"The Global Medical Language Hub"
Abortion
Abortion in a medical and health context refers to the termination of a pregnancy before the fetus can survive outside the uterus. This can happen spontaneously (known as a miscarriage or spontaneous abortion) or be induced intentionally through medical or surgical means.
According to major health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and medical sources (e.g., MedlinePlus, Cleveland Clinic, and NCBI/StatPearls):
Induced abortion is a deliberate interruption of an ongoing pregnancy using medication (e.g., mifepristone and misoprostol for medical abortion) or surgical procedures (e.g., aspiration or dilation and evacuation).
It is considered a common, routine reproductive health procedure.
Globally, about 73 million induced abortions occur each year, with roughly 3 in 10 pregnancies ending in abortion.
Health Meaning and Safety Aspects
From a public health perspective, abortion is viewed as an essential component of women's and reproductive health care. Major bodies like the WHO, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and others describe it as:
A safe health intervention when performed using recommended methods, appropriate to the pregnancy stage, and by trained health workers (or self-managed with support in early stages).
When safe, complications are rare (death rates <1 per 100,000 procedures), with no proven long-term risks to physical or mental health from properly conducted abortions.
It can be life-saving or health-preserving in cases of severe pregnancy complications (e.g., preeclampsia, ectopic pregnancy, or conditions threatening the woman's life/physical/mental health).