Facts About Unplanned Pregnancy And Abortion In Australia

It may be hard to believe, but there are just over 200,000 unplanned pregnancies in Australia on an annual basis. The main reasons for this include, a lack of knowledge about contraception, or a partner not willing to share the responsibility of using contraception, as well as many contraceptives not being effective or unavailable at the time. The other reasons are a lack of control between two people in a relationship, in terms of family planning and having sex, and unfortunately, there are many unplanned pregnancies every year due to sexual assault. This post will delve a little deeper into the facts around unplanned pregnancies in Australia.

More about Unplanned Pregnancies

 

It is estimated that just over 30% of Australian women will have had an abortion by the time they have reached the age of 45, whereas just over 70,000 Australian women have an abortion every year. Just these statistics alone tell us that many women are faced with an unplanned pregnancy, and often they see only one real solution. For any woman to go through this hardship, they will typically need to do a lot of soul searching and will often feel very, very alone. In fact, it is said that a large percentage of women go through an unplanned pregnancy and then an abortion without ever telling anyone else about it simply because they believe they can’t talk to anyone about their situation. Therefore, if you know of anyone who is facing an unplanned pregnancy the best thing you can do is to offer them support no matter what they decide to do.

 

The Legal Implications of Abortion

 

Abortion in Australia is completely legal and considered a safe medical procedure. It will always be performed with a patient’s consent and after an initial consultation with their doctor. It is said that if any women has an unplanned pregnancy it is completely her decision as to whether she should continue with the pregnancy, choose to have her child adopted, or opt for an abortion. You will also find that most medical facilities and hospitals will provide a wide range of services to women who are going through an unplanned pregnancy. This doesn’t simply include the surgical services that are on offer, but also further information, support, counselling, and any other form of medical assistance required.

The Social Implications of Abortion

 

Abortion, irrespective of country, has always been a difficult subject to talk about. There are those who consider it a taboo subject, due to religious or personal beliefs. It is suggested that approximately 80% of all Australians support a woman’s right to have an abortion, although this does still mean there is a large proportion of the country who disagree with it. Many women have said that they feel judged or have been openly criticised for getting pregnant or being a sexually active person. This isn’t just from society in general, but often women can feel pressured by their families, partners, etc. In truth, it is completely up to a woman how sexually active she is and what she should do if she becomes pregnant without any prior planning, however, unfortunately it is basic human nature than some people will choose to make others feel uncomfortable about this for a variety of reasons.

Nancy Baker, the author of this post, is a freelance blogger and she writes for Dr. Marie, well-known advisor for reproductive health. She is extremely fond of children and volunteers at local shelters for inner-city youths. You can also follow her on Twitter @Nancy Baker.

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