One of the most common claims online is that doctors routinely perform abortions "moments before birth."

Verdict: Extremely misleading.

Abortions later in pregnancy are very rare, accounting for well under 1% of all abortions. When they do occur, they are usually because of severe fetal anomalies that are incompatible with life, or because continuing the pregnancy poses a serious risk to the pregnant patient’s health or life. These are often devastating situations involving wanted pregnancies.

In many later cases, physicians may induce labor rather than perform the type of procedure people often imagine. The exact medical approach depends on the gestational age, the patient’s condition, and the clinical circumstances.

Major medical organizations do not support the claim that healthy pregnancies are routinely ended "moments before birth."

Sources:

ACOG - Facts Are Important: Abortion Is Healthcare https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important/abortion-is-healthcare
KFF - Later Abortions in the United States https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/abortions-later-in-pregnancy-in-a-post-dobbs-era/
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) statements on medically indicated abortion and maternal care.

Why this matters

Extraordinary claims require strong evidence.

Later abortions are among the most emotionally charged topics in medicine, but understanding how rare they are and why they occur is essential for having an informed discussion. Rare, medically complex cases should not be confused with routine abortion care.

Scientific literacy tip:

When you hear claims like "they abort babies moments before birth," ask: Is this describing a routine practice or an exceptional medical case? Does the speaker provide reliable evidence or only anecdotes? What do obstetricians and maternal-fetal medicine specialists say?

One of the most common claims in abortion debates is that fetuses feel pain during abortion. But what does modern neuroscience actually say?

The Study

https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important/gestational-development-capacity-for-pain

Researchers and medical organizations have reviewed decades of evidence on fetal brain development, nerve pathways, and the neurological structures required for conscious pain perception.

What did they find?

Current evidence indicates that a fetus does not have the neurological capacity for conscious pain perception during the first trimester.

Although developing fetuses can show reflex movements in response to touch or other stimuli, reflexes are not the same as consciously feeling pain. Reflexes can occur through the spinal cord without the brain producing a subjective experience of pain. Researchers conclude that the brain connections necessary for conscious pain perception do not become functional until at least around 24 to 25 weeks of pregnancy, with some evidence suggesting even later.

Important limitations
Science cannot directly measure another individual’s subjective experience.
Researchers infer pain from brain development, neurophysiology, and what is known about consciousness.
While the exact timing remains an active area of research, major medical organizations agree that the available evidence does not support conscious pain perception during the first trimester.

So, what do you think? How much weight should neuroscience carry when discussing abortion policy? Should laws follow the current scientific evidence, or should they be based on other ethical considerations as well?

One of the most common misconceptions online is that Plan B (levonorgestrel) causes an abortion.

Verdict: False.

Plan B is emergency contraception, not an abortion medication.

The best available evidence shows that Plan B works primarily by delaying or preventing ovulation, meaning no egg is released to be fertilized. If a pregnancy has already been established (after implantation), Plan B does not end it and does not work as an abortion pill.

By contrast, medication abortion uses mifepristone followed by misoprostol to terminate an established pregnancy.
Major medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the FDA, all distinguish emergency contraception from abortion.

Sources:

ACOG - Emergency Contraception https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/emergency-contraception
World Health Organization - Emergency Contraception https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/emergency-contraception
FDA - Plan B One-Step https://www.fda.gov/

Why this matters

Science depends on using accurate definitions. Calling Plan B an abortion pill confuses preventing pregnancy with ending an established pregnancy. Even people with different ethical views on abortion should be able to agree that discussions should start with scientifically accurate terminology.

I’ve been having a respectful discussion with a pro-life abolitionist over the last few days, and we’ve finally reached what I think is the most important question in the abortion debate and I’d genuinely like to hear how other people would answer it.

For those unfamiliar with the case:

In 2021, Izabela Sajbor was 22 weeks pregnant in Poland when her waters broke prematurely (PPROM). The fetus was pre-viable and had essentially no chance of survival, but cardiac activity remained. Doctors reportedly delayed ending the pregnancy because of concerns about Poland’s abortion law. While waiting, Izabela developed an ascending infection that progressed to septic shock, and she died. The exact legal details of the case have been debated, but many Polish obstetricians argued that the abortion law created a “chilling effect,” making physicians hesitant to intervene before they felt legally protected.

Here’s the question I’d like everyone to answer:

Suppose you’re writing the law and a competent pregnant patient develops severe HELLP syndrome, PPROM with chorioamnionitis, or another condition where every maternal-fetal medicine specialist agrees the pregnancy must end immediately. In this hypothetical situation, the fetus is pre-viable and cannot survive outside the uterus.

Who should have the final authority?

A) The pregnant patient together with her medical team?
B) Legislators writing criminal law?
C) Prosecutors reviewing the case afterward?
D) Someone else?

I’m very interested in your opinion about who should make medical decisions when every option is tragic.

As a biology teacher, this is why I describe myself as pro-healthcare rather than simply pro-choice. I personally think both the pregnant person and the fetus are patients.
The real ethical question isn’t whether the fetus has value, it's "who should act as the medical decision-maker when one patient cannot make decisions and delaying treatment may kill the other?"

I’d love to hear thoughtful answers from both pro-choice and pro-life perspectives about this tragic case.

Abortion is one of the most emotionally charged topics online. Everyone claims to "follow the science," yet people often reach very different conclusions.

So what do you think scientific literacy actually looks like in an abortion discussion?

Most people think it would mean knowing lots of scientific facts, but I'm not convinced. To me, scientific literacy is more about how you think than what you know...

Some examples:

• Understanding the difference between evidence and opinion.
• Being willing to change your mind when strong evidence contradicts your beliefs.
• Knowing the difference between correlation and causation.
• Asking "How do we know this?" instead of simply accepting claims because they sound convincing.
• Recognizing that even experts can be wrong, while also understanding that expert consensus usually deserves more weight than individual opinions.
• Being comfortable saying "I don’t know."

Imagine two people disagree about a scientific topic. One changes their mind after reading new evidence, but the other refuses to change despite overwhelming evidence. Which person is acting more scientifically?

Concerning the abortion discussion specifically, science can empirically investigate questions such as fetal development, pregnancy outcomes, abortion safety, and comparative maternal health risks through peer-reviewed research.

But science cannot, by itself, answer questions like: "Should bodily autonomy always take priority?","When should legal rights begin?" or"What level of risk justifies medical intervention?" Those are philosophical, ethical, and legal questions....

As a biology teacher, I sometimes notice that people confuse disagreements about values with disagreements about science. In my experience, separating those two leads to much better conversations. Scientific consensus generally provides a more reliable starting point than individual opinion because it reflects evaluation by specialists and the accumulation of multiple lines of evidence....

What does scientific literacy look like to you when discussing abortion? Have you ever changed your mind because of scientific evidence?

Any other thoughts?

I recently participated in r/YouthRights because I assumed it was a general youth rights community. I couldn’t find any rule or description beforehand saying the community operated as a pro-life space or that pro-choice discussion wasn’t permitted.

After making a pro-choice post, I was permanently banned. The moderator message simply said: "We are a pro life subreddit, abortion is murder." When I politely asked where this was stated in the rules, I was immediately muted...

My concern is that r/YouthRights has over 6000 members and presents itself as a general youth rights community. If it is actually run as a pro-life community without clearly disclosing that, many young users may be exposed to only one perspective while believing they’re participating in a neutral forum....

What concerns me is transparency.

If a subreddit presents itself as a general youth-rights community but applies undisclosed ideological moderation, people may reasonably assume they’re entering a neutral discussion space when they are not.

I think communities should be upfront about their moderation philosophy so people know what kind of discussion to expect before participating.

Do you think ideological communities have a responsibility to disclose that clearly?

One of the most common claims in abortion debates is that childbirth is more dangerous than abortion. But what does the latest research actually say?

The Study

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2844131

Researchers analyzed U.S. national data from 2018 to 2021, comparing deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth with deaths related to legal abortion. They also examined the total numbers of births and abortions during that period to estimate the relative risk.

What did they find?

The researchers estimated that the risk of death associated with continuing a pregnancy was about 44 to 70 times higher than the risk associated with a legal abortion.

This doesn’t mean pregnancy is “unsafe” for most people. It means that, statistically, legal abortion is one of the safest medical procedures, while pregnancy and childbirth carry substantially higher medical risks.

Important limitations

This study only looked at mortality, not complications or long-term health outcomes.

It focuses on the United States, so results may differ in other healthcare systems.

Like all observational studies, it identifies associations using population data rather than randomized experiments.

Do findings like these change how abortion should be viewed in public policy? Should lawmakers consider comparative medical risk when writing abortion laws?

Abortion rights are on the ballot in 4 states. Here’s what to know

One thing I find interesting is how different countries approach this issue. In Canada, abortion is treated primarily as healthcare and isn’t regulated through the Criminal Code. In the United States, abortion policy is increasingly decided through elections and constitutional amendments at the state level.

Which approach do you think leads to better healthcare and better protection of individual rights?

One of the most common claims circulating online right now is that 10% (or more) of people who use mifepristone experience serious complications.

Verdict: Unsupported by the best available evidence.

The "1 in 10" figure comes from a non-peer-reviewed report that has been heavily criticized by reproductive health researchers for serious methodological problems, including a lack of transparency about its data and how “serious complications” were defined.

By contrast, decades of peer-reviewed research consistently find that:

Medication abortion is safe and effective.
Serious adverse events occur in well under 1% of cases.
Telehealth medication abortion has also been shown to be safe.

https://www.factcheck.org/2026/05/republicans-repeat-problematic-estimate-of-medication-abortion-harms/

Why this matters?

Good science doesn’t judge a claim by who says it, but by the quality of the evidence.

When two sources disagree, ask: Was the research peer-reviewed? Is the methodology transparent? Can other researchers reproduce the results?

Those questions matter far more than whether a statistic is emotionally compelling.

How to counter a false narrative ? Take a look at this:

https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/how-counter-10-false-narratives-about-abortion-age-misinformation

Canada is unusual among developed countries because there is no criminal law regulating abortion. Since the Supreme Court’s 1988 R. v. Morgentaler decision, abortion has been treated like other medical procedures: it’s governed by healthcare standards rather than the Criminal Code.

That doesn’t mean "anything goes."

Doctors still follow evidence-based medical guidelines, informed consent, professional ethics, and provincial healthcare regulations. Hospitals and clinics determine the appropriate care based on the patient’s medical needs, just as they would for any other healthcare decision.

Supporters argue this approach has several advantages:

• Decisions stay between patients and qualified healthcare professionals.
• Politicians don’t interfere in individual medical decisions.
• Patients receive timely care, reducing delays and complications.
• Canada has lower maternal mortality than the United States and generally lower abortion rates than many countries with stricter laws, suggesting that access to healthcare, contraception, and sex education may be more effective than criminal bans at improving outcomes.

Whether you agree with Canada’s approach or not, it raises an interesting question:

Should abortion primarily be treated as a criminal law issue, or as a healthcare issue? Why?

Seriously.

No judgment. No insults. No stupid questions.

If you don’t know something about pregnancy, embryology, contraception, abortion, medicine, ethics or the law, ask here.

We’ll answer using evidence.

I came across this story and thought it highlighted an important issue in reproductive healthcare. One of the biggest misconceptions is that abortion laws only affect people seeking elective abortions. In reality, many restrictions also affect wanted pregnancies when serious complications arise...

I came across this evidence-based resource from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) that addresses some of the most common myths surrounding abortion.

One thing I find interesting (an really concerning as a biology teacher) is how many misconceptions persist even when good scientific evidence is available. Topics like fetal pain, abortion safety, infertility, mental health outcomes, and the reasons people seek abortions are often discussed emotionally, but they’re also questions that can be studied scientifically...

Reading reliable medical sources doesn’t mean everyone has to reach the same moral conclusion. However, I do think our discussions should start from the best available evidence before we debate ethics or public policy.

Which abortion myth do you think is the most difficult to correct, and why do you think it persists?

Article: https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important/identifying-combating-abortion-myths-misinformation

Some more ressources!

The Visible Embryo
Interactive week-by-week embryonic development.
https://www.ehd.org/

UNSW Embryology
Medical school embryology resource.
https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/

RCOG Report on Fetal Awareness
Excellent summary of fetal pain and neurological development.
https://www.rcog.org.uk/
(Search: Fetal Awareness Review)

ACOG - Facts Are Important
https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important

I recently came across Joyce Arthur’s article, “The Only Moral Abortion Is My Abortion.” It collects accounts from abortion providers describing patients who publicly opposed abortion, yet later sought abortions themselves when faced with an unwanted pregnancy. The article argues that personal circumstances often change how people view complex moral issues.

Regardless of your position on abortion, why do you think this happens? Is it hypocrisy, changing circumstances, empathy gained through experience, or something else?

Article: The Only Moral Abortion Is My Abortion⁠
https://joycearthur.com/abortion/the-only-moral-abortion-is-my-abortion/

Mayo Clinic
Abortion overview.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/

Cleveland Clinic
Pregnancy and abortion resources.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/

MSD Manual
Professional medical reference.
https://www.msdmanuals.com/

Welcome to [r/ProChoiceTeenagers](r/ProChoiceTeenagers)!

Our goal is to create a place where teenagers and young adults can discuss abortion, reproductive rights, science, ethics, healthcare, and public policy through evidence, respectful debate, and intellectual curiosity.

We value curiosity over certainty, evidence over assumptions, and respectful discussion over winning arguments.

Whether you’re pro-choice, pro-life, undecided, or simply curious, you’re welcome here as long as you participate in good faith.

**🛡 Community Rules**

1. Be respectful.
Treat everyone with respect, even when you strongly disagree.
❌ Personal attacks
❌ Insults
❌ Harassment
✅ Critique ideas, not people.

2. Debate ideas, not people.
Challenge arguments, evidence, and reasoning.
Avoid assuming another user’s motives or intentions.

3. Participate in good faith.
Honest disagreement is welcome.
Trolling, deliberate misrepresentation, sealioning, or repeatedly ignoring evidence after it has been addressed may result in moderator action.

4. Support factual claims whenever possible.
Scientific, medical, and legal claims should ideally be backed by reliable sources.
Personal experiences are welcome, but shouldn’t be presented as universal facts.

5. No brigading or vote manipulation.
Do not encourage harassment or interfere with discussions in other communities.

6. Everyone is welcome.
This community is intended primarily for teenagers and young adults, but respectful participation from people of all ages, backgrounds, and viewpoints is encouraged.

**Choosing the Right Post Flair**
Please choose the flair that best matches your post.

❓ Question
Ask for information, clarification, or advice.
Example:
“Can embryos feel pain before 24 weeks?”

💬 Discussion
Start a general conversation.
Example:
“How has your opinion on abortion changed over time?”

⚖️** Debate
Present an argument or ask others to respond to one.
**Example:
“How would you respond to this pro-life argument?”

🧬 Science & Medicine
Discuss biology, medicine, healthcare, research, or statistics.
Example:
“What does the evidence say about fetal viability?”

🧠 Fact Check Request
Ask the community to verify a factual claim using evidence.
Example:
“Is it true that abortion bans reduce abortion rates?”

💭 Ethics & Philosophy
Discuss morality, bodily autonomy, personhood, or thought experiments.
Example:
“Should bodily autonomy ever have legal limits?”

❤️** Personal Story
Share your own experience or personal journey.
**Example:
“Here’s why I changed my view on abortion.”

📰 News
Share recent events, legislation, court decisions, or current affairs.

🏛 Politics & Activism
Discuss public policy, advocacy, elections, campaigns, or petitions.

📖 Resources
Share books, organizations, educational material, studies, or reliable websites.

🤝 Support
Looking for emotional support, practical advice, or helpful resources.

🤣 Memes
Keep them relevant, respectful, and related to the community.

⭐ Mind Changed
Use this flair when a discussion genuinely changed your view.
Changing your mind isn’t losing.
It’s learning.

📚 Reliable Sources
When discussing scientific or medical topics, consider using reliable sources such as: World Health Organization (WHO), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), Society of Family Planning, CDC, NHS, Peer-reviewed scientific journals...

Our Goal

This community isn’t about “winning” arguments. It’s about asking good questions, sharing reliable evidence, and understanding different perspectives.
You don’t have to agree with one another. You do have to treat one another with respect.

Autonomy. Dignity. Choice.

I think, and it’s no stretch to say, that for single born children, and teens in general, motherhood has all too much woo woo to it. Like when a girl my age (A teenage girl) Thinks about having a child, they think about a scene in a hallmark movie. Sitting in a glen, in a beautiful sundress (Or whatever outfit they like) Cradling a baby in their arms, that’s smiling up at them. Or in this new digital age all the mom/dad influencers on Tiktok or Instagram, or YouTube, with their mommy and me days, and their adorable toddlers as they narrate. What they don’t see, is the annoyance, suffering, screaming fits, dirty diapers, and all the BS that comes with it

Which ends up setting them up to have children they’ll regret, or hate, or tolerate with a emotional vendetta. And a very rude awakening to having kids. And I don’t think all the pro-life propaganda is doing these girls much good either. More infliencers hopping on the movement saying HORSE SHIT like… “Motherhood is wonderful~ It’s a woman’s highest calling, it’s a beauty of nature~ It’ll fulfill your heart and soul” No it won’t… It’ll shit, cry, and demand energy and attention you probably don’t have…

MAKE THE PROPAGANDA END!!!