National Academies of Science: Abortion Linkedto Subsequent Premature Birth

Link Supports Abortion as Risk Factor for Breast Cancer

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Apreliminary report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), an organization of theNational Academies of Science, lists "first trimester abortion" amongthe risk factors for premature birth. Premature birth is associated withcerebral palsy for the child and breast cancer for the mother.

The report, entitled "Preterm Birth: Causes,Consequences, and Prevention"  could have huge publicpolicy implications. The IOM reported that premature births before 37 weeksgestation represent 12.5 percent of all U.S. births, a 30% increase since 1981.Abortion became legally accessible in 1973. The IOM said premature birth costU.S. society $26.2 billion in 2005.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, an abortionenthusiast, and other Democrats from the House Government Reform Committeeissued a report attacking crisis pregnancy centers for informing women aboutthe risks of abortion, including breast cancer, infertility and emotional harm.

The IOM'sfindings, however, provide further support for an abortion-breast cancerlink. If, after having had an abortion, a childless woman is unable to carrysubsequent pregnancies, then she could remain childless for the remainder ofher life. Cancer organizations say childlessness (nulliparity) is a risk factorfor breast cancer.

Other research shows that a premature birth before 32weeks gestation increases the mother's breast cancer risk. The biologicalreasons for this are the same as for the abortion-cancer link.

Breasttissue is only matured from cancer-susceptible tissue into cancer resistanttissue during the last eight weeks of a full-term pregnancy. During this time,women receive protection from estrogen overexposure experienced during thefirst two trimesters of pregnancy.

The World Health Organization provided additionalsupport for an abortion-cancer link last year when it identified combined(estrogen plus progestin) oral contraceptives (OCs) and combined hormonereplacement therapy as "Group 1 carcinogens."

Abortion has a disparate impact on adolescents. UsingOCs and/or having an abortion before the birth of a first child are especiallycarcinogenic. Teenagers who have abortions have a greater risk for subsequentpremature births than do adults because of the higher risk of infection andweakened cervix.

Atleast sixty significant studies published since 1963 report anabortion-premature birth link.