No one wants to have an abortion. It is a very hard choice that requires a lot of thought and heartbreak. Not many women take this difficult decision lightly.

I don't like the term "pro-abortion" but rather "pro-choice" which means the right to choose the best course of action for the mother and baby.

Women should have dominion over their own bodies, period. Life doesn’t start at conception, we can't allow the religious to dictate their belief that it does, in other words if the mother has made a mistake in contraception or been raped, or finds the foetus isn’t viable she must be forced against her will to carry that child for nine months. The woman has then become property of the state to be used as an incubator. This is Margaret Atwood’s vision, not in Gilead but here now in my home country Northern Ireland. Every woman should have the choice and it should be hers alone, and every child should know that their mother wanted to give birth to them that should be their birthright.

Posted by a man who can never have one ...

Anybody who wishes to reduce or end abortion needs to be out on the street every single day handing out free condoms and supporting scientific research into promoting safer and more effective contraceptive measures.

The problem is, the anti-abortion movement isn't about preventing unwanted pregnancies. Not really. At its core, it's about telling people what they can and cannot do in their own bedrooms, whom they can do it with and when.

It's a simple argument: abortion will happen even if it were to be banned, just like it did when it was banned in the past. Far better, then, that anyone who either needs or wants an abortion is able to undergo the procedure in a medial facility where it will be performed by trained medical staff and where she can be given advice on aftercare.

My favorite button in my 20s:

Keep Your Rosaries
OFF My Ovaries!

I generally support abortion on demand with very few restrictions. Abortion should also always be free to women who are already receiving assistance to help support themselves and their families.

I think it is not my decision to make for anyone else, however if a person needs this procedure then it should be free at source, available to all, safe and stigma free.

It might that my stance on abortion is a cowardly attitude but I am a man and I haven't any right to tell a woman what to do with her body. Therefore I'm Pro Choice.

In the poll, I don't think my real answer would be fairly represented: I'm 'pro choice', not 'for' abortion. As a 55-year old man who cannot have biological children of his own, I don't believe I have the right to say what someone else can or can't do with his or her body. In a country that's so boastful about its 'freedom', personal freedoms seem to be under almost constant attack. Conservatives and the Religious Right, for all of their hot air about patriotism and freedom, aren't so much about protecting your Constitutional rights as they are about trying to dictate how you are allowed to live in 'god's country'....

I have returned to repeat what I posted on another site a couple of days ago.when a similar discussion was ongoing.
I paraphrase: - If men got pregnant instead of women, there would be abortion on demand and the population would be considerably lower!

Education and prevention and the number of abortions sought plummets but apparently that's against gods will.

I was reading through these comments. I can't say how hard this is for some women. I only know my experience. My daughter wasn't planned. My situation sure a hell was already difficult. I thought about all my choices. I was adopted in to my family. I understood my biological mother more after this. I thought was I just being selfish for keeping her when I couldn't even take care of myself. Would it be better to never have been born in to this toxic world. I wept and wept over the thoughts in my head. Her doner is completely absorbed with himself and wants nothing to do with her. He hasn't helped me at all. I struggle every day. The only thing I know right now is my little girls beautiful smile and laugh. And that I never knew what unconditional love really was. And if I knew how hard it was going to be I probably would have still chosen this path. I'm lucky though there are so many who have it harder. So I didn't think we should ever take away someone's choice. I know I am going to change the future by teaching my daughter everything. And I will always fight for her right to choose.

Keep it legal, safe & rare.
Love children. Not zygotes.

It's not a matter of someone's positions..it's a matter of law. Women own their own bodies!!!! why does this keep coming up from men? Leave other people alone!!!

At the very least, this is an incredibly poorly worded question. Do you really think anybody's going to be "for" abortion? Why not divide it into pro-choice vs pro-life? From what I've seen, those who are pro-choice want all the options available to the adults directly involved in the decision, while the pro-life arguements are about control over the woman's body. Period. Pro-life only extends to the fetus, not to the child, not to the mother, not to the father, and says nothing about the environment in which the child will be raised. In many cases, the same people who insist that the child be born are the same ones who judge how the child is raised, with no shortage of indictments against the mother. They don't feed, shelter or in any way aid the child, yet they would have the rest of us believe they're trying to save a life. At least with pro-choice, the woman can make a decision based on her needs and how a baby would fit into them. So, yeah, I'm pro-choice, not pro-abortion.

It is the woman’s body. End of story. Her choice. Read the stories of the women here who have had abortions. It is not an easy choice - and not like “oh I had a fine old time having sex last month, I’ll zip down to Planned Parenthood, have an abortion, and pick up the dry cleaning on the way home. “. And the number of late term abortions is very small.

I fear we will lose the right to choose once the next Supreme Court Justice is chosen. We will be back to back alley abortions and groups doing abortions secretly will pop back up ( look up the women of Jane).

Some years back, I went to the Stuhr Museum here in Nebraska. At the recreated town’s barber shop there was also a list of medical procedures performed in the late 1800s. One of those was abortion.

Various types of abortifacients were sold back then - and it was deemed ok up to the point of ‘quickening’ - generally when movement was felt.

The bottom line is it is the woman’s choice. Instead, the Christofascists that are in charge now will happily take that away.

You're a man. You have never had to worry about periods or getting pregnant.

My preference is not there. I am not "for" abortion as in "Hey, everybody, get one while you still can!"

However, I agree with the tweet. I believe that abortion is a valid medical procedure that every woman should have an absolute right to obtain REGARDLESS of her particular CIRCUMSTANCES. I contribute monthly a very meager sum to Planned Parenthood.

I personally would not condone abortion any later than the fetus's ability to thrive outside of the womb. However, it is the individual woman's personal and private right to choose each and every time in each and every situation.

I also believe that the hypocrisy is real. The hypocrites won't part with the very things that will significantly reduce the number of abortions (and also reduce the number of unwanted children who are all too often subjected to poverty, abuse and/or neglect) long term -- IUDs, implants, etc.

This is the MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION OF OUR LIFETIMES for this and many other reasons.

It will not end abortion the wealthy will travel to where it is legal and the poor will retreat to the back allies as before.

Whatever decision a woman makes regarding her own body is her business. If a woman doesn't believe in abortion...she shouldn't have one....and she or he should have no say over anyone else. The Republican are all about restricting government except regarding a woman's body. One person's religious views on abortion should have no influence on my right to choose.

I'm pro-choice because I understand that outlawing abortion will lead to women seeking unsafe abortions. Comprehensive sex ed and ready access to contraceptives greatly reduce the number of abortions, and is the best way forward, I think. Trouble is that the anti-choice crowd are really about controlling women, not saving babies, regardless of their claims.

If you are against abortion, don't have one...

Restricting legal access to safe pregnancy termination doesn't end the practice of abortion it simply means people who choose abortion will have less access to safe ways to do so. This is not something anyone rational should want

I need to clarify, I guess I was tired when I posted this and when I put the choice "For" the word "Pro" was what I had in mind.
So to clarify, "For" or "Pro" is being for the right to make the choice while "Against" or "Anti" is being for not letting people have the choice.

Surprisingly to me there is some man hating here but I guess it shouldn't surprise me too much, this is the internet after all.

And to clarify my position, I am Pro-Abortion, anyone who feels they need for one should not only be able to get one but it should be immediately available and completely subsidized. I am also anti-abortion because I would like to see the need for them completely disappear but I know how realistic that is.

I think it would be a worthwhile trade if we gave up abortion on demand in favor of OTC. morning after medications and free readily, available contraception (of all types) for all. I don't like the idea of late term abortions unless the life AND HEALTH of the mother are at risk.