For decades pregnancy centers have sustained waves of attacks from abortion providers and proponent groups who routinely seek to discredit their competition. These groups have tried to limit women from accessing comprehensive information on abortion risks and alternatives, which is provided through the free and confidential services offered by the doctors, nurses, and professional volunteers at pregnancy centers.

The latest coordinated string of attacks began late in December 2005 with a report issued by NARAL Pro-Choice Texas entitled Crisis Pregnancy Centers: A Hidden Threat to Women's Health? Since then, the attacks have continued with additional reports issued by the National Abortion Federation and other groups who are angered that pregnancy centers have begun to compete for federal grants that enable them to present abstinence-based educational programs, instead of the "safe-sex" programs that such groups tellingly support. Additional IYD grants have been awarded to a small number of pregnancy centers to enable them to enable them to provide medical services to low income women.

Now abortion groups are taking their attacks to Capitol Hill and coordinating their efforts with abortion proponents in Congress who have issued reports and presented legislation accusing pregnancy centers of misleading women and providing false information. In March, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY) embarked on a recycled campaign to present legislation accusing pregnancy centers of using fraudulent advertising.

Following in step, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), an avid abortion proponent, has issued a report accusing centers of providing inaccurate health information to callers and of misusing federal funds. Waxman's report targets the small number of pregnancy centers that are currently receiving IYD grants, grants that would enable centers to build their capacity to compete for federal funding against Planned Parenthood, NAF, and NARAL- groups that Waxman has consistently aligned himself with.

Unfortunately, none of these reports, or the latest media coverage, make mention of the scientific studies that physicians and psychologists have presented that suggest the possibility of links between abortion and breast cancer, emotional trauma, or infertility. No mention is given that up until 1994, the National Cancer Institute featured a study suggesting that "Among women who had been pregnant at least once, the risk of breast cancer in those who had experienced an induced abortion was 50% higher than among other women" ("Risk of Breast Cancer Among Young Women: Relationship to Induced Abortion," Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 86, #21 - Annie Banno has more).

At best, current findings are inconclusive, but Waxman's report claims to be based on settled science; however current statistics as well as numerous studies and publications on the aftermath of abortion suggest that this debate is far from settled. Below is a list of the topics discussed in the Waxman report and resources that discuss a variety of findings related to each.

**Care Net does not believe that any study relating to these topics is conclusive, but rather that the continued controversy over the emotional, medical, and psychological effects of abortion demands that the medical community consider new evidence and research and that no statistically relevant study be excluded from the dialogue. Care Net is dedicated to providing men and women with comprehensive information that enables them to make informed, empowering choices. Because findings related to the aftermath of abortion cannot be described as settled science, that have a right to know about all reputable studies related the possible risks of abortion.

***The views presented in these resources are not necessarily those of Care Net or our affiliates, but are the opinions, publications, and studies conducted by researchers, physicians, psychologists, and other professionals.

The Abortion-Breast Cancer (ABC) Link

http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/Brind_NCBQ.PDF

www.abortionbreastcancer.com/Lanfranchi060201.pdf

The Abortion-Breast Cancer Link by Angela Lanfranchi, MD, FACS

http://www.johnkindley.com/wisconsinlawreview.htm

Medical Groups that currently recognize the ABC Link

• National Physicians Center for Family Resources


• Breast Cancer Prevention Institute


• Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Inc.


• The Polycarp Research Institute


• American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists


• Ethics and Medics


• Mastercare International


• Breast Care Center-EAMC

Post Abortion Stress Syndrome

"Uninformed Consent: Abortion and Mental Health Consequences" by Warren Throckmorton, Ph.D. "Recent research from Norway and New Zealand has reported an association between abortion and subsequetn mental health problems.

"Post Abortion Stress in Men: How Abortion Affects Men and How They Can Be Helped" (An official resource of Care Net)

David C. Reardon, Ph.D., director of the Elliot Institute, is widely recognized as one of the leading experts on the aftereffects of abortion on women, a field in which he has specialized since 1983. He is the author of numerous books and scholarly articles on this topic. Research Elliot Institute studies on the psychological aftermath of abortion. http://www.afterabortion.org/

Abortion and Infertility

“http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/abortion.htm">Inflammation of the Fallopian tubes and ovaries caused by the Chlamydia organism is the most common cause of infertility following an abortion.”

“Frequent abortions may also produce infertility by weakening the cervix or by leaving scar tissue that obstructs the uterus…”

“Abortion and infertility are directly linked, as is increased risk for breast cancer and cervical cancer often caused by the hpv penile wart virus. This term refers to any premature expulsion of a human fetus…”

Related:

Can doctors be sued
over abortion? Those who don't inform patients of breast-cancer link could be targets

PREGNANCY CENTERS RESPOND TO ANOTHER ATTEMPT
BY ABORTION GROUPS TO SHUT DOWN COMPETITION

Democrats Attack Pregnancy Centers That Tell Women Abortion's Risks

Pregnancy Centers Found to Give False Information on Abortion

Waxman's Annual Taxpayer-funded Buffoonery

Rep. Waxman's Press Release

Source: Care-Net

• A Mobile Crisis Pregnancy Center - Mar 17, 2007
• Time: Cover story on pregnancy care centers - Feb 18, 2007
• CPCs Remain Optimistic - Nov 08, 2006
• Marketing Hypocrisy - Sep 25, 2006
• The Washington Post Covers Ultrasounds - Sep 10, 2006
• CWA Repudiates Attacks on Crisis Pregnancy Centers - Jul 20, 2006
• Waxman Attacks CPCs - Jul 18, 2006
• Revisiting the Supposedly Deceptive CPC Story - Jul 06, 2006