I am writing in response to Mark Myers' column "Abortion has negative effects on mother and father, not just unborn" (SN 2/3). Myers' basic premise is a sound one - abortion does affect the mother and father of the fetus, as well as other family members and friends. The choice to have an abortion is not one that is made quickly or undertaken lightly.

Unfortunately, Myers did not consider actual facts when constructing his argument against abortion. The fact is that a 2004 study, conducted in Britain on more than 80,000 women from 16 countries, found no connection between abortion or miscarriage and breast cancer. Similarly, the risk of ectopic pregnancy is increased by any irritation of the uterus that can be caused by STDs, such as gonorrhea or other infections, as well as by surgical abortion. Medical abortion using drugs such as RU-486 does not increase the rate of ectopic pregnancy because it is non-invasive.

Finally, the risk of hemorrhaging (or "massive bleeding" as Myers puts it), is actually minimal, occurring in approximately 3 percent of all procedures. I appreciate Myers' point that the choice to have an abortion and its aftermath can be very difficult. However, I can't help but think that if Stephanie had not been in a country where abortion was legal, and was desperate to end her pregnancy, she might not have lived to tell her story.

Margaret Murphy
zoology graduate student