Abortion rates falling faster than normal...

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) the abortion rates in the US fell faster in 2009 than in any of the ten years prior. Research tells us that the use of contraception has played a major role in this decrease. As improvements (IUD, implants and "morning after pills") to available contraceptive options has spread, more and more women are availing themselves of them.

(Click here for the CDC Study)

According to the AP, "U.S. abortions fell 5 percent during the recession and its aftermath in the biggest one-year decrease in at least a decade, perhaps because women are more careful to use birth control when times are tough, researchers say.

The decline, detailed on Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, came in 2009, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Both the number of abortions and the abortion rate dropped by the same percentage." 

Reasonable people can agree that the use of contraceptives is a highly personal one. No one really disputes that. The main question arises when federal insurance guidelines mandate that employers make contraceptives available to their employees. Mostly, this causes issues for faith based employers. The Obama Administration has granted waivers to all Churches and other related businesses including many (mostly Catholic) Universities and Hospitals. In these cases, the burden falls upon the insurance company itself to provide these services.

In the run up to the election, we heard a great deal from politicians about women's health issues. Some of it was absolutely incredible to hear. Crazy talk about rape victims and their previously unknown powers of preventing pregnancy. And worse. It boggles the mind why some politicians felt that voicing such opinions would help their election chances. In several instances, these candidates who couldn't control their vocal urges, paid the price and lost.

I'm the husband of my wife, a father of three daughters and the brother of two sisters. I want them ALL to have as many options available to them as possible for their personal health issues. I know that this is getting awfully scientific and stuff for some, but if we agree that fewer abortions are better than more abortions, can we finally get some sensible talk about contraception from some of our conservative leaders?

The use of contraceptives prevents abortions. That is fact.

Source:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6108a1.htm?s_cid=ss6108a1_w

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MED_ABORTION_DECLINE?SITE=AZPHG&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/us/politics/todd-akin-provokes-ire-with-legitimate-rape-comment.html?_r=0

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/20/rep-todd-akin-7-more-crazy-rape-statements.html

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/11/07/1155211/rape-gaffes-lose-elections/