According to research collected from 2008 through 2010, the most frequently cited answers women provide as reasons for abortion (and the percentage of women who provided them) are the following. Note that women were able to give multiple reasons in this survey:

• Not financially prepared: 40 percent

• Bad timing, not ready, or unplanned: 36 percent

• Partner-related reasons (including the relationship is bad or new, she doesn't want to be a single mother, her partner is not supportive, does not want the baby, is abusive, or is the wrong guy): 31 percent

• Need to focus on her other children: 29 percent

• Not emotionally or mentally prepared: 19 percent

• Interferes with educational or vocational plans: 20 percent

• Health-related reasons (includes concern for her own health, the health of the fetus, use of prescription or non-prescription drugs, alcohol, or tobacco): 12 percent

• Want a better life for a baby than she could provide: 12 percent

• Not independent or mature enough for a baby: 7 percent

• Influences from family or friends: 5 percent

• Doesn't want a baby or to place the baby for adoption: 4 percent

• Partner-related issues: 31 percent

This survey used open-ended questions rather than having women select from a checklist of researcher-generated reasons. Previous surveys that had a set of answers got many responses for these reasons:

• Having a baby would dramatically change my life

• I have completed my childbearing

• Don’t want people to know I had sex or got pregnant

It is also interesting to point out that most women cite two to four reasons for abortion, not just one. In general, younger women often cite that they are unprepared for the transition to motherhood, and older women consistently indicate that they are already responsible for children and/or are past the childbearing stage in their lives.

Misconceptions About Reasons for Abortion

There are many who think women’s reasons for abortion center around using it simply as a method of birth control. A common perception is that abortion is done for convenience and as an easy way out. However, abortion is a complicated and complex issue. Most women who are faced with this decision do not make it lightly.

Most women of every age, race, income level, parity, and education who chose an abortion cite reasons having to do with concerns about responsibility to children and other dependents—as well as concern about the children they may have in the future. Women say they base their decision mainly on their ability to remain financially stable as well as being able to care for the children they already have.

Women who have had an abortion say it is not the easy way out. It's a painful and difficult decision she makes in consideration of what is the right thing to do by the child. It's a decision that will be with her for the rest of her life.