
  • Hills Like White Elephants. Abortion or Breakup It is used to demonstrate the stalemate in the couples’ relationships the necessity to choose between an abortion and a breakup.
  • Parental Consent in Minors’ Abortions Thus, the parents or guardians of the teenage girl ought to be aware of the planned abortion and explain the possible consequences of abortion to the girl.
  • Ethics and Reproduction Health: Surrogacy, Multiple Pregnancies, Abortion When the child is born, the contracting woman becomes the mother of the child, but she is not a biological mother because the child has the genes of the husband and the surrogate mother.
  • Induced and Spontaneous Abortion and Breast Cancer Incidence Among Young Women There is also no question as to whether those who had breast cancer was only as a result of abortion the cohort study does not define the total number of women in population.
  • Abortion-Related-Maternal Death in Dominican Republic There is need to focus the effort in pressuring the lawmakers to respect the rights of women. The Dominican law prohibits women from abortion even the life of woman and the child is in danger.
  • How Do Abortion Laws and Regulations Affect Anti-Abortion Violence? Moreover, support for anti-abortion violence can also be considered as a political weapon against women’s rights that is linked to the tolerance of violence against women.
  • Benefits of Abortion Overview Therefore, although some believe that abortion is equal to murder, many are still for abortion because it allows women to have control over their bodies, achieve full potential, and avoid engaging in hazardous abortion methods.
  • Abortion: Ethical Dilemma in Pope John Paul II’s View This paper tries to examine the abortion ethical dilemma from the lens of the Pope’s thoughts and proposals. Towards the end of the 20th century, new ideas and thoughts began to emerge in different parts […]
  • Abortion Techniques and Ban in Nicaragua The case of Nicaragua has shown to be particularly challenging as the country’s leaders are adhering to the patriarchal worldview that does not consider the rights and the health of women, and the importance of […]
  • How Christians View Abortion There are people who claim that the act of abortion is okay since it does not amount to the death of a live being.
  • Abortion and the Theory of Act Utilitarianism One possible philosophical approach to the problem of choice in such sensitive issues as abortion is the theory of Utilitarianism measuring the moral value of the action.
  • Teen Pregnancy: Abortion Rates Rise In the spotlight was the matter of teen pregnancy since teen births and abortion are both consequences of the former. That teen pregnancy rates fell in the 1990s and rose in the middle of this […]
  • Abortion and Its Side Effects in the United States One of the most dominant restrictions in the 1992 ruling is that parents are supposed to be involved in the decision making platform before an abortion can be carried out.
  • Maryland State Bill on Abortion According to the bill, women are supposed to see the ultrasound image in the uterus before an abortion is performed on them.
  • The Ethics of Abortion: Discussion The essay first examines the philosophical and religious concept of life and how the decision to abort affects the right to life of the fetus as also the existential dilemma that may arise when a […]
  • Medical Ethics. Should Abortion Be Banned? However, in the present situation of the world in general and the United States in particular, there is no doubt that abortion is a bad practice that deserves to be banned in all cases except […]
  • Legalities of Carrying Out Abortion Discussion This led to the emergence of such groupings as pro-life, who advocate for the consideration of abortion as murder, and pro-choice who are of the view that women should have the right of choice of […]
  • Abortion Is Legal but Is It Ethical? It is not difficult to understand how God’s words can be considered open to analysis but the difficulty of the abortion issue is that the breadth of the interpretation is very wide.
  • Abortions and Birth Control As a result the overall mortality of women increases in the countries where legal abortions take place. The general point of view in decreasing the number of abortions is the use of contraceptives as a […]
  • Abortion as an Unmerciful and Irresponsible Act Abortion is a very big risk to the health of the woman who opts to undergo an abortion. The biggest risk is to the life of the woman who opts for an abortion.
  • Abortion in Islamic View If a woman finds that she is pregnant, and does not want to be, what is the best way out for her, the potential baby that she is carrying, and all the other people concerned […]
  • Noonan and Thomson’s View on Abortion A more disarming approach is that of Thomson who maintains that the mother’s right to control her own body overrides the right to life of the fetus unless the mother has a special responsibility to […]
  • Bioethics. When Abortion Is Morally Permissible Abortion as we all know is the deliberate removal of a foetus from the womb of a female resulting in the death of the foetus.
  • Abortion Debate: Overview of Both Positions Daniel Oliver appears to be the supporter of the pro-life side of the debate, even though he does not impose his opinion on the reader and does not write that abortion is wrong.
  • Importance of Legalizing of Abortions Three of the most common reasons why women choose abortion is that they do not have the financial resources to raise a child, the others feel that they are not ready to have a child, […]
  • Ethical Issues of Counseling: Abortion and Divorce Personal values and beliefs, world views, and attitudes of both a counselor and a client have a great impact on the therapeutic relationship and effective treatment.
  • Abortion: Why It Should Be Banned Most people are suffering from various pregnancy-related traumas as more and more couples are experiencing conceiving difficulties due to the current unhealthy food intake and environmental conditions; thus, having a baby could change a lot […]
  • Women’s Health Issues: Abortion Reasons and Laws As one can see, the physical, psychological, and social risks of limiting access to abortion or proposing hostile policies are apparent.
  • View of Abortion: The Question of Human Life and Death In order to describe the question of abortion it is important to define and explain it.”Abortion’ as a ‘spontaneous or induced termination of pregnancy”, and “miscarriage’ as the ‘the spontaneous loss of an early pregnancy […]
  • Abortion: An Unsolvable Dilemma? We know that Christians are composed of three congregations: the Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Those who believe in the Bible, it is clear that the Bible is straightforward on life, that is that God is […]
  • Unsafe Abortions Concepts Analysis The overall attitudes to abortion were negative, and women who succeeded in aborting pregnancy faced opposition from their partners, social ostracism, and quasi-legal sanctions.
  • New Jersey Bill A495 on Abortion This paper aims to review the New Jersey Bill A495, the differences in the legislation process between New Jersey and other states, provide a personal position on the issue of abortion, and discuss the impact […]
  • Social Work Framework for the Abortion Seeking Experience In countries that do allow abortion, the law has to be adhered to and I would have to do the abortion or give the needed advice despite my ethical or religious beliefs.
  • The Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in the United States What is the association between the appropriateness of specific abortion services and various clinical circumstances? What are the physical and mental health effects of abortion?
  • The Abortion Debate: The Moral Status of the Fetus All arguments about abortion do not come down to the question of what is the moral status of the fetus since there are other aspects involved, including the health conditions of the mother, the fetus’s […]
  • The Politics of Abortion The second entry will be on the politics of abortion in the last year. In 2017 the politics of abortion had changed significantly compared to that of 2003.
  • Abortion Is Too Complex to Feel All One Way About In her article “Abortion Is Too Complex to Feel All One Way About” that appeared in the New York Times, Anna Quindlen attracts the attention of the global community to one of the most controversial […]
  • The Last Abortion Clinic Due to this, almost 24% of women are forced to travel across states to seek abortion services because of the lack of such services in the area they reside in.
  • Why Abortion Is Immoral? Thompson accepts that every individual has the right to life, that is, the fetus has the right life, and also the mother has the right to life.
  • Abortion as a Constitutional Right of US Women An abortion is the termination of pregnancy with the help of medicinal drugs or surgical interventions before the birth of the fetus.
  • Is Abortion Morally Justified? One of the reasons why the killing of any human being is wrong is “the loss of his or her future”.
  • Abortion Debate: Immoral Aspect of Pregnancy Termination Since it is morally wrong to kill human being, it is in order to argue that it is equally wrong to terminate a potential person in the form of a fetus.
  • Abortion Counseling and Psychological Support One recurrence is a woman’s lack of autonomy which can directly pressure the decision to have an abortion. Women may be driven by a number of influences and ideological factors to have a certain level […]
  • Teenage Pregnancy, Abortion, and Sex Education According to, some individuals in the society particularly the religious ones see abortion as a vice affecting every corner of the world.
  • Barriers to Access to Abortion Services Therefore, the prohibition of abortions can be potentially harmful to the health of women, and they understand it. Nevertheless, the society is not ready to accept abortion as a common event in the life of […]
  • Anti-Abortion Legislation and Services in Texas It might be possible to state that the aim of the legislation adopted so as to limit the provision of abortion service for the population was to reduce the number of abortions carried out in […]
  • Elective Abortion For and Against The thesis statement for this paper is: Since the legalization of the practice has not led to safer and quality abortion, there is need to tackle the barriers, obstacles, and cultural gaps that make the […]
  • Should Abortions Be Legal? One of the major reasons for this is the increasing influence of human rights movements and the tremendous progress made in the field in the recent years.
  • Abortion Rights: Roe vs. Wade Case The decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Roe v. The decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Planned Parenthood v.
  • Abortion in Thomas Aquinas’ Religious View Abortion is aimed at the destruction of blastocyst, foetus, embryo or zygote and in the process kills the innocence any life that would be there.
  • Abortion as a Crime and the Fight Against It Children are the future of our world and that is why I believe that we all should view them as a blessing rather than a curse.
  • Abortion From the Utilitarian Perspective First and foremost, the majority of people will not abide by her since abortion is considered to be an immoral act of human murder.
  • Canadian vs. American Post-Abortion Care When it comes to the history of the abortion policy in Canada, before the 1980s, for a woman to undergo the procedure terminating a pregnancy, the permission of a four-member committee of doctors was required […]
  • Abortion: Quality of Life and Genetic Abnormalities However, while this makes sense from a logical standpoint, it is horrific from a moral and ethical perspective given the fact that all individuals should have the right to life, regardless of the limitations they […]
  • Teenage Pregnancy and Abortion: Articles Evaluation The article highlights the importance of coming up with sexual health services and contraception methods, which are community-based for the benefit of the young people in a bid to counter the seemingly never-ending menace of […]
  • Abortion in the Middle East A recent study of the subject matter has shown that the rates of unsafe abortions in Middle east are getting increasingly high: as the official data states, out of 1,000 women ages 15 40, 11 […]
  • The Minimum Hourly Wages and the Abortions The representatives of the party state that increasing the wage will lead to a decrease in the number of jobs, therefore raising the unemployment rate.
  • “The Last Abortion Clinic”: Documentary Analysis Set in the state of Mississippi, the documentary aims at highlighting the laws that have been passed to curtail access of abortion in this state.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Political Involvement in Abortion The development of medicine brought the issue to the fore in the late 19th century. Therefore, it is but natural that it is the right of a woman to make the choice.
  • Legalization of Abortion for Underage Girls Those against the legalization of abortion claim that the process is normally not appropriate for girls under the age of eighteen years. It is therefore not justified to legalize abortion for girls under the age […]
  • Legalizing Abortion: Advantages and Justification
  • Abortion Incidence in the United State
  • Ethics of Abortion: Controversial Issues
  • “A Defence of Abortion” by Thomson
  • Abortion’s Pros and Cons
  • Social Issues: Abortions Prohibition
  • Abortion Law Importance in Canada
  • Abortion: Theories and Moral Issues
  • Anti- and Pro-Abortion Arguments
  • A Woman Has A Natural Right To Get An Abortion
  • Controversial Question About Abortion
  • The Issue of Abortion in the African Continent
  • President Reagan’s Thoughts on Abortion
  • Abortion and Parental Consent
  • Analysis of Abortion as an Ethical Issue
  • Ethics in Professional Psychology: Abortion Issue
  • Abortion as a Health Ethics Issue
  • Abortion as a Current Public Policy Issue
  • A Call to Legalize Abortion
  • Should Canada Have An Abortion Law?
  • Abortion’s Merits and Demerits of in the Global Perspectives
  • Abortion Law in Canada
  • Freedom of Women to Choose Abortion
  • Compare and Contrast Analysis Socio-Political and Moral Agenda of Abortion
  • Abortions Legal in the U.S.A.
  • Abortion: Analysis of Pro-Abortion Arguments
  • The Role of US Government on Abortions
  • Exploiting Nazism in Abortion Debate
  • Abortion Principles – Case of George and Linda
  • Is Self-Defense Abortion Permissible?
  • Africa Is Not Ready to Embrace Abortion
  • The Ethics of Abortion
  • The Debate About Abortion
  • Moral Controversies of Abortion
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  • Teen Abortion: Understanding the Risks
  • Abortion and the Aspects of Pro-Abortion
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How to Write Abortion Research Paper Homework?

Jason Burrey

Table of Contents

topics about abortion for a research paper

Looking for easy tips on how to write a research paper on abortion? We’ve got you covered!

Abortion is probably the most controversial subject in modern society. It includes a number of complex questions concerning ethical, moral, legal, medical, philosophical, and religious issues related to the deliberate ending of pregnancy before normal childbirth.

Public opinions are polarized; they have strong feelings for or against this subject. That’s why writing a good abortion research paper with work cited requires in-depth research of existing literature. Students have to find a decent amount of relevant arguments (statistics, facts) about positive and negative aspects of the problem and create a convincing piece.

Abortion research paper specifics

Abortion research paper is a piece of academic writing based on original research performed by a writer. The author’s task is to analyze and interpret research findings on a particular topic.

Although research paper assignments may vary widely, there are two common types – analytical and argumentative.

  • In argumentative essay students have to establish their position in a thesis statement and convince their audience to adopt this point of view.
  • In analytical essay students state a research question, take a neutral stance on a topic, presenting information in a form of well-supported critical analysis without persuading the audience to adopt any particular point of view.

Thorough writing a college research paper on the subject is critical – it can help students develop their own opinions and build a strong argument.

Research paper on abortion: writing hints & tips

Abortion is among political and moral issues on which Americans are genuinely split. Their opinions on this controversial issue remain unchanged since 1995. There are two primary moral and legal questions related to the abortion debate, which divides public opinion for generations:

  • Are abortions morally wrong?
  • Should they be legal or banned?

Although these questions seem straightforward, they are more complex than students think. There are two separate camps. People who favor the “pro-choice” stance support the right of women to choose whether she carries a pregnancy to term or not. They think that abortions are acceptable.

People who take the strict religious “pro-life” stance think that abortions are always wrong because the fetus has rights and we should treat it the same way as any other human being.

If you have to write an argumentative research paper, you must choose either “pro-life” or “pro-choice” stance and develop a convincing argument to persuade readers.

If your research paper is analytical, you should examine both sides of the issue, evaluate the most important arguments, provide a balanced overview of both approaches, analyzing their weak and strong points.

Religion plays a great role in the debate but there are a lot of non-religious issues. Here are the most important ethical and legal issues, involving the rights of women and the rights of a fetus.

  • Is fetus a human being and does it have the basic legal right to live?
  • Does life begin at conception?
  • Should we consider the fetus a separate being or is it a part of its mother?
  • Does the fetus’ right to life have a priority over the woman’s right to control her body?
  • Under what circumstances is it acceptable to terminate the fetus’ life?
  • Can the removing of a fetus be considered as a murder?
  • Is it better to abort an unwanted child or allow it to be neglected by parents?
  • Can adoption be alternative to termination of pregnancy?
  • Is it possible to find a balance between the rights of a mother and those of a fetus?

A lot of arguments in favor of this procedure are based on respect for women’s reproductive rights.

“Pro-choice” camp argues that a woman is a person with her own rights and not a fetus’ carrier.

They say that governmental or religious authorities shouldn’t limit a woman’s right to control her own body. Besides, the fetus can’t be regarded as a separate entity because it can’t exist outside a woman’s womb.

Opponents of this procedure speak about respect for all forms of life, fetus’ right to life, and argue that it is actually the kill of an innocent human being.

topics about abortion for a research paper

Best abortion research paper topics

The first step in writing a research paper is selecting a good manageable topic that interests you and defining a research question or a thesis statement.

Wondering where to find powerful abortion research paper topics? Here is a short list of interesting ideas. Feel free to pick any of them for creating your own writings. You may also use them as a source of inspiration and further research of a specific issue.

  • Impact of legalizing abortions on the birth rate.
  • How terminations of pregnancies are regulated around the world.
  • How termination of pregnancy is considered within moral terms.
  • Analyze regional differences in Americans’ attitude to termination of pregnancy.
  • Examine the generation gap in abortion support.
  • Feminist beliefs and abortion rights supporters.
  • What is the future of abortion politics?
  • Give an overview of the legislation on the termination of pregnancies around the world.
  • The medical complications of pregnancy termination.
  • Discuss the abortion debate and human rights.
  • How having an abortion affects a woman’s life.
  • Will the abortion debate ever end?
  • How can we reduce the demand for termination of pregnancy?
  • Moral aspects of pregnancy termination.
  • Legal aspects of the abortion conflict.
  • Should termination of pregnancy be treated as a health issue?
  • Electoral politics and termination of pregnancy.
  • Is the termination of pregnancy a human issue or a gender issue?
  • Philosophical aspects of the abortion debate.
  • Liberal views on the termination of pregnancy.
  • Abortion demographics: race, poverty, and choice.
  • Why does the public support for legal termination of pregnancy remains high?
  • Should men be allowed to discuss the termination of pregnancy?
  • Is the abortion a “women’s only” issue?
  • Woman’s mental health after abortion.

How to write an abortion research paper outline?

Now let’s discuss how to write an abortion research paper outline. First, you have to write a thesis statement that summarizes the main point of your paper and outlines supporting points. The thesis will help you organize your structure and ensure that you stay focused while working on your project. Make a thesis statement strong, specific, and arguable.

After defining the thesis statement, you need to brainstorm ideas that are supporting the thesis in the best way. When it comes to the level of detail in an outline, you should take into account the length of a college project. You should choose the most suitable subtopics and arrange them logically. Decide which order is the most effective in arguing your thesis. Your paper should include at least 3 parts: an introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Have a look at simple abortion research paper outline example .

Introduction

  • Hook sentence
  • Thesis statement
  • Transition to Main Body
  • History of abortion
  • Abortion demographics in countries where it is legal
  • Impact of legal termination of pregnancy on women’s life and health
  • Negative consequences of illegal termination of pregnancy
  • What measures should be taken to reduce the number of abortions?
  • Transition to Conclusion
  • Unexpected twist or a final argument
  • Food for thought

Academic writing is very challenging, especially if it involves complex controversial topics . Writing an abortion research paper is a time-consuming and arduous task, which involves a lot of researching, reading, writing, revising, rewriting, editing, and proofreading. Make sure you are ready to create several drafts and then improve the content and style to make your paper perfect.

We hope that our quick tips will help you get started. But if you are new to academic writing, a good idea is to find well-written abortion research paper examples. Read and analyze them to have a better idea about proper paper structure, academic writing style, references, and different approaches to organizing thoughts.

How about we take care of your abortion research paper, while you enjoy your free time? Several clicks and we’re on!

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  • Library Central This link opens in a new window Library Central combines SAU's book catalog and most of our databases into one unified searching interface. Use Library Central if you're looking to find a wide variety of sources with a minimum amount of searching. The sheer volume of results can be overwhelming, however, so use lots of search filters!

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Click on these subject headings to go directly into the Library Central advanced search as SUBJECT to find more books on our shelves.  

  • Abortion Moral and Ethical aspects
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  • Abortion Psychological aspects.
  • Abortion Social aspects United States.
  • Pro-choice movement
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Selected web sites.

  • Official Vatican statement on Abortion in the Catechism of the Catholic Church Scroll down to 2270-2275.
  • Religious Groups' Official Positions on Abortion from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. A non-partisan group. A primary source.
  • The changing world of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights Includes statistics. An excellent Source from the World Health Organization (WHO)
  • World Contraceptive Use 2022 "The data set, World Contraceptive Use 2022, includes country-specific survey-based observations of key family planning indicators, based on survey data available as of January 2021. This new data set was used to generate Family Planning Indicators 2022 providing national, regional and global estimates and projections of family planning indicators. "
  • Pew Research Center: Abortion Excellent Polling data
  • Articles on Abortion These articles provide research links and are vetted for accuracy. more... less... The Conversation is a nonprofit, independent news organization dedicated to unlocking the knowledge of experts for the public good. We publish trustworthy and informative articles written by academic experts for the general public and edited by our team of journalists.
  • Reproductive rights in America from an NPR special series
  • American Psychological Association Topics: Abortion Includes news and articles from this perspective. Look at the right side menus as well.
  • American Medical Association's Code of Medical Ethics: Opinion on Abortion Short, but authoritative - a primary source.
  • Brookings Institution Papers concerning Abortion Scroll down..."The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations."
  • CDC’s Abortion Surveillance System FAQs
  • Teenage Pregnancy Prevention: Statistics and Programs from the CDC.
  • Polling Report on Abortion and Birth Control the most up-to-date results from various good polls.
  • International Data and Statistics on Reproductive health from the Centers for Disease Control, a US government Agency. IT HAS PREVIOUS YEARS FINDINGS GOOD FOR COMPARISON AND TRENDS. more... less... Countries use data from these surveys to evaluate programs and interventions, assess reproductive health status, and develop policy. CDC’s assistance also builds capacity in the countries to conduct survey research independently."
  • A Concise History of the U.S. abortion debate. Author is a Professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University
  • Updating A Time-Series of Survey Questions: The Case of Abortion Attitudes in the General Social Survey Sarah K. Cowan*, Michael Hout and Stuart Perrett July 2021 a .pdf: GSS Methodological Report No. 133 NORC at the University of Chicago Chicago, IL more... less... Primary data
  • Public Opinion Views on abortion, 1995-2022 FACT SHEET: MAY 17, 2022 : Pew Research Center. A non-partisan primary source.

ATLA Religion and Ethics databases

  • Atla Religion Database with AtlaSerials This link opens in a new window This religious studies database from EBSCO includes 380 full-text scholarly journals and 2,500 indexed journals. Also includes the CATHOLIC PERIODICAL & LITERATURE INDEX, which includes essay collections, church documents, papal documents, and electronic resources addressing the practice and intellectual tradition of Roman Catholicism.

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  • Health & Medicine This link opens in a new window This health and medicine database from ProQuest contains over 5,000 full-text scholarly journals and nearly 400 full-text magazines covering the medical, nursing, and psychology fields.
  • Philosopher's Index with Full Text This link opens in a new window This philosophy database from EBSCO contains nearly 200 full-text journals and miscellany of other publications pertaining to world philosophy.
  • APA PsycArticles This link opens in a new window This psychology database from ProQuest includes over 150 high-prestige, full-text scholarly journals. Widely considered the premier psychology database.
  • APA PsycInfo This link opens in a new window This psychology database from EBSCO indexes over 1,400 scholarly journals and contains over 8,000,000 bibliographic citations. A portion of the content is available in full-text.

Persuasive/Argumentative paper resources

  • Opposing Viewpoints This link opens in a new window This current events database from Gale contains viewpoints, news, reference content, scholarly articles, and video on 100s of today's hottest topics. Each topic is presented in a pro/con format with balanced and comprehensive resources. A great resource for speeches and debates.

This background and reference database contains over 4,500 full-text reports on a variety of topics and current affairs. The reports are scholarly and well-referenced, but also quite readable. If you find a report on your topic you will have a great source!

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  • Archival Films & Newsreels Collection This link opens in a new window This streaming video product includes over 13,000 video clips and over 5,000 full-length videos covering a range of historical topics and eras.
  • Kanopy This link opens in a new window Kanopy is an video streaming service that provides access to over 30,000 feature films, documentaries, and educational videos across a wide variety of subjects. Can be viewed on-and-off-campus and is completely free for the SAU community.

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Broad Public Support for Legal Abortion Persists 2 Years After Dobbs

Support for legal abortion has grown slightly since 2021, with 63% now saying it should be legal in all or most cases. But 36% say it should be illegal in all or most cases, and partisans remain divided on the issue.

By more than two-to-one, Americans say medication abortion should be legal in their state

Public opinion on abortion, cultural issues and the 2024 election, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

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Voters who support Biden and Trump have starkly different opinions on many issues, and these two groups are divided internally as well.

Support for legal abortion is widespread in many places, especially in Europe

Majorities in most of the 27 places around the world surveyed in 2023 and 2024 say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

Abortion has long been a contentious issue in the United States, and it is one that sharply divides Americans along partisan, ideological and religious lines.

Americans overwhelmingly say access to IVF is a good thing

Seven-in-ten Americans say in vitro fertilization access is a good thing. Just 8% say it is a bad thing, and 22% are unsure.

Views are split by political party, but support for legal abortion has risen modestly in both groups since before the 2022 Dobbs decision.

What the data says about abortion in the U.S.

The U.S. abortion rate has generally declined since the 1980s, but there have been slight upticks in the late 2010s and early 2020s.

Nearly a Year After Roe’s Demise, Americans’ Views of Abortion Access Increasingly Vary by Where They Live

In states where abortion is prohibited, the share of people who say access to abortion should be easier has increased since August 2019. A majority of residents in those states say it would be difficult to get an abortion in the area where they live today, up 21 points from four years ago.

A majority of Americans say medication abortion should be legal, but there is a stark divide by age, religion and party affiliation.

Most Latinos Say Democrats Care About Them and Work Hard for Their Vote, Far Fewer Say So of GOP

Abortion has risen as an election issue for Latinos, with a majority saying it should be legal in all or most cases. Meanwhile, 80% say the economy is a very important issue when deciding who to vote for in the upcoming congressional midterm elections, a greater share than any other issue.

Positive Views of Supreme Court Decline Sharply Following Abortion Ruling

Americans’ ratings of the Supreme Court are now as negative as – and more politically polarized than – at any point in more than three decades of polling. And nearly two-thirds of Democrats (64%) now say the Supreme Court has too much power, almost three times the share who said this in August 2020 (23%).

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Persuasive Essay Guide

Persuasive Essay About Abortion

Caleb S.

How To Write A Persuasive Essay On Abortion

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Persuasive Essay About Abortion

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Are you about to write a persuasive essay on abortion but wondering how to begin?

Writing an effective persuasive essay on the topic of abortion can be a difficult task for many students. 

It is important to understand both sides of the issue and form an argument based on facts and logical reasoning. This requires research and understanding, which takes time and effort.

In this blog, we will provide you with some easy steps to craft a persuasive essay about abortion that is compelling and convincing. Moreover, we have included some example essays and interesting facts to read and get inspired by. 

So let's start!

Arrow Down

  • 1. How To Write a Persuasive Essay About Abortion?
  • 2. Persuasive Essay About Abortion Examples
  • 3. Examples of Argumentative Essay About Abortion
  • 4. Persuasive Topics about Abortion 
  • 5. Facts About Abortion You Need to Know

How To Write a Persuasive Essay About Abortion?

Abortion is a controversial topic, with people having differing points of view and opinions on the matter. There are those who oppose abortion, while some people endorse pro-choice arguments. 

It is also an emotionally charged subject, so you need to be extra careful when crafting your persuasive essay.

Before you start writing your persuasive essay, you need to understand the following steps.

Step 1: Choose Your Position

The first step to writing a persuasive essay on abortion is to decide your position. Do you support the practice or are you against it? You need to make sure that you have a clear opinion before you begin writing. 

Once you have decided, research and find evidence that supports your position. This will help strengthen your argument. 

Check out the video below to get more insights into this topic:

Step 2: Choose Your Audience

The next step is to decide who your audience will be. Will you write for pro-life or pro-choice individuals? Or both? 

Knowing who you are writing for will guide your writing and help you include the most relevant facts and information. Additionally, understanding your audience will help you craft a focused thesis statement that clearly addresses their concerns and perspectives.

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Step 3: Make an Outline & Define Argument

Now that you have chosen your position and identified your audience, it’s time to craft your argument. Start by clearly defining your stance on the issue and outlining the reasons behind your belief. Use evidence to support each of your claims, such as facts, statistics, or expert opinions.

To organize your thoughts, create a persuasive essay outline that maps out the structure of your essay. 

For instance, your persuasive essay on abortion outline might include:

  • Introduction: Present the topic and state your thesis.
  • Body Paragraph 1: Explain your first supporting argument and provide evidence.
  • Body Paragraph 2: Discuss your second supporting argument with additional evidence.
  • Body Paragraph 3: Address opposing arguments and provide counterarguments to refute them.
  • Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate why your position is valid.

By outlining your essay, you ensure that your argument is logical and well-structured, making your essay more balanced and convincing.

Step 4: Format Your Essay

Once you have the argument ready, it is time to craft your persuasive essay. Follow a standard format for the essay , with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. 

Make sure that each paragraph is organized and flows smoothly. Use clear and concise language, getting straight to the point.

Step 5: Proofread and Edit

The last step in writing your persuasive essay is to make sure that you proofread and edit it carefully. Look for spelling, grammar, punctuation, or factual errors and correct them. This will help make your essay more professional and convincing.

These are the steps you need to follow when writing a persuasive essay on abortion. It is a good idea to read some examples before you start so you can know how they should be written.

Continue reading to find helpful examples.

Persuasive Essay About Abortion Examples

To help you get started, here are some example persuasive essays on abortion that may be useful for your own paper.

Abortion laws are a contentious issue, and persuasive arguments often revolve around the balance between individual rights and moral considerations. Advocates for more permissive abortion laws argue that these laws are essential for safeguarding women’s health and personal autonomy. Access to safe and legal abortion services allows individuals to make critical decisions about their own bodies and futures. Restrictive laws can lead to unsafe, unregulated procedures, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities and exacerbating health disparities.

Moreover, persuasive arguments against overly restrictive abortion laws emphasize that personal circumstances vary widely. Women facing unplanned pregnancies may encounter complex situations, including health risks or severe financial hardship. In such cases, the ability to choose abortion can be crucial for their well-being and that of their families.

Opponents of restrictive laws often argue that decisions about abortion should be made by individuals in consultation with their healthcare providers, rather than by lawmakers who may not fully understand the personal or medical intricacies involved.

In conclusion, persuasive arguments for more flexible abortion laws highlight the importance of personal choice and access to safe medical procedures, advocating for a legal framework that respects individual rights and promotes public health.

Here is another short persuasive essay about abortion:

Abortion remains one of the most polarizing issues in contemporary discourse, and a persuasive argument against it often centers on the moral and ethical considerations surrounding the sanctity of life. Opponents of abortion argue that life begins at conception and that every embryo or fetus has an inherent right to life. This perspective asserts that terminating a pregnancy is a profound moral wrong, akin to ending a human life.

From a moral standpoint, many believe that the potential for human life deserves protection regardless of the circumstances surrounding conception. They argue that adoption presents a viable alternative for those who cannot or choose not to raise a child, ensuring that the unborn have the opportunity to live and contribute to society.

Additionally, some argue that the availability of abortion can lead to a devaluation of human life in general. They contend that societies should focus on strengthening support systems for pregnant individuals, such as improved access to prenatal care and financial assistance, rather than offering abortion as an option.

In conclusion, the argument against abortion emphasizes the ethical obligation to protect potential life and advocate for alternatives that respect both the unborn and the needs of individuals facing unplanned pregnancies.

Persuasive Essay About No To Abortion

Persuasive Speech on Abortion

Legal Abortion Persuasive Essay

Persuasive Essay About Abortion in the Philippines

Persuasive Essay about legalizing abortion

You can also read m ore persuasive essay examples to imp rove your persuasive skills.

Examples of Argumentative Essay About Abortion

An argumentative essay is a type of essay that presents both sides of an argument. These essays rely heavily on logic and evidence.

Here are some examples of short argumentative essays with an introduction, body, and conclusion that you can use as a reference in writing your own argumentative essay. 


The debate over whether abortion should be made illegal is a deeply divisive issue, marked by moral, ethical, and legal considerations. On one hand, proponents of making abortion illegal argue that it is a moral and ethical wrong, asserting that the fetus has a right to life from conception. They contend that every potential life should be protected, and that alternatives such as adoption provide viable options for those facing unwanted pregnancies.

Conversely, those opposed to making abortion illegal argue that such a move would infringe on personal autonomy and reproductive rights. They believe that individuals should have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, including whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy. Making abortion illegal could lead to unsafe, unregulated procedures, disproportionately affecting low-income women and those without access to safe medical care. Historical evidence suggests that criminalizing abortion does not eliminate it but drives it underground, where it becomes much riskier.

Ultimately, the debate centers on balancing ethical considerations with personal rights. While the protection of potential life is important, ensuring safe, legal access to abortion respects individual autonomy and public health.

Let’s take a look at another short example:

Legalizing abortion remains one of the most contentious issues in modern society, with passionate arguments on both sides. Advocates for legalizing abortion assert that it is a fundamental right for individuals to have control over their own bodies. They argue that access to safe and legal abortion services is essential for protecting women’s health and autonomy. By legalizing abortion, individuals can make informed decisions based on their personal circumstances, including financial stability, health risks, and life goals.

Additionally, legalizing abortion helps prevent unsafe, illegal procedures that can lead to severe health complications or even death. Historical data indicates that restrictive abortion laws do not eliminate abortions but drive them underground, where they become significantly more dangerous.

On the other hand, opponents of legalization often argue that abortion ends a potential life and is therefore morally wrong. They advocate for alternatives such as adoption and assert that society has a responsibility to protect the unborn.

However, the ethical and moral arguments must be balanced with practical considerations. Legalizing abortion ensures that individuals can access safe, regulated medical care and make personal decisions without facing undue risks. It respects the autonomy of individuals while also considering their health and well-being, making it a crucial component of a just and equitable society.

Here are some PDF examples that you can download and read for free!

Abortion Persuasive Essay Introduction

Argumentative Essay About Abortion Conclusion

Argumentative Essay About Abortion Pdf

Argumentative Essay About Abortion in the Philippines

Argumentative Essay About Abortion - Introduction

Persuasive Topics about Abortion 

If you are looking for some topics to write your persuasive essay on abortion, here are some examples:

  • Should abortion be legal in the United States?
  • Is it ethical to perform abortions, considering its pros and cons?
  • What should be done to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies that lead to abortions?
  • Is there a connection between abortion and psychological trauma?
  • What are the ethical implications of abortion on demand?
  • How has the debate over abortion changed over time?
  • Should there be legal restrictions on late-term abortions?
  • Does gender play a role in how people view abortion rights?
  • Is it possible to reduce poverty and unwanted pregnancies through better sex education?
  • How is the anti-abortion point of view affected by religious beliefs and values? 

These are just some of the potential topics that you can use for your persuasive essay on abortion. Think carefully about the topic you want to write about and make sure it is something that interests you. 

Check out m ore persuasive essay topics that will help you explore other things that you can write about!

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Facts About Abortion You Need to Know

Here are some facts about abortion that will help you formulate better arguments.

  • According to the Guttmacher Institute , 1 in 4 pregnancies end in abortion.
  • The majority of abortions are performed in the first trimester.
  • Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures, with less than a 0.5% risk of major complications.
  • In the United States, 14 states have laws that restrict or ban abortion of most forms after 20 weeks gestation.
  • Seven out of 198 nations allow elective abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
  • In places where abortion is highly illegal, more women die during childbirth and due to complications resulting from pregnancy.
  • A majority of pregnant women who opt for abortions do so for financial and social reasons.
  • According to estimates, 56 million abortions occur annually.

In conclusion, these are some of the examples, steps, and topics that you can use to write a persuasive essay. Make sure to do your research thoroughly and back up your arguments with evidence. This will make your essay more professional and convincing. 

Need the services of a persuasive essay writing service ? We've got your back!

MyPerfectWords.com provides help to students in the form of professionally written essays. Our persuasive essay writer can craft quality persuasive essays on any topic, including abortion. 

So, just ask our experts ' do my essay ' and get professional help.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to start a persuasive essay about abortion.

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To start a persuasive essay about abortion, begin with a compelling introduction that grabs the reader's attention and clearly presents the topic. Provide some background information on the issue and state your thesis statement, which should outline your position on the matter. Ensure your introduction sets up the argument you will be making throughout the essay.

What is a good argument for abortion?

A good argument for abortion could be that it is a woman’s choice to choose whether or not to have an abortion. It is also important to consider the potential risks of carrying a pregnancy to term.

What is a good hook for an essay about abortion?

A good hook for an essay might involve a thought-provoking question, a startling statistic, or a powerful quote. For example:

  • "Did you know that nearly one in four women will have an abortion by age 45? This staggering statistic highlights the urgency of the abortion debate."
  • "‘The right to choose is fundamental,’ argues many pro-choice advocates. But how does this stand against the moral objections of pro-life supporters?"

What is a persuasive speech about legalizing abortion?

A persuasive speech about legalizing abortion argues for the importance of granting individuals the right to make autonomous decisions regarding their reproductive health. It emphasizes that legalizing abortion ensures safe, regulated medical procedures, protects women's health, and supports personal autonomy. The speech often highlights the risks associated with illegal abortions, the need for access to healthcare, and the ethical consideration of allowing individuals to choose based on their unique circumstances.

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How US women feel about abortion, in 4 charts

According to a new survey from KFF, one in seven women of reproductive age report having an abortion at some point in their life, and almost 75% of women of reproductive age say that abortion should be legal in most or all cases. 

Resource library: Women's health

Women's views on abortion in the US

KFF's Women's Health Survey is a nationally representative survey on women's health that has been conducted since 2001. The 2024 survey was conducted between May 13 and June 18 and includes a nationally representative sample of 6,246 adults ages 18 to 64, including 3,901 women ages 18 to 49.

The initial briefs on the survey focus on women's experiences, knowledge, and attitudes toward abortion. Future briefs will focus on contraception, fertility services, mental health, and more.

Overall, one in seven, or 14%, of women of reproductive age said they had an abortion at some point in their lives. This number was higher among Black women (21%) and Hispanic women (19%), compared to white women (11%). More women with lower incomes also reported having an abortion (17%) than those with higher incomes (13%)

Among women who said they had ever wanted or needed an abortion, 15% said they weren't able to get one. When asked why they didn't get a wanted or needed abortion, 33% reported access and affordability issues, while 19% reported religious, moral, or societal pressures. 

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, over a third of women said it has been difficult to access abortion services in their state. At the same time, over 60% of women of reproductive age expressed  concern that they or someone close to them wouldn't be able to get an abortion if it was necessary to preserve their health or life. 

Similarly, 64% of reproductive-age women said they are concerned that abortion bans will affect the safety of a potential future pregnancy either for themselves or someone close to them. In addition, 17% of women of reproductive age said they changed their contraceptive practices due to Roe 's overturn. Some practices include starting birth control, switching to more effective birth control, or having emergency contraception on hand.

In the survey, some respondents had limited knowledge of abortion laws or where to get abortion care. Among women of reproductive age, only 45% correctly described the status of abortion in the state where they live. Similarly, only 25% of women said they knew where they could an abortion if they wanted or needed one in the future.

When it comes to the legality of abortion, 75% of reproductive age women said it should be legal in most or all cases. Only 8% of women said it should be illegal in all cases. In addition, 70% of women said they support a law guaranteeing a federal right to abortion, with half saying they strongly support it. 

A majority of women (63%) also somewhat or strongly oppose a nationwide ban on abortion at 15 weeks. Almost 75% of women also oppose leaving the decision of abortion up to individual states.

Advisory Board 's Gabriela Marmolejos was struck by the survey's finding that "state abortion bans are likely increasing women's pregnancy fears nationwide."

"Most participants worried about the safety of future pregnancies, yet less than half knew their state's current abortion policy," Marmolejos said. "This suggests to me that the horrific pregnancy stories being reported in states with abortion bans are likely stoking the fears of women across the country, regardless of whether their state has an abortion ban in place."

In light of these heightened fears, Marmolejos recommended that all pregnancy providers prioritize empathizing with their pregnant patients and educating them about organizational protocols that can help them manage risks. She also noted that "advanced practice providers, such as nurse midwives, are well-equipped to support these efforts since they often have greater capacity than ob/gyns to offer patients clinical education and emotional reassurance."

Separately, Advisory Board's Madeline Vogel said that "providers may face additional inquiries about contraceptive options, especially as nearly 1 in 5 women of reproductive age report they have changed their contraceptive practices due to Roe being overturned."

Advisory Board's women's health resources

For more insights into women's health issues, check out Advisory Board's library of resources, including:

We have several resources on the  top drivers of change in the maternal and reproductive health market , as well as the  outlook for the women's health service line .

To learn more about ways to improve women's health in the United States, this report outlines six key factors to take into consideration, including the roles of various healthcare stakeholders and the importance of cross-industry collaboration.

In addition, this expert insight outlines the business case for investing in women's specialty care. This research also describes five steps organizations can take to improve women's health and well-being.

You can also attend a breakout session on women's health at our upcoming "Pivots for a Sustainable Future Summit," which takes place Sept. 10-11 in Phoenix, Arizona. We also have an upcoming webinar on women's health market trends in 2024 on Sept. 26. (KFF "2024 Women's Health Survey," accessed 8/15; Gomez et al., KFF , 8/14; Weixel, The Hill , 8/14)

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Posted on August 19, 2024

Updated on August 19, 2024

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August 19, 2024

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Editorial: US abortion restrictions are causing widespread harm

by The City University of New York

roe v wade

In an editorial published in BMJ , CUNY SPH Senior Associate Dean Terry McGovern and Ph.D. student and adjunct professor Ira Memaj, along with Northeastern University's Samantha Garbers, shed light on the devastating consequences of restrictive abortion laws across the U.S.

The authors say the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that removed constitutional protection for abortion has not reduced the number of abortions in the country; in fact, that number in 2023 was the highest in a decade.

Instead, the ruling has resulted in increased maternal mortality ; intimate partner violence and homicide; increased anxiety, chronic pain , pre-eclampsia, and postpartum hemorrhage; higher odds of poverty and unemployment; and increased rates of children entering foster care.

"We need investment in programs and policies that prioritize the lives and health of women and children, not repressive policies that benefit no one, cause serious harm to many, and fail their stated aim to reduce abortion," the authors write.

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Survey shows broad opposition to abortion restrictions among women of reproductive age

An protester holds a sign that reads, "Keep Abortion Legal"

The group most directly affected by restrictions on abortion — women of reproductive age — are broadly against them, new survey results have found. 

According to findings released Wednesday by KFF, a nonprofit health think tank, 74% of women in the U.S. ages 18 to 49 think abortion should be legal. Around 70% support a federal right to abortion — the position held by Vice President Kamala Harris in a presidential election in which abortion rights are expected to be a motivating factor for many voters. 

Nearly half of Republican women of reproductive age said abortion should be legal in most or all cases.

Former President Donald Trump has said states should decide whether abortion is legal , but 74% of the women surveyed disagreed. The figure, however, includes women who instead want a nationwide ban, according to Brittni Frederiksen, an associate director for women’s health policy at KFF who worked on the survey. Around half of the Republican women surveyed who opposed leaving abortion policies up to states took that position, she said.

The findings come from the 2024 KFF Women’s Health Survey, which asked more than 6,200 women ages 18 to 64 across the country about issues such as abortion, contraception and mental health from mid-May to mid-June. The report released Wednesday focuses more narrowly on how women of reproductive age view abortion, based on 3,900 responses.

The results are particularly relevant given the issue’s prominence in the election. Abortion-related measures are on the ballot in eight states, with Arizona and Missouri officially joining the list Tuesday. Similar measures in three other states have the required signatures but are waiting on certification.

A KFF poll conducted in February found that 1 in 8 voters saw abortion as the most important issue in the election and that roughly half considered it very important. A Gallup Poll conducted in May suggested that nearly a third of voters would vote only for a major-ticket candidate who shared their views on abortion.

Trump has recently downplayed the subject, however. He said at a news conference last week that it would be a “very small issue” in the election. 

Harris, meanwhile, has emphasized it.

“We trust women to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do. And when Congress passes a law to restore reproductive freedoms, as president, I will sign it into law,” she said last month at her first presidential campaign rally .

The choice to have an abortion crosses partisan divides, according to the KFF survey. Roughly similar shares of reproductive-age women from each party reported having had abortions: 12% of Republicans, 14% of Democrats and 15% of independents.

Around 64% said they opposed a nationwide law that would ban abortions after 15 weeks’ gestation. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has proposed such a policy (which would not override more restrictive state laws), and Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, Trump’s running mate, signaled support for that bill in 2022. More recently, however, Vance said on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that he shared Trump’s view that states should determine their own policies. 

The broader KFF survey of adults under 65 found that 65% support a nationwide right to abortion, Frederiksen said. A survey the Pew Research Center conducted in April similarly found that 63% of U.S. adults think abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

KFF also released two additional reports Wednesday looking at views on abortion policies among women of reproductive age in Arizona and Florida. Both states have abortion-related measures on their November ballots. 

Florida’s measure proposes to overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban , which took effect in May. It needs 60% of the vote to pass. 

KFF’s survey results in Florida suggest that 72% of reproductive-age women there think abortion should be legal, including roughly half of Republican women. Still, Frederiksen said, “we don’t know who’s planning on voting and if they’ll show up to vote.” 

In Arizona, a key swing state, KFF found that 70% of reproductive-age women think abortion should be legal. More than 6 in 10 said they were concerned that an abortion ban might affect the safety of future pregnancies for them or people close to them.

Abortion is legal in Arizona up to 15 weeks, but in April, the state Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 law banning all abortions except to save a woman’s life was enforceable. Gov. Katie Hobbs later signed a bill repealing the ban before it could take effect.

In the fall, Arizonans will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee abortion care until fetal viability — around the 24th week of pregnancy. A poll in May from CBS News and YouGov indicated that 65% of Arizonans would vote in favor.

Frederiksen said her research shows that many women are unaware of or misinformed about their states’ abortion landscapes. In Arizona, for example, just 58% of reproductive-age women had heard of medication abortion.

“A lot of people just are unaware of the abortion policy in their state, unaware whether medication abortion is legal or not and whether they could get medication abortion pills online,” she said. “So I think there’s a lot of confusion.”

topics about abortion for a research paper

Aria Bendix is the breaking health reporter for NBC News Digital.

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US abortion numbers have risen slightly since Roe was overturned, study finds

Abortion was slightly more common across the U.S. in the first three months of this year than it was before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and cleared the way for states to implement bans, according to a new study.

FILE - Abortion advocates rally outside the Supreme Court, June 24, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)

FILE - Krista Bywater shows her eight-months-pregnant belly during an abortion advocacy rally outside the Supreme Court, May 14, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE - Rod Sommer fills out his ballot during early, in-person voting at the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Cincinnati, Oct. 11, 2023. Voters approved on Nov. 7, 2023 an amendment to the Ohio Constitution to protect access to abortion. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Chart showing the change in number of average monthly abortions in the first quarter of 2024 compared with that before the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health ruling. (AP Digital Embed)

Chart showing abortions rise with telehealth prescriptions. A new report shows the number of monthly abortions in the U.S. has risen since the Supreme Court’s ruling that opened the door for state bans. The #WeCount report says a major reason for the increase is that some Democratic-controlled states have laws to protect prescribers who use telemedicine to see patients in places with abortion bans. (AP Digital Embed)

  • Copy Link copied

The number of women getting abortions in the U.S. actually went up in the first three months of 2024 compared with before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, a report released Wednesday found, reflecting the lengths that Democratic-controlled states went to expand access.

A major reason for the increase is that some Democratic-controlled states enacted laws to protect doctors who use telemedicine to see patients in places that have abortion bans, according to the quarterly #WeCount report for the Society of Family Planning, which supports abortion access.

The data comes ahead of November elections in which abortion-rights supporters hope the issue will drive voters to the polls. In some places, voters will have a chance to enshrine or reject state-level abortion protections.

Fallout from the Supreme Court’s June 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has remade the way abortion works across the country. The #WeCount data, which has been collected in a monthly survey since April 2022, shows how those providing and seeking abortion have adapted to changing laws.

AP AUDIO: US abortion numbers have risen slightly since Roe was overturned, study finds

AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports on new research that finds abortion numbers have increased in the United States.

The survey found that the number of abortions fell to nearly zero in states that ban abortion in all stages of pregnancy and declined by about half in places that ban it after six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. Fourteen states are enforcing bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions, and four others bar it after about six weeks of pregnancy.

Image

Numbers went up in places where abortion remains legal until further into pregnancy — and especially in states such as Illinois, Kansas and New Mexico, which border states with bans.

The report estimates that if not for the post-Dobbs bans, there would have been about 9,900 more abortions per month — and 208,000 total since — in those states. The numbers were up by more than 2,600 per month in Illinois, about 1,300 in Virginia, 1,200 in Kansas and more than 500 in New Mexico.

Abortion pills and telemedicine play a key role. In March, doctors in states with laws to protect medical providers used telemedicine to prescribe abortion pills to nearly 10,000 patients in states with bans or restrictions on abortion by telehealth — accounting for about 1 in 10 abortions in the U.S.

Laws to protect medical providers who use telemedicine to prescribe abortion pills started taking effect in some Democratic-led states last year.

“It eases the burden on clinics,” said Ushma Upadhyay, a University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine professor who co-leads #WeCount. “So it creates more space for the people who are coming to clinics.”

Abortion opponents say the fight over the abortion drug mifepristone isn’t over after a narrow Supreme Court ruling that preserved access to it for now. But so far there have not been legal challenges to shield laws.

The latest edition of the survey covers the first three months of this year, when it counted an average of just under 99,000 abortions per month, compared with 84,000 in the two months before Dobbs. January was the first time since the survey began that it has counted more than 100,000 abortions across the country in a single month.

The tracking effort collects monthly data from providers across the country, creating a snapshot of abortion trends. In some states, a portion of the data is estimated. The effort makes data public with less than a six-month lag, giving a picture of trends far faster than annual reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where the most recent report covers abortion in 2021.

Before the shield laws began kicking in and #WeCount started tallying them, people were still getting some pills in places with bans.

One of the states where abortions increased was Florida. That changed in April , when a ban after six weeks’ gestation took effect. The data doesn’t yet reflect that change.

The policy could change again through a November ballot measure that would make abortion legal until viability, generally considered to be around 23 or 24 weeks into pregnancy. It needs at least 60% approval to be added to the state constitution.

One vote against it will come from Mia Adkins, a 20-year-old senior at Florida International University.

“Instead of pushing for more abortion legal later in pregnancy, we should be pushing for laws that protect these pregnant parents and students and provide them with the support that they need,” said Akins, a senior at Florida International University.

Florida is one of six states where abortion-related measures are already on the ballot. Determinations from elections officials about adding similar questions are pending in four more states. In one, Nebraska, there are dueling amendments: One to allow access until viability and one to keep the current ban on most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Abortion-rights supporters have prevailed in all seven abortion ballot questions in the U.S. since 2022. That tracks with public opinion polling that has shown growing support for abortion rights, including a recent Associated Press-NORC poll that found 6 in 10 Americans think their state should allow someone to obtain a legal abortion if they don’t want to be pregnant for any reason.

An amendment to protect access could be on the ballot in Arizona, a political battleground state where court cases have swung abortion policy — and access — since the Dobbs ruling.

The state Supreme Court ruled in April that Arizona should enforce an 1864 ban on abortions at all stages of pregnancy, only for lawmakers to repeal that law. The state’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy remains. The ballot measure would expand it to 24 weeks.

Natalie Harper, a 23-year-old independent who usually doesn’t vote, said the potential of bringing back the Civil War-era ban “absolutely” impacts her decision to vote for the ballot measure this November. “Seeing that as a possibility really made me realize that everyone’s pro-choice voices need to be heard in hopes it never goes in that direction again,” she said.

In Missouri, which has outlawed almost all abortions and where nearly none were reported in the new data, election officials could soon certify whether a proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights received enough petition signatures to qualify for the ballot in the reliably Republican state.

University of Missouri political scientist Peverill Squire said that if the measure is on the ballot, it could draw out enough Democratic voters to help swing a few competitive legislative races.

“They can seize on the personal freedom arguments the Republicans have generally owned over the recent elections,” he said.

Associated Press writers Sejal Govindarao in Phoenix and David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this report.

topics about abortion for a research paper

Eliciting Thresholds for Interdependent Behavior

Threshold models have been widely used to analyze interdependent behavior, yet empirical research identifying people’s thresholds is nonexistent. We introduce an incentivized method for eliciting thresholds and use it to study support for affirmative action in a large, stratified sample of the U.S. population. Most Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White men and women condition their support for affirmative action on the number of others supporting it. In line with preregistered hypotheses, thresholds are influenced by one’s perceived benefits and pressure to conform. We demonstrate how our method can offer unique insights for policy design and enhance understanding of social dynamics.

We thank seminar participants at the University of Bologna, University of Cologne, Middlebury College, Norwegian Business School, New York University, University of Arizona, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Verona, and audiences at the 2024 Social Norms Workshop Ascona, 2024 Barcelona Summer Forum, the 2024 Dynamics of Social Change workshop at NYU Abu Dhabi, the 2023 World ESA conference in Lyon, and the 2023 ESA Africa conference in Cape Town. The project was pre-registered at AEARCTR-0010895 on March 03, 2023. IRB approval has been obtained by the NYUAD (HRPP-2022-74) and UT Dallas (IRB-22-582) Institutional Review Boards. MJ and NN gratefully acknowledge financial support from Tamkeen under NYU Abu Dhabi Research Institute Award CG005. NN and SS gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Science Foundation (grant #2242443). The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

MARC RIS BibTeΧ

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2024, 16th Annual Feldstein Lecture, Cecilia E. Rouse," Lessons for Economists from the Pandemic" cover slide

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COMMENTS

  1. 159 Abortion Research Paper Topics To Impress Your Teacher

    Abortion Topics for Research Paper. Abortion is a topic that has different opinions and conversations. These are some topics you can explore when writing about abortion. Explore the possible side effects of abortion. Medical reasons for abortions. Different religions and their stands on abortion. History of abortion.

  2. A research on abortion: ethics, legislation and socio-medical outcomes

    Abstract. This article presents a research study on abortion from a theoretical and empirical point of view. The theoretical part is based on the method of social documents analysis, and presents a complex perspective on abortion, highlighting items of medical, ethical, moral, religious, social, economic and legal elements.

  3. Abortion Care in the United States

    Abortion services are a vital component of reproductive health care. Since the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in Dobbs v.Jackson Women's Health Organization, access to abortion services has been increasingly restricted in the United States. Jung and colleagues review current practice and evidence on medication abortion, procedural abortion, and associated reproductive health care, as well as ...

  4. Beyond safety: the 2022 WHO abortion guidelines and the future of

    Research on abortion decision-making and preferences has repeatedly demonstrated that aspects of the abortion process like accessibility, cost, privacy, confidentiality and security, legal risk, and being treated with dignity and respect are paramount in peoples' abortion decision-making and assessment of the quality of their abortion care. 15.

  5. Standardizing abortion research outcomes (STAR): Results from an

    The Standardizing Abortion Research (STAR) outcomes project aims to define a core outcome set for abortion-related research. Abortion is a common experience worldwide, with an estimated 73 million abortions annually . Robust, well-developed clinical trials and guidelines on abortion provide information that can enhance safety, effectiveness ...

  6. Scholarly Articles on Abortion: History, Legislation & Activism

    See More Articles >>. Abortion is a medical or surgical procedure to deliberately end a pregnancy. In 1973 the US Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade ruled that the Constitution protects the right to an abortion prior to the viability of a fetus. Until the 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, Roe v.

  7. 50 Abortion Essay Topics for In-Depth Discussion by

    Choosing Abortion Research Paper Topics. When selecting research paper topics on abortion, it is essential to consider factors such as research feasibility, availability of credible sources, and the potential for original contributions. Abortion is a complex and multifaceted issue that intersects with various aspects of society and individual ...

  8. Abortion Research

    Background Reading: It's important to begin your research learning something about your subject; in fact, you won't be able to create a focused, manageable thesis unless you already know something about your topic. This step is important so that you will: Begin building your core knowledge about your topic. Be able to put your topic in context.

  9. 100 Abortion Essay Topics and Questions for Research Papers

    100 Original and Nuanced Abortion Essay Topics for Thoughtful Discussions. Abortion is a highly sensitive and polarizing topic, which makes it difficult to write about. Even among other controversial themes, essay topics about abortion are in a league of their own, splitting people along and across the lines of partisan divide, religious ...

  10. 241 Abortion Essay Topics & Research Titles + Examples

    Abortion research paper topics can study the health effects of different pregnancy termination methods, like medications and surgeries. 🧠 Psychological aspects of abortion: You can write an abortion essay in psychology. For example, research strategies to cope with grief after pregnancy termination and the role of pre and post-abortion ...

  11. Topic Guide

    An abortion is a medical or surgical procedure that deliberately ends a pregnancy before an embryo or fetus is born. Opponents of abortion typically object to the practice for religious or ethical reasons, contending that the procedure constitutes the cruel termination of what they consider to be a viable human life.Those who support a woman's right to choose an abortion argue that access to ...

  12. Abortion Research Paper: Example, Outline, & Topics

    Abortion Research Paper: Example, Outline, & Topics. (2 votes) The long-standing debate surrounding abortion has many opponents and advocates. Groups known as Pro-Choice and Pro-Life argue which approach is better, with no easy solution in sight. This ethical complexity is what makes abortion a popular topic for argumentative writing.

  13. Access to safe abortion is a fundamental human right

    Abortion is a common medical or surgical intervention used to terminate pregnancy. Although a controversial and widely debated topic, approximately 73 million induced abortions occur worldwide each year, with 29% of all pregnancies and over 60% of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion. Abortions are considered safe if they are carried out using a method recommended by WHO, appropriate to ...

  14. Pro-life and Pro-choice: What Shapes the Debate over Abortion in America?

    Wade effectively legalized abortion in the United. States after nearly a century of anti-abortion laws and legislation throughout much of the. country. The court ruled that "a woman's right to an abortion was implicit in the right to privacy. protected by the 14th amendment to the constitution," (History.com, 2018).

  15. Research Guides: Abortion Research and Policy: Overview

    A high-level overview of state abortion restrictions and protections enacted post-Dobbs. developed by the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University in partnership with the Society of Family Planning. A prospective longitudinal study examining the effects of unwanted pregnancy on women's lives.

  16. Articles and Arguments about Abortion

    Research Process; New All-in-One Search. All Articles Books Media Databases Guides Classic Catalog ... A great starting point with over 3000 articles and images relating to the topic of abortion. Recommended Databases. CQ Researcher A good database for hot topic papers! Reports on issues shaping our world, with in-depth coverage of political ...

  17. Abortion research that matters: Using core outcomes to enable ...

    Abortion research that matters: Using core outcomes to enable systematic review. Abortion research that matters: Using core outcomes to enable systematic review. Contraception. 2022 Dec:116:1-3. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.05.014. Epub 2022 Aug 30.

  18. Abortion Experiences, Knowledge, and Attitudes Among Women in the U.S

    Key Takeaways. Among women of reproductive age, one in seven (14%) have had an abortion at some point in their life. Larger shares of Black (21%) and Hispanic (19%) women report having had an ...

  19. Abortion Argumentative Essay: Writing Guide, Topics, Examples

    Abortion Facts for Essay. Abortion is a topic that concerns most modern women. Thousands of books, research papers, and articles on abortion are written across the world. Even though pregnancy termination has become much safer and less stigmatized with time, it still worries millions.

  20. 245 Abortion Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    Abortion essay topics are often linked to the issue of women's rights. According to most feminists, abortion is related to women's bodily autonomy, and thus, legislators should not try to limit access to safe abortions. If you wish to explore the relationship between women's rights and abortion, focus on the following:

  21. How to Write Abortion Research Paper Homework?

    Abortion research paper is a piece of academic writing based on original research performed by a writer. The author's task is to analyze and interpret research findings on a particular topic. Although research paper assignments may vary widely, there are two common types - analytical and argumentative. In argumentative essay students have ...

  22. Hot Topics: Abortion: Social Aspects

    ISBN: 9781107170933. Publication Date: 2017. ""This book features opening arguments followed by two rounds of reply between two moral philosophers on opposing sides of the abortion debate. In the opening essays, Kate Greasley and Christopher Kaczor lay out what they take to be the best case for and against abortion rights.

  23. Abortion

    Broad Public Support for Legal Abortion Persists 2 Years After Dobbs. Support for legal abortion has grown slightly since 2021, with 63% now saying it should be legal in all or most cases. But 36% say it should be illegal in all or most cases, and partisans remain divided on the issue. short readApr 11, 2023.

  24. Persuasive Essay About Abortion: Examples, Topics, and Facts

    For instance, your persuasive essay on abortion outline might include: Introduction: Present the topic and state your thesis. Body Paragraph 1: Explain your first supporting argument and provide evidence. Body Paragraph 2: Discuss your second supporting argument with additional evidence.

  25. How US women feel about abortion, in 4 charts

    Among women of reproductive age, only 45% correctly described the status of abortion in the state where they live. Similarly, only 25% of women said they knew where they could an abortion if they wanted or needed one in the future. When it comes to the legality of abortion, 75% of reproductive age women said it should be legal in most or all cases.

  26. Editorial: US abortion restrictions are causing widespread harm

    The authors say the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that removed constitutional protection for abortion has not reduced the number of abortions in the country; in fact, that number in 2023 was the ...

  27. Survey shows broad opposition to abortion restrictions among women of

    The broader KFF survey of adults under 65 found that 65% support a nationwide right to abortion, Frederiksen said. A survey the Pew Research Center conducted in April similarly found that 63% of U ...

  28. US abortion numbers rise slightly since Roe was overturned, study finds

    The number of women getting abortions in the U.S. actually went up in the first three months of 2024 compared with before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, a report released Wednesday found, reflecting the lengths that Democratic-controlled states went to expand access.. A major reason for the increase is that some Democratic-controlled states enacted laws to protect doctors who use ...

  29. Eliciting Thresholds for Interdependent Behavior

    Threshold models have been widely used to analyze interdependent behavior, yet empirical research identifying people's thresholds is nonexistent. We introduce an incentivized method for eliciting thresholds and use it to study support for affirmative action in a large, stratified sample of the U.S. population.

  30. What is Project 2025? Wish list for a Trump presidency, explained

    Project 2025 does not call outright for a nationwide abortion ban. However, it proposes withdrawing the abortion pill mifepristone from the market, and using existing but little-enforced laws to ...