Abortion Raises Risk of Miscarriage of Subsequent Pregnancy 60

Percent

http://www.lifenews.com/nat2806.html

by Steven Ertelt

LifeNews.com Editor

December 5, 2006

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A team of British doctors has

released the results of a new study showing that women who have

an abortion run a higher risk of having a miscarriage in a

subsequent pregnancy. The study also showed that women using

in-vitro fertilization have higher miscarriage risks as well.

The doctors, affiliated with the London School of Hygiene and

Tropical Medicine, said the reasons behind the increased

miscarriage risk were vague.

However, they confirmed that women who had had a previous

abortion experienced a 60 percent higher risk of having a

miscarriage in another pregnancy.

Women using the in-vitro technique had a 40 percent greater risk

of suffering a miscarriage.

In the study, Dr. Noreen Maconochie examined data from 603 women

between the ages of 18 and 55 who had experienced a miscarriage

during the first 13 weeks of their pregnancy. They compared those

results with 6,116 women whose pregnancies advanced beyond 13

weeks.

The team published their findings in the British Journal of

Gynecology.

This isn't the first study to show that abortions adversely

affect a woman's fertility as other research shows that abortion

can lead to infertility by increasing the risk of miscarriages.

A 1986 report in the medical journal Epidemiology reveals women

with a history of abortion have a greater risk of fetal loss than

women who had no previous abortions. Women with two prior

pregnancies carried to term and no abortions had the lowest risk,

while women with two prior abortions had the highest risk.

Meanwhile, a 1991 British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

article revealed that women with a history of abortion had a

1.5-1.7 times higher risk of ectopic pregnancy than women who had

previously carried a pregnancy to term.

LIFESITE NEWS

LifeSiteNews headlines, Dec. 4th

• 'The Nativity Story' Movie Problematic for Catholics, "Unsuitable" for YoungChildren http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/dec/06120402.html [agrees in large part with one of the things I noted in my review]
• The Real Saint Nick Fought Prostitution http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/dec/06120403.html
• Autopsy Confirms "Aborted" Baby was Born Alive at Abortion Clinic http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/dec/06120405.html
• IVF Children Suffer More Over-All Health Problems Than Naturally-ConceivedChildren http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/dec/06120409.html

RESOLUTION ON IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF)

NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE
COMMITTEE, INC.









* Whereas, it has been proven beyond reasonable scientific dispute that the union of a human sperm and human ovum produces a living human being; and

* Whereas, the humanity of each individual is not in any way affected by the circumstances surrounding human conception, location, state of genetic perfection (or imperfection), or stage of development: and

* Whereas, human life at every stage of biological development is deserving of respect and protection; and

* Whereas, it is documented that IVF programs include the objectionable practices of discarding, freezing and/or experimenting upon human embryos, and voluntary elimination of these basic human rights violations from the current programs by their administrators is not forthcoming; and

* Whereas, by its very nature IVF exposes the human embryo to extraordinary risks, hazards and rigors beyond its capacities for survival, as evidenced by the documented high rate of IVF embryo mortalities; and

* Whereas, IVF often involves continuous monitoring and testing, both before and after transfer of the developing embryo, thereby increasing the possibility of increased eugenic abortions either mandated or encouraged.

* Whereas, the National Right to Life Committee realizes the deep sorrow and frustration experienced by married infertile couples, and empathizes with their desire to become parents; now therefore

* BE IT RESOLVED that NRLC emphasizes the disturbing social, moral, and legal issues involved with this technique and urges further study and research into the causes and increasingly successful "in vivo" treatment to infertility; the promotion of public awareness of the findings of the above-mentioned study and research; and the dissemination of information of currently available alternatives to IVF for infertile married couples;

* BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NRLC condemns current IVF procedures and urges a halt to these practices.

Approved by the Board of Directors, National Right to Life Committee, Inc.
January 20, 1985, Washington, D. C.

THE HARD CASES

Is abortion acceptable in cases of rape or incest?

* First of all, we need to understand that pregnancies resulting from assault rape and incest are very rare, and "hard cases make bad laws," as they set precedents for all cases:

* "Perhaps more of a gross exaggeration than a myth is the mistaken and unfortunate belief that pregnancy is a frequent complication of sexual assault. This is emphatically not the case, and there are several medically sound reasons for it" [American Medical Women's Association]

* Most reliable figures of assault rape put resultant pregnancy at far less than 1% of pregnancies. A scientific study of 1,000 rape victims who were treated medically right after the rape reported zero pregnancies [L. Kuchera, "Postcoital Contraception with Diethylstilbestrol,"]

* Two Denver sexual assault detectives reported pregnancies in 1500 rape cases [Interview with Christian Research Associates]. In 3500 cases of medically treated rape victims in Minneapolis/St Paul over a 10 year period, there were no pregnancies [Zero Pregnancies in 3500 Rapes," The Educator]

* Pregnancies resulting from incest are also rare: 1% or less [G. Maloof, "The Consequences of Incest," The Psychological Aspects of Abortion, University Publications of America]

* Unfortunately, some women, though very few, do become pregnant in these circumstances. They should be treated with compassionate care and not encouraged to attempt to correct one evil (rape or incest) with another (killing an innocent human being). Abortion will not "unrape" the woman or reduce her trauma; it will only add the guilt of violence that she does to the trauma of the violence that was done to her. In addition, no child should be condemned to die (abortion) for the crime of its father (rape or incest). From a Christian perspective, god is still the creator of life regardless of the circumstances: for example, well-known Christian singer Ethel Waters was a product of rape.

DIARY OF AN UNBORN CHILD

OCTOBER 5: Today my life began. My parents do not know it yet, I am as small as a seed of an apple, but it is I already. And I am to be a girl. I shall have blond hair and blue eyes. Just about everything is settled though, even the fact that I shall love flowers.

OCTOBER 19: Some say I am not a real person yet, that only my mother exists. But I am a real person, just as a small crumb of bread is yet truly bread. My mother is. And I am.

OCTOBER 23: My mouth is just beginning to open now. Just think, in a year or so I shall be laughing and later talking. I know what my first word will be: MAMA.

OCTOBER 25: My heart began to beat today all by itself. From now on it shall gently beat for the rest of my life without ever stopping to rest! And after many years it will tire. It will stop, and then I shall die.

NOVEMBER 2: I am growing a bit every day. My arms and legs are beginning to take shape. But I have to wait a long time yet before those little legs will raise me to my mother's arms, before these little arms will be able to gather flowers and embrace my father.

NOVEMBER 12: Tiny fingers are beginning to form on my hands. Funny how small they are! I'll be able to stroke my mother's hair with them.

NOVEMBER 20: It wasn't until today that the doctor told mom that I am living here under her heart. Oh, how happy she must be! Are you happy, mom?

NOVEMBER 25: My mom and dad are probably thinking about a name for me. But they don't even know that I am a little girl. I want to be called Kathy. I am getting so big already.

DECEMBER 10: My hair is growing. It is smooth and bright and shiny. I wonder what kind of hair mom has.

DECEMBER 13: I am just about able to see. It is dark around me. When mom brings me into the world it will be full of sunshine and flowers. But what I want more than anything is to see my mom. How do you look, mom?

DECEMBER 24: I wonder if mom hears the whispering of my heart? Some children come into the world a little sick. But my heart is strong and healthy. It beats so evenly: tup-tup, tup-tup. You'll have a healthy little girl, mom!

DECEMBER 28: Today my mother killed me.

HUMAN LIFE INTERNATIONAL DEC. 1st NEWSLETTER

Standing Strong in the Face of Death

Latin America never ceases to amaze me. In particular it is Central America with tiny countries smaller than the size of most of our states which is shining a light to the rest of the world right now. Despite our own disappointments, weeks after significant pro-life defeats (such as in Missouri and SD), we can rejoice that our neighbors in Nicaragua have succeeded in outlawing abortion in all circumstances! American pro-lifers, still stinging with the pain of defeat will find encouragement, consolation and insight in the heroes of Latin America whose refusal to cave in to the anti-life agenda has earned them the admiration of the worldwide pro-life community. The little pro-life David fought off the anti-life Goliath, and now we know it can be done.

Nicaragua's action comes as the latest in a series of actions by Central American countries that astound us for their amazing feistiness. In 1999 El Salvador re-wrote its Constitution to insert protection of human life "from the moment of conception," the first country on record to ever do that. In 2005 the United Nations issued a non-binding resolution on all forms of human cloning after a three year campaign led by Costa Rica - imagine the United Nations actually doing something moral for a change! Also in 2005, another Central American country, Honduras, steadfastly rejected attempts to legalize the morning after pill there. I am proud to tell you that these efforts were spearheaded by HLI's affiliates and great pro-life friends in these countries and supported by you, our extended HLI family.

With regard to Nicaragua, in early October HLI's Dr. Rafael Cabrera and other pro-life leaders, working with the Church, called a pro-life march demanding the removal of the one provision in their criminal code which allowed abortions for "therapeutic" reasons. This weasel word is of course a loophole in any law allowing doctors to kill babies for the flimsiest of reasons or lie about the reasons and avoid prosecution. More than two hundred thousand people came to the march! That this country of only three million people was able to muster a courageous outcry in defense of the unborn was due both to the effective organizing efforts of a few but also to their disgust with the intrusions of international agencies like UNICEF and arrogant western governments like Germany and Finland who intervened fiercely to stop the abortion ban. It's about time the smaller nations are throwing off their rich exploiters.

In the face of this kind of public display of values, Nicaraguan politicos, typical of politicians everywhere, blew with the wind - they voted 59-0 to outlaw abortion! As I have mentioned before, politics change when culture changes, and culture changes when hearts change. Would that America had the heart of our feisty little neighbors to the south!

The foundation of such a social renewal movement is found in the dynamic and powerful leadership of Church leaders who stand up to the powers that be and rebuke them. In all of these countries, the bishops have refused to be silent and instead have led their people to victory. A special mention must be made of Miguel Cardinal Obando of Managua for marching in the front of the multitude of his people like the Good Shepherd in the Gospel (cf. Jn 10:4).

Let us continue to pray for our Central American neighbors, that they maintain their strength and courage and persevere on the pro-life battle front. They have been mightily threatened with reprisals. Let us also pray for our own country, and our bishops, that we too may find the courage as they did, to stand strong in the face of death.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer
President,
Human Life International

POPE BENEDICT XVI & PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW I PROCLAIM RESPECT FOR LIFE!

ISTANBUL, November 30, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI signed a joint declaration today with the leader of Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew I. In their declaration, the Roman Catholic and Orthodox leaders commit to joint action to protect life. "We must all commit ourselves to the renewed service of humanity and the defense of human life, every human life," says the declaration. The leaders note their willingness to carry on the work of their predecessors toward unity. They express the necessity of their joint work in reforming the culture of death. "Moreover, we cannot ignore the increase of secularization, relativism, even nihilism, especially in the Western world. All this calls for a renewed and powerful proclamation of the Gospel, adapted to the cultures of our time," said the declaration. "This is why we must strengthen our cooperation and our common witness before the world." In the declaration, the Pope and the Patriarch also speak of the formation of the European Union urging that "Those engaged in this great project should not fail to take into consideration all aspects affecting the inalienable rights of the human person." "Catholics and Orthodox are called to work together," the joint declaration says, "to promote respect for the rights of every human being, created in the image and likeness of God." The document also addresses religious freedom, economic, social and cultural development, and protection of the environment.