Adolescent abortions in the United States.

Despite the fact that adolescent females have a more negative reaction to abortion than older women, they are apparently more likely to use legal abortion to prevent unplanned births. The most important variable affecting abortions among teenagers is the significantly later gestational age at which their procedures are performed. After adjusting for this factor, teenagers have generally lower morbidity and mortality rates from legally induced abortions than do older women. The scientific literature is inconclusive about whether present abortion methods will have any harmful effect on subsequent desired pregnancies. Current efforts to restrict abortion services for teenagers will probably produce a negative public health impact by encouraging delay in obtaining abortions after deciding to terminate a pregnancy.