Abortion could be spontaneous thus known as a miscarriage or it could be induced. In most of the cases, the term abortion is used when referring to the purposely-induced pregnancy termination. As such, abortion has attracted much controversy among different people all over the world (Friedman 1). There are nations that have legalized abortion while others still hold that abortions are illegal and those found guilty of the offence ought to be punished. However, one of the main problems in the legalization of abortion is age. Those against the legalization of abortion claim that the process is normally not appropriate for girls under the age of eighteen years. This paper is therefore an in-depth analysis of reasons for illegalizing abortion for girls under the age of eighteen years.
Pregnancy in underage girls could come about because of cases of rape or unsafe sexual behavior. Most often than not, underage girls who fall victim are normally not prepared for the pregnancy. Thus, the first thing that comes into their mind upon realization of the pregnancy is how to terminate it. The idea is not only theirs but also their partners, siblings, and parents think the same. This cannot be blamed on the people but the society, which dictates what people do and how they do it (Friedman 1). For instance, a teenage girl would rather undergo an abortion and risk her life just to avoid being looked down upon by her colleagues because of carrying the pregnancy to term.
It is important to note that life is God-given and despite the circumstances that led to the pregnancy, the victim should realize that it was intended to happen by God (Friedman 1). In all religions, life is known to be sacred and only God has the authority to terminate it. Therefore, all nations that believe in God ought to respect Him and illegalize abortion. Additionally, abortion for underage girls should be illegalized because of the health risks involved. Induced abortion is carried out using different methods such as use of herbs, sharp tools, and medical drugs just to mention a few. The reproductive system of underage girls is normally very tender thus, when surgical procedures are used to induce abortions, chances are high that some vital organs could be damaged. The damage of the vital organs has negative impacts on the girl later in life. Research done indicates that a higher percentage of women having fertility problems in the childbearing age are those that underwent an abortion at underage. Thus, if a nation cares about its future generation, it should not legalize abortion for girls under the age of eighteen years.
Finally yet importantly, abortions are known to bring about both physical and emotional trauma (Mead 1). This is because of the painful procedures involved and the feeling of being a murderer that the victims succumb to after the process. Abortions have made people bedridden for months making them not perform their normal duties. Most of the underage girls are in school or college thus undergoing an abortion for them means that they miss school for the time they will be bedridden. In addition to this emotional trauma affects their performance in academic and social life (Mead 1). It is therefore not justified to legalize abortion for girls under the age of eighteen years.
Works Cited
Friedman, Thomas. Why I Am Pro-Life. 2012. Web.
Mead, Maureen. When they say “A woman’s right to choose”. 2010. Web.