FRAGILE

Earth's Fragile Uniqueness

Humanity is the only known intelligent life in our universe, but are we smart enough to realize that we shouldn’t pollute the very thing allowing us to be alive?

The planet we call home is uniquely positioned to sustain life. Of the 5,000 planets discovered in the universe, Earth is the only one that has the right combination of factors for life to thrive.1 One of the biggest factors is that 70% of our planet’s surface is covered by oceans, and our planet is the perfect distance from the Sun, so they don’t freeze or evaporate.

This water is required for all life on the planet to exist but as humanity’s hubris (and greed) fuel our advancements in science and medicine, we pose an exponential risk to our own survival by polluting Earth’s water.

Have you ever wondered what really happens to the chemicals and other waste we dump down the drains and flush down our toilets? Even the best wastewater treatment plants in the world can’t remove all the chemicals, metabolites, and other human waste we flush down our toilets and drains every single day. The same drugs that work on human bodies also work on fish and wildlife. From vitamins to prescription drugs, our bodies do not absorb 100% of what we ingest. This means we excrete or urinate the rest out, which is then flushed down the toilet.

As science and manufacturing improve our ability to make a pill for every ailment, are we endangering our planet? It is time for humanity to rethink reproductive medicine and consider the long-term effects on the planet as well as our own bodies.

Did you know?

Humans and animals don’t absorb 100% of the drugs that they ingest. Whether it is prescription drugs, over the counter medicines, vitamins, or supplements, our bodies excrete the unused chemicals out of our bodies through urine and feces. Livestock are given hormones and antibiotics for growth and health. These can then end up in surface water. Animal Feeding Operations2 are also known sources for water contamination when flooding occurs.

Big Pharma = Big Pollution

The Pharmaceutical industry does manufacture beneficial drugs and chemicals. However, they also generate pollution and contaminants:

• During the manufacturing process.

• From disposal of unused or expired doses.

• From the end user’s excretion and disposal of doses.

• From livestock farming and feeding operations.

As an unintended consequence, these chemicals end up in our water supply and soil which sustain all life on Earth. This poses a significant risk to our planet and all life on it. You deserve to know the risks that our planet is facing as a result of the pharmaceutical industry and what is now called, “reproductive health.”

“In a landmark 1999-2000 USGS survey, 80% of water samples from 139 American rivers and streams in 30 states were found to be contaminated with drugs, ranging from antibiotics and antidepressants to contraceptives and hormone replacements. But scientists are particularly concerned about the contraceptive chemical EE2 because of its ability to “feminize” male fishes and its association with plummeting fish fertility.” 1

This USGS survey took place more than two decades ago. Since then, there have been numerous advancements in the field of medicine and rapid expansion of the use of hormones for "reproductive health" and in farming.

There’s Big Money in Big Pharmaceutical. In 2023, the global revenue of the top 10 drug companies was $560 Billion.2 With that much money to be made every year, it's a recipe for environmental disaster. It also raises a lot of questions. Doesn’t that violate the Clean Water Act? Where is the EPA on this? Why does the FDA approve of these drugs?

Government agencies are set up to safeguard our health and the environment, but they are run by people with agendas. And agendas change. What’s worse is that agendas can be bought, and rules can be broken or unenforced.

US Senator Bernie Sanders said, "drug companies spent $375 million lobbying Congress3 in 2022.”

These same companies are part of a $1.6 Trillion global pharmaceutical industry that saw a revenue increase of $100 Billion in 2023.4

Can we really trust the Government to do the right thing when it’s run by political appointees and under the watch of politicians who raise millions each year from the very people they are supposed to regulate?

Pharmaceutical Pollution

A recent study in Florida confirms pharmaceuticals are being found in fish.

Approximately five billion prescriptions are filled each year in the U.S., yet there are no environmental regulations for the production or disposal of pharmaceuticals worldwide. Pharmaceutical contaminants originate most often from human wastewater and are not sufficiently removed by conventional water treatment. They remain active at low doses and can be released constantly, and exposure can affect all aspects of fish behavior, with negative consequences for their reproduction and survival.5

If medicines we flush can hurt fish and aquatic wildlife, what happens when we eat those fish or drink the same contaminated water they live in?

What's Really in My Water?

The Food and Drug Administration takes the disposal of medicine very seriously, and for good reason. Pharmaceuticals can have a big impact on the environment and contaminate surface and drinking water. These drugs can enter the environment through pharmaceutical factories, but also through wastewater after being consumed.

It’s also a common occurrence that people will throw away or flush expired, unused medicines because they think it’s a safe way to dispose of them. However, the FDA encourages that these medicines be taken to a drug take-back location rather than flushing or throwing them away.

The medicines they do recommend flushing are so risky to human health that the FDA considers removing the risk of accidental exposure to them to be worth the negative environmental impact they will have when flushed.

"FDA recognizes that the recommendation to flush a few specific medicines when a take back program is not readily available raises questions about the impact of the medicines on the environment and the contamination of surface and drinking water supplies."

"FDA believes that the known risk of harm, including toxicity and death, to humans from accidental exposure to medicines on the flush list far outweighs any potential risk to human health and the environment from flushing these unused or expired medicines." 1 [emphasis added]

Minnesota’s Pollution Control Agency includes over-the-counter medications in their take-back program.

"Studies have found that medicines flushed down the drain can contaminate our lakes and streams, which can hurt fish and other aquatic wildlife, and end up in our drinking water."2 [emphasis added]

Unintended Consequences

Forever Chemicals Traced to Biosolid Fertilizers on Farms Across US

"For decades, farmers across America have been encouraged by the federal government to spread municipal waste sewage on millions of acres of farmland as fertilizer. It was rich in nutrients, and it helped keep the sludge out of landfills.

But a growing body of research shows that this sludge, made from sewage that flows from homes and factories, can contain heavy concentrations of chemicals thought to increase the risk of certain types of cancer and to cause birth defects and developmental delays in children. In some cases, the chemicals are suspected of sickening or killing livestock and are turning up in produce."

Read the rest of the article by Hiroko Tabuchi at: nytimes.com/2024/08/31/climate/pfas-fertilizer-sludge-farm.html

Contaminated?

The massive increases in prescription and over the counter (OTC) drug usage means that we are exposing our water supplies to soaring levels of chemicals. “More than 4,000 prescription medications utilized for human and animal health end up in the environment.” 1 It is a common belief that these contaminants solely originate from pharmaceutical companies; however, they also stem from human and animal sources. After you flush the toilet, the unused medicine from your body enters either a sewage system which goes to local wastewater treatment plants, or a septic system where it may be dumped on farmland or released into the ground.

Most wastewater treatment plants can’t filter out all those chemicals. And they aren’t legally required to remove pharmaceuticals.2 What’s left in the water ends up going out into the local environment (lakes, rivers, wildlife) and back into the public drinking water.3

Dilution is no Solution

One of the worst types of medical pollutants is synthetic hormones. These endocrine-disrupting drugs, like contraceptives and abortifacients (AKA abortion pills), interfere with reproduction in fish and reduce chlorophyll in local algae, making it harder for the algae to get sufficient nutrients. Studies show that these endocrine disruptors also pose serious risks to endangered species.4

These synthetic hormones are more dangerous than natural ones for humans and animals because they don’t break down quickly. Plus, they’re more hydrophobic, meaning they won’t dissolve into water easily, unlike natural hormones. Synthetic hormones can't be diluted to a safe level.5

In humans, drinking these pollutants in our tap water is linked to all sorts of harmful things, including an increased risk of certain types of cancer and secondhand sterility.6 In fish, these hormones can impact fertility for three generations7 — We swallow these pollutants with each glass of water we drink.

Flushed Down the Drain

Medical Waste Regulations vs. At Home Abortions

Surgical abortions are usually performed in medical facilities or clinics and can be done through all nine months of a pregnancy depending on local, state, or federal laws. There are several different procedures for surgical abortions, but they all result in the unborn baby being torn apart and removed from the womb. These human remains, along with the placenta and fluids that are passed after an abortion, are considered pathological and large tissue wastes. In a medical setting, they would “require incineration rather than sterilization as a final treatment,”8 and would be put in a yellow bag for disposal.

The chemical abortion process is usually done at home with abortion pills and is described as “really heavy, crampy period, and the process is very similar to an early miscarriage.”9 The FDA says chemical abortions can be performed up to 10 weeks after fertilization with the baby being about two inches in size (see image). The push for tele-health prescription abortions means that these abortions are not being performed in medical facilities that can safely handle and dispose of the human remains.10

During this form of abortion, women who take abortion pills at home "are very likely to pass the remains of [the] pregnancy into the toilet." 11 Unlike a medical facility with yellow bag waste rules, the baby, placenta, blood, and amniotic fluid get flushed down the drain. Wastewater treatment plants and septic systems aren't equipped to remove human remains, large tissues, or pharmaceuticals.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. April 2022. https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-05/POTW%20Sewer%20Ban%20Fact%20Sheet_final.pdf. | 3 De Araujo Almeida Freitas, Leticia, and Candhi Radis-Baptista. “Pharmaceutical Pollution and Disposal of Expired, Unused, and Unwanted Medicines in the Brazilian Context.” Journal of Xenobiotics vol. 11, no 2, June 2021, pp. 61-76. https://doi.org/10.3390/jox11020005. Dilution is no Solution 4 Hamrick, Kristi. “Chemical abortion pills also a risk for endangered species; SFLA to SCOTUS.” Pregnancy Help News, 29 February 2024. https://pregnancyhelpnews.com/chemical-abortion-pills-also-a-risk-for-endangered-species-sfla-to-scotus. | 5 Huanyu, Tao, et al. “Environmental fate and toxicity of androgens: A critical review.” Environmental Research, Vol. 214, no 2, November 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.113849. | 6 “Endocrine Disruptors.”

Why Isn't This Regulated?

Sewer Ban: “Effective on August 21, 2019, EPA prohibited all healthcare facilities and reverse distributors from disposing of their hazardous waste pharmaceuticals down the drain (e.g., no flushing or pouring down a sink). … In addition to the sewer ban, EPA strongly discourages the sewering of any pharmaceutical, with very few exceptions, by residents or by any type of facility.” 1

Synthetic hormones are more dangerous than natural ones for humans and animals because they don’t break down as quickly, and they’re more hydrophobic. So, they won’t dissolve into water easily, unlike natural hormones. That means that dilution isn’t a solution for this pollution.8

The sewer ban doesn’t apply to local, public owned waste treatment plants. And its regulations are less precise for healthcare facilities than for industrial users.2

The pills consumed for oral contraception, or to induce a chemical abortion, are not 100% absorbed by the human body. As much as 11% of the active chemical is excreted through urine or feces.9

Pharmaceuticals can be found in our lakes, rivers, and surface water, as well as in aquifers and ground water 3

Contraceptives

revenue USA 2023: $672 million.10

Most of these pharmaceutical pollutants could be removed effectively through biodegradation and absorption,4 but most water treatment plants aren’t currently equipped to do so.5

In 2023, abortion pills accounted for 63% of all US abortions.11 The environmental impact from elective chemical abortions ought to be regulated.

Nearly a quarter of the US population isn’t connected to a sewer system; they have septic tanks instead.6 Septic tank waste is treated in method similar to that of waste treatment plants. It is then spread onto grain fields that produce animal feed.

Chemical abortion drugs are metabolized quickly and, when ingested while breastfeeding, are excreted through breastmilk and passed to the baby being fed.12

Is Progestin Safe for Humans but not for Animals?

Progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone, is a major component in contraceptives like Plan B and the minipill.13 Mifepristone blocks a woman’s progesterone receptors, so there’s nowhere for the progesterone to go. Plan B pills release a massive dose of synthetic progesterone into the woman’s body to block ovulation and, if that fails, prevent the embryo from implanting. All official reports and labels for these drugs will say that these pills only cause minor side effects and have no lasting impact on the woman’s health.

However, “veterinarians and dairy farmers have known for years that progesterone (the only natural progestin) typically down-regulates uterine immune functions and prevents the mammalian uterus from resisting infections.” 14 If vets and farmers have known this for years, why aren’t women being told of the risk to their own uterine health? Some women who have taken these pills have even died from severe infections that lead to uterine septic shock, a potentially fatal reaction to a serious infection.

Which came first, the flush or the egg?

We are what we eat. Did you know that crops used for animal feed are often fertilized and irrigated by human waste from septic tanks?15 This means that the pharmaceutical pollutants in our wastewater can be absorbed by those crops,16 which are then fed to the animals we rely on for eggs, dairy, and meat. And since these animals eat a lot of food in their lives, they bioaccumulate significant amounts of pollutants.17 Farm animal food products, such as dairy products and eggs, are shipped around the country and globe for people to eat. Livestock are also processed for human consumption.

What about animal poop? That gets disposed of in giant pits, dumped into rivers or lakes, or is shipped off to be used as fertilizer for other farms. So, the pharmaceutical pollutants consumed by the livestock then leach into the soil and ground water. They can also flow into surface water, where they can travel vast distances.18 Many cities draw their public water from rivers and lakes which are very likely polluted with these pharmaceuticals. And while there may be filtration or processing before that surface water is used in the public water system, the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants isn’t regulated on a local level. So, they aren’t specifically filtered out.19

What's next?

We know that Earth is our only home, and we must take care of our water while still taking care of ourselves. What can you do? Even low-dose birth control, Plan B, and abortion pills can have an impact on the water and in turn, animals, crops, and other people who come in contact with contaminated water. While your doctor may tell you there are few side effects, the pain and risk of abortion pills and hormonal contraception are real. And the collective effect of a generation using these pills more and more regularly will impact the environment and everything – including humans – who rely on clean water.

There are other methods to manage your period pain, acne, and mood swings, as well as support an unexpected pregnancy, that don't require chemicals, medication, or abortion pills. There are proven ways to avoid pregnancy altogether. Don't let Big Pharma or Big Abortion hook you on their dangerous drugs for life while they rake in record profits and avoid any accountability for what their products are doing to our planet. Every life on Earth matters. You, me, and the fish in the sea all deserve clean water and the ability to reproduce. The current culture in the USA supports limitless chemical abortions with hundreds of thousands of pre-born babies being flushed down the drain in the United States. Everybody has DNA on day one.

The FDA waived the requirement for a clinic visit or ultrasound before receiving chemical abortion pills.1 Chemical abortions are now a secret source of pollution with no reporting or accountability for drug distributors. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of women a year suffer alone from the trauma caused by these at-home abortions. They may also experience medical complications, grief, and depression, most of which go unreported. At the very least, these pills need to be brought back into the medical facilities for proper consultations, prescriptions, safety, and waste disposal.

Set aside the abortion politics for a moment and focus on the environmental impacts of what is happening to the planet. It’s not just one woman’s decision that won’t impact anyone else. You can make a difference by choosing life – all life – over using hormonal birth control pills, Plan B, and abortion pills. Encourage your friends to do so as well.

If knowing more about the contamination risks and outcomes from pharmaceuticals has made you change your mind, keep reading for more information about the risks and alternatives to abortion. Just like Big Pharma benefits from you not knowing the risks and harms of their pollution, the multibillion-dollar abortion industry doesn't want you to know about the risks, side effects, and long-term implications of chemical abortions and other “treatments” they offer. We need to stand up and make a difference, not just for ourselves but for future generations. We only have one earth and one life. Use your life to make a difference!

Drug Take Back Program

You can take a first step by disposing of your prescription and non-prescription drugs properly. In 2023 the Drug Enforcement Agency's Take Back Day brought in 300 tons2 of medication.

The FDA has a take-back locator that you can use to find a drop-off site near you or you can use this Google Maps link: google.com/maps/search/drug+disposal+near+me/

Will Brake for Ducklings but...

You probably know someone who will slam on the brakes without thinking if a family of ducks or geese try to cross a busy freeway. Or maybe they can't help but take in stray animals. But what do we do when someone we know faces an unexpected pregnancy? Maybe you could offer support and love so that the baby gets to live. Know someone facing an unexpected pregnancy?

Encourage her; tell her she can do this.

Help her to find the care and resources they will need.

You can help by showing love for her and her baby.

• And most importantly, be there for her. Find out more ways to help in our publication This Is Not Your Only Choice available at humanlife.org

Why Isn't This Regulated? 1 EPA. “EPA’s Ban on Sewering Pharmaceuticals: Fact Sheet for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWS).” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. April 2022. https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-05/POTW%20Sewer%20Ban%20Fact%20 Sheet_final.pdf. Accessed 5 September 2024. | 2 Ibid. 3 De Araujo Almeida Freitas, Leticia, and Candhi Radis-Baptista. “Pharmaceutical Pollution and Disposal of Expired, Unused, and Unwanted Medicines in the Brazilian Context.” Journal of Xenobiotics, vol. 11, no 2, June 2021, pp. 6176. https://doi.org/10.3390/jox11020005. | 4 Wang, Huan, et al. “Ecotoxicological effects, environmental fate and risks of pharmaceutical and personal care products in the water environment: A review.” Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147819. | 5 EPA. “EPA’s Ban on Sewering Pharmaceuticals: Fact Sheet for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWS).” | 6 Yu, QinQin, et al. “Assessment of sewer connectivity in the United States and its implications for equity in wastewater-based epidemiology.” PLOS Global Public Health 17 April 2024. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003039. | 7 EPA. “Biosolids Technology Fact Sheet: Land Application of Biosolids.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/biosolids/fact-sheet-land-application-biosolids. Accessed 6 August 2024. | 8 Huanyu, Tao, et al. “Environmental fate and toxicity of androgens: A critical review.” Environmental Research Vol. 214, no 2, November 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.113849. | 9 “CYTOTEC- misoprostol tablet.” Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc., February 2021. https://labeling.pfizer.com/ ShowLabeling.aspx?id=559. | 10 “Female contraceptive OTC revenue in the United States from 2011 to 2023.” Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/506543/otc-revenue-of-female-contraceptive-in-the-us/#:~:text=OTC%20revenue%20of%20female%20contraceptive%20in%20 the%20U.S.%202011%2D2023&text=This%20statistic%20shows%20the%20OTC,around%20672%20million%20U.S.%20dollars. Accessed 23 July 2024. | 11 “Medication Abortions Accounted for 63% of All US Abortions in 2023, an Increase from 53% in 2020.” Guttmacher Institute. https:// www.guttmacher.org/news-release/2024/medication-abortions-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020. | 12 “CYTOTEC- misoprostol tablet.” Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc. Is Progestin Safe for Humans but Not for Animals? 13 ”Progestin.” Cleveland Clinic. https:// my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24838-progestin. Accessed 27 August 2024.| 14 Donovan, Teresa A., M.P.H. “Plan B: Abortifacient and Other Risks.” Lozier Institute, 2 May 2013. https://lozierinstitute.org/plan-b-abortifacient-and-other-risks/. Which came first, the flush or the egg? 15 EPA. “Biosolids Technology Fact Sheet: Land Application of Biosolids.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/biosolids/fact-sheet-land-application-biosolids. Accessed 6 August 2024. 16 Wang, Huan, et al. ”Ecotoxicological effects, environmental fate and risks of pharmaceutical and personal care products in the water environment: A review.“ Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147819. | 17 Ibid. | 18 Barel-Cohen, Keren, et al. “Monitoring of natural and synthetic hormones in a polluted river.” Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 78, no. 1, January 2006, pp. 16-23. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16095808/. | 19 EPA. “EPA’s Ban on Sewering Pharmaceuticals: Fact Sheet for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWS).” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, April 2022. https:// www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-05/POTW%20Sewer%20Ban%20Fact%20Sheet_final.pdf. What's Next? 1 “Questions and Answers on Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation.” FDA, 1 September 2023. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/ postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation. Accessed

May 2024. https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/2024-national-take-back-day.

The Unintended Consequences

of Pharmaceuticals

The Case Against Chemical Abortions

Chemical Abortions in the United States

In 2023, abortion pills accounted for 63% of all US abortions, an increase from 53% in 2020.1 This doesn’t include self-managed chemical abortions that were performed outside the healthcare system or abortion pills from the black market.

How Chemical Abortions Are Done

Abortion Pill(s) are used in chemical abortions, now referred to as medical abortions.2 The pregnant woman often takes the pills at home or in college housing. The first drug kills the baby by starving him or her of oxygen and nutrients. The second drug causes the mother to go into delivery to expel the baby’s remains, the placenta, and large portions of blood.

1. Progesterone is the hormone that protects the lining of the uterus. The first pill, mifepristone, blocks progesterone and causes the uterine lining to break down.

Chemical Abortions Are Dangerous

3. 24-48 hours later, the second pill, misoprostol, is taken. It causes contractions that can create painful cramping and heavy bleeding to expel the baby.

Chemical abortions were responsible for 4,195 adverse events, 1,042 hospitalizations, 599 blood transfusions, 412 infections (69 severe), and at least 11 deaths from 2000 to 2018. The same FDA study reports that 97 women with ectopic pregnancies used chemical abortion drugs resulting in two (of those 11) deaths.3

Chemical abortion drugs are more likely to send women to the emergency room: the rate of chemical abortion-related emergency room visits increased over 500% between 2002-2015.4

“With no medical oversight, abortion pills can fall into the hands of traffickers and abusive partners. Already, there are accounts of women being given abortion pills without their knowledge and against their will. The risk of forced abortions has increased now that the pills are available online without an in-person visit with the woman’s doctor.”5

With several states in the US now prohibiting the reporting of any data on abortions, including type of procedure, the possibility of monitoring the safety of the abortion industry is decreasing.6 As these reporting bans take effect, they make researching and investigating the industry, to prevent abuse and death, increasingly difficult.

4. Women will be told to miscarry at home over the toilet. If they (were to) look closely, they would see their dead child. Even at seven weeks, it is possible to see his or her fingers and toes.

2. Mifepristone cuts off blood and nourishment from the baby. The goal is to starve the child in the womb to death.

By The Numbers

Reasons Given for Abortions1

E C T I V E

Are Abortions Coerced?

People assume that women freely choose abortion and that they are satisfied that it was the best decision for themselves. However, more and more peer-reviewed studies are being published which show that this is not the case. One recent study found that:

• Only 1/3 of abortions are “wanted.”

• 1 in 4 women describe their abortion as “unwanted” or “coerced.”

43% described their abortion as “accepted” but “inconsistent with their values and preferences.”

• 60% said their preference would have been to give birth, if they had received more emotional support or had greater

No one has the right to force, coerce, or unduly pressure a woman to abort. Scan the QR code for more information or if you or someone you know needs help.

Gestational age of abortions.

93% - 1st trimester <13 weeks

6% - 14 to 20 weeks

1% - 21 weeks or more

The ages of women having abortions.

Teens – 8%

Twenties - 57%

Thirties – 31%

Forties – 4%

Ethnicity of women having abortions.

Black – 42%

White – 30%

Hispanic – 22%

Other – 6%

"Limitless" Abortions Up to Birth in USA3

Of the 193 countries in the United Nationals, the USA is one of eight with no federal abortion limit for gestational age. [USA, Australia, Canada, China, Guinea-Bissau, Mexico, South Korea, and Vietnam]

46 out of the 50 European U.N. member countries restrict abortion on demand after 15 weeks of gestation.

Abortion Distortion

What about miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy?

Since the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling in 2022, there have been claims that “abortion bans” prohibit women experiencing miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies from getting medical care. This is simply not true. It’s important to understand that ending an ectopic pregnancy and treatment after a miscarriage are both different from an "elective" or induced abortion. Any ER can treat women for ectopic pregnancies, life threatening complications, and miscarriages. In cases of miscarriage, the baby has already died, and the mother will need to deliver the remains or have a procedure to remove them. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube. It’s impossible for the baby to survive there, and continued pregnancy can be life-threatening for the mother.1 Since the pregnancy is not in the uterus, none of the procedures used for abortion will end the pregnancy. In fact, if a woman takes chemical abortion drugs without an exam or ultrasound and she has an ectopic pregnancy, she could die. Ectopic pregnancies require surgical removal of the embryo from the fallopian tube.

Sadly, there’s no way to re-implant the embryo in the womb, and it’s too young to survive on its own. So, in order to save the life of the mother, an ectopic pregnancy is ended either with a medication called methotrexate or laparoscopic surgery.2 In over 90% of cases, the embryo has already died by the time it’s been detected.3

No abortion ban prohibits women from receiving necessary medical care for these situations.4

Johanna New York, United States

At first, I did not worry because my period has always been irregular, but still I decided to take a home test and surprisingly it came out positive. I felt terrible and called my boyfriend. He was so happy. I cried that night and couldn't sleep thinking of my parents’ reaction, and my college plans, and what people were going to say.

The next day I went to a community clinic that confirmed that I was pregnant; they referred me to a center where I could discuss my options. When I went, they performed a sonogram to see the actual age of my baby. I never received counseling or some kind of advice from them. They went straight to the point; I felt pressured and proceeded with the process. When I went home after, I experienced a mixture of guilt, shame, sadness, and pain. I had already ingested the first pill which stopped the baby’s growth. The second set of pills, I took them alone in my home. The pain from the contractions was nothing compared to the guilt I felt. And then it happened. I had an abortion because I was pressured by the possibility of disappointing my parents and because I thought I wasn't ready for a baby financially and was still living with my parents. If I had the opportunity to change what I did, I would choose life 100%.5

Alternatives to Abortion

Pregnant and feeling alone? Every woman deserves love and support during an unexpected pregnancy. That's why there are pregnancy help centers around the world dedicated to providing material assistance, moral support, and medical services to meet their needs. In the United States, there are 14 Pregnancy Centers to each Planned Parenthood center.6

Pregnancy Help Centers (PHCs) are life-affirming non-profit service providers that provide women who have an unexpected pregnancy with alternatives to abortion. Their services often include free pregnancy tests, consultation, ultrasounds, material support; education and information on adoption and abortion; and services and referrals for ongoing pregnancy and parenting needs.

Find a center near you at optionline.org | Call or text (24/7) 1-800-712-4357

Do You Know the Facts?

1. Since 1973, when Roe v. Wade legalized abortion nationally, how many pre-born babies have been aborted in the USA?1

a. 31.4 million

b. 66.1 million

c. 7.5 million

d. 23.7 million

6. Abortion bans block women experiencing miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies from getting medical care.6

a. True

b. False

10. What percent of synthetic hormones (contraceptives) are unabsorbed by the human body and excreted into the water system?10

a. 11%

b. 7%

c. 3%

d. 0%

2. Chemical abortion accounts for ___ percent of abortions in the United States.2

a. 53%

b. 32%

c. 63%

d. 12%

7. Women between the ages of ___ have the most abortions.7

a. 15-18

b. 28-32

c. 20-24

d. 12-14

11. After a chemical abortion, what comes out of the uterus?11

a. Blood.

b. Placenta.

c. Baby's little body.

d. All of the above.

3. What happened when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade through the Dobbs v. Jackson decision in 2022?3

a. Women's rights were taken away.

b. Abortion became illegal in the U.S.

c. The regulation of abortion returned to the people and their representatives.

d. Regulation of abortion returned to the states.

12. How are clinics and hospitals required to dispose of blood, amniotic fluid, and human tissues?12

a. Flush them.

b. Yellow bag disposal (incineration).

c. Red bag disposal (special waste management pickup.)

d. Red bag for blood and amniotic fluids and yellow for tissues and pharmaceuticals.

4. How many states allow unlimited abortions (up to and sometimes just after the moment of birth)?4

a. 18

b. 22

c. 25

d. 9

8. What percentage of former abortion workers said their clinics provided proper informed consent prior to abortion procedures?8

a. 91%

b. 47%

c. 25%

d. 86%

13. What was Planned Parenthoods 2023 Fiscal Year revenue?13

a. $2.054 Billion

b. $551.3 Million

c. $1.037 Billion

d. $275.1 Million

5. How many states require clinics and hospitals to show the mother her baby via ultrasound before she decides whether to have an abortion?5

9. What percentage of women say they felt their abortion was pressured, coerced, or inconsistent with their values and preferences?9

a. 20%

b. 42%

c. 14%

d. 67%

14. The USA is one of only 8 UN nations with no federal law limiting abortion based on gestational age?14

a. True

b. False

Answers on page 15

Do You Know the Facts? 1 “Number of Abortions - Abortion Counters.” NumberofAbortions. https://www.numberofabortions.com/. Accessed 4 September 2024. 2 “Abortion in the United States.” Guttmacher Institute. https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-unitedstates. Accessed 6 September 2024. | 3 “Dobbs, State Health Officer of the Mississippi Department of Health, et al. v. Jackson Women's Health Organization et al.” Supreme Court October 2021. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf. Accessed 5 September 2024. | 4 “Interactive Map: US Abortion Policies and Access After Roe.” Guttmacher Institute, https://states.guttmacher.org/policies/abortion-policies. Accessed 5 September 2024. | 5 Ibid. | 6 Harned, Mary E., J.D., and Ingrid Skop, M.D., FACOG. “Pro-Life Laws Protect Mom and Baby: Pregnant Women's Lives Are Protected in All States.” Lozier Institute 20 March 2023. https://lozierinstitute.org/pro-life-laws-protect-mom-and-baby-pregnant-womens-lives-are-protected-in-all-states/. 7 “Characteristics of U.S. Abortion Patients in 2014 and Changes Since 2008.” Guttmacher Institute, May 2016. https://www.guttmacher.org/report/characteristics-us-abortion-patients-2014. Accessed 5 September 2024. | 8 “And Then There Were None: 2022 Annual Report.” And Then There Were None, 2022. https://abortionworker.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ ATTWN-AR-22.pdf. Accessed 30 July 2024. | 9 Reardon, David C, et al. “The Effects of Abortion Decision Rightness and Decision Type on Women’s Satisfaction and Mental Health.” Cureus, 11 May 2023, https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.38882. | 10 “CYTOTEC- misoprostol tablet.” Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc February 2021. https://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=559. Accessed 10 June 2024. | 11 “Abortion – Medication.” MedlinePlus. 10 November 2022. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007382.htm. | 12 “Healthcare Infectious Waste.” MnTAP. http:// www.mntap.umn.edu/industries/facility/healthcare/waste/infectious/. Accessed 30 July 2024. | 13 “Above and Beyond: Annual Report 2022-2023.“ Planned Parenthood, p. 27. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/uploads/filer_public/ce/f6/cef6efdb-919a-4211-bb5c-ce0d61fda7f5/2024ppfa-annualreport-c3-digital.pdf. Accessed 13 August 2024. | 14 Harned, Mary E., J.D., and Mia Steupert, M.A. “Gestational Limits

Human Development

"Virtually every human embryologist and every major textbook of human embryology states that fertilization marks the beginning of the life of the new individual human being."1

Ward Kischer, Ph. D, Human Embryologist, University of Arizona.

Day 1: Fertilization

On the first day of life, the sperm joins the egg to form a brand new, unique, and whole person: one cell with the complete genetic makeup (DNA) for the child’s sex, hair and eye color, height, skin tone, etc.2,3

Month 1: (1-4 Weeks)

The first cell begins cell division as the newly formed individual travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus. More than 500 cells are present when the embryo reaches the uterus 7-10 days after fertilization. Foundations of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system are already established. By day 21, the heart begins to beat, and the child has a blood type, often different from the mother’s.4 Muscles, arms, legs, eyes, and ears are forming.

Month 2: (5-8 Weeks)

By 6 weeks, brain waves can be detected, and the brain is controlling 40 sets of muscles as well as the organs.5 The jaw forms, including teeth and taste buds. 6 The baby begins to swallow amniotic fluid; the baby hiccups.7 The stomach produces digestive juices, kidneys begin to function. Fingers and toes are developing, and at 7 weeks, the chest and abdomen are fully formed.8 The skeleton is complete, and reflexes are present. As the baby swims in the womb, the baby now looks like a miniature human infant.9,10

Month 3: (9-12 Weeks)

Unique fingerprints form and never change.11 The baby now sleeps, awakens, and exercises muscles by turning his or her head, curling his or her toes, and opening and closing his or her mouth. If the doctor strokes her palm, the baby will make a fist. Baby’s fingernails are present at 11-12 weeks. Even though mom cannot feel movement yet, the baby is very active. The baby breathes amniotic fluid to help develop the respiratory system. Gender can be determined, and family resemblances may appear as well.12 All the organs and systems of the baby’s body are functioning.13

Month 4: (13-16 Weeks)

By the end of the 4th month, the baby is 8-10 inches in length and weighs about ½ pound. The ears are functioning, and the baby hears his or her mother’s heartbeat and other sounds, like music.14 Baby’s eyelashes are present by 16 weeks. Mom begins to feel the baby’s movement, a slight flutter at first that will become stronger. Lifesaving surgery has been performed on babies at this age.

Week 4*

Week 10*

During Pregnancy

Month 5: (17-20 Weeks)

If a sound is especially loud, the baby may jump in reaction to it. The baby may also start sucking on his or her thumb.15

Month 6: (21-24 Weeks)

Oil and sweat glands are functioning. The baby’s delicate skin is protected in the amniotic sac by a special ointment called vernix. The baby grows rapidly in size and strength while the lungs become more developed.16 Babies born during this period have survived.

Month 7: (25-28 Weeks)

The baby can now recognize mom’s voice. The baby exercises by stretching and kicking. The baby can hear, touch, taste, and look around in the womb.17 In males, testicles descend from the abdomen into the scrotum.

Month 8: (29-32 Weeks)

The skin begins to thicken, with a layer of fats stored underneath for insulation and nourishment. The baby swallows a gallon of amniotic fluid per day and often hiccups.18 Though movement is limited due to cramped quarters, the baby’s kicks are stronger, and mom may be able to feel an elbow or heel against her abdomen.19

Month 9: (33-36 Weeks)

Gaining one half pound per week, the baby is getting ready for birth. The bones in her head are soft and flexible to help with the journey down the narrow birth canal.20 Of the 45 generations of cell divisions before adulthood, 41 have already taken place. Only four more come before adolescence. 90% of a person’s development happens in the womb.21

Human Development During Pregnancy 1 Kischer CW. “When Does Human Life Begin? The Final Answer.” The Linacre Quarterly vol. 70, no 4, 2003, pp. 326-339. doi.org/10.1080/205085 49.2003.11877691. 2 Mayo Clinic Staff. “Fetal Development: the 1st Trimester.” May Clinic 3 June 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/ prenatal-care/art-20045302. | 3 Sadler, T.W. Langman’s Medical Embryology. 15th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2023. 4 Moore, Keith L., et al. “The Cardiovascular System,” in Clinically Oriented Embryology. 11th ed. Elsevier, 2020. 5 Hamlin, H. Life or Death by EEG. JAMA. 12 October 1964, p. 113. | 6 Sadler, T.W. Langman’s Medical Embryology Kluwer, 2023. | 7 deVries, J.I.P., et al. “The Emergence of Fetal Behavior.” Early Human Development. Vol 12. 1985, p. 108. | 8 Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. 3rd ed. Harper Resource, 2003. p. 268. | 9 Valman, Pearson. “What the Fetus Feels.” British Medical Journal. 26 January 1980 p. 234. | 10 Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. 3rd ed. Harper Resource, 2003, p. 269. | 11 Britt, Robert Roy. “Lasting Impression: How Fingerprints Are Created.” LiveScience, 2 November 2004. www.livescience.com/30-lasting-impression-fingerprints-created.html. | 12 Flanagan, Geraldine Lux. ing, 1996, pp. 59-65. | 13 Cunningham, MacDonald, et al. Obstetrics. 18th ed., 1989 p. 90 & 103. | 14 Flanagan, Geraldine Lux. Beginning Life. DK Publishing, 1996, p. 68. | 15 Health & Wellness Resource Center, “Normal Growth of a Baby During Pregnancy.” Clinical Reference Systems Annual 2001, p.1391. 16 Gordon, Debra MD. “Pregnancy.” The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine Ibid. | 19 Ibid. | 20 Ibid. 21 Sassone, Robert L. “Interview with Prof. Sir A William Liley.” The Tiniest Humans. American Life League, Inc., 1977.

Week 20 enlarged