7 Common Myths About Abortion Debunked

protest sign that reads abortion is healthcare
Photo by Brett Sayles

Abortion is a deeply personal decision and experience, and it’s also a topic surrounded by misconceptions. Some of the misconceptions we’ve blindly accepted throughout our lives, but it’s important to look into them and correct them. The better we understand abortion, the better we’ll be able to speak about it and understand it as a fundamental piece of reproductive rights. Here are 7 myths about abortion debunked:


Abortion causes breast cancer

person with pink band on her left handPhoto by Angiola Harry on Unsplash

The fact is there’s no scientific evidence linking abortion to an increased risk of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society, American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, Planned Parenthood, and numerous other reputable health organizations have all stated that abortion doesn’t cause breast cancer.

Most people regret their abortion

Woman looking regretfulPhoto by Ahtziri Lagarde on Unsplash

This is a very common myth and one of the most common arguments among pro-life people. However, looking at the numbers suggests otherwise. Most people don’t regret their decision to have an abortion. In 2020, a UC San Francisco study showed that over 95% of women surveyed five years after having an abortion reported that it was the right decision for them. The decision to have an abortion is deeply personal, and only the individual and their healthcare provider can determine what’s best for their health and life.

Emergency contraception and medication abortions are the same thing

emergency contraception pill next to water glassPhoto by Benjamin Moss on Unsplash

Emergency contraception and medication abortion are not the same thing. Emergency contraceptive pills, often known as the morning-after pill, are designed to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Medication abortion involves taking prescribed pills to terminate an existing pregnancy. Understanding the difference between the two is essential to making informed reproductive choices.

Physical health concern is the only valid reason for an abortion

Woman in hospital gown looking out the window

Photo by Klaus Nielsen

This myth is very reductive because there’s a great variety of valid reasons why someone might seek an abortion, not just physical health concerns. Economic hardships, relationship issues, the need to focus on other children, and personal readiness are all valid reasons for choosing to have an abortion. There’s also the case of pregnancy as a result of rape or forced incest. Everyone’s circumstances are unique and the choice of seeking an abortion is as personal as it gets. It should be respected instead of policed.

Abortion leads to fertility issues

a pregnant woman standing in front of a windowPhoto by iStrfry , Marcus on Unsplash

Abortion doesn’t affect fertility and this myth has been debunked for a long time. Abortion rarely leads to infertility issues and there’s no evidence it’s associated with infertility risks. People can conceive again shortly after having an abortion if they choose to. This myth can cause unnecessary fear and anxiety, but the science is clear: abortion does not impact long-term fertility.

Abortion causes “Post-Abortion Syndrome”

Woman with her back turned to the camera looking out a window

Photo by Felipe Cespedes

Post-abortion syndrome isn’t recognized as a medical condition. While individual experiences vary, most people don’t experience long-term psychological or emotional problems after an abortion. Many women report feeling relief after the procedure. It's normal to have a range of emotions, especially if the decision is difficult, but having support during and after the process can help process those emotions healthily.

Medical abortion is painful

doctor putting on gloves

Photo by RF._.studio

The experience of a medical abortion can involve bleeding and pelvic cramping, particularly in the first 24 hours after taking the misoprostol tablets. However, pain relief options exist to manage the symptoms. Women who are well-informed about what to expect, who have made an informed choice, and who have access to safe abortion rarely experience any issues or complications.

We hope the debunking of these myths challenges any misinformation you may have absorbed and we encourage you to share this information. Promoting factual understanding helps friends, family, and communities navigate challenging conversations about abortion with compassion and truth, and that can make a big difference.

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).