ST. PAUL — Planned Parenthood aborted more unborn babies than ever in 2010 even though the total number of abortions dropped more than seven percent to 11,505, according to the latest Abortion Report issued today by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The surge continues a trend of Planned Parenthood performing more abortions, regardless of whether the annual total rises or falls.
Planned Parenthood increased its abortions by a stunning 64 percent from 2000 to 2010, while total abortions dropped more than 22 percent over the same period. Planned Parenthood now performs 35 percent of all abortions in the state—its highest percentage ever. It was the only provider to perform more abortions in 2010 over the previous year.
"Planned Parenthood officials need to stop claiming they want to reduce abortions in Minnesota, because the statistics don't lie," said Scott Fischbach, Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL). "With its massive new abortion clinic under construction in St. Paul, which will be the nation's third largest, Planned Parenthood is poised to further expand its already bloated business of killing the unborn in record numbers."
The 2010 Abortion Report shows the lowest rate of abortions since 1974. Abortions performed on minor girls fell 16.8 percent to 482, the lowest number on record (statistics for minors go back to 1975) and down to 4 percent of all abortions. Minor abortions peaked at 2,327 in 1980. Minnesota's effective 1981 parental notification law continues to bring together parents and their pregnant minor daughters to make life-affirming decisions.
More women are being hurt by abortion. Complications such as a perforated uterus and incomplete abortion nearly doubled, rising to 164 in 2010.
There were other increases last year. Chemical abortions using the dangerous and sometimes lethal RU486 drug combination rose to 20.7 percent of all abortions, continuing a steady increase. Taxpayer-funded abortions increased to 33.8 percent of all abortions—the highest percentage since the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that taxpayers must pay for elective abortions. Self-funded abortions are at their lowest level since reporting began in 1998.
The total number of reported abortions performed in Minnesota since 1973 is 567,155.
The following is additional information concerning "Induced Abortions in Minnesota, 2010, Report to the Legislature," released July 26, 2011, by the Minnesota Department of Health:
The 2010 total of 11,505 is the lowest recorded since 1975, and also the lowest abortion rate since 1974 (10.1 per 1,000 females age 15-44)
42% of women who received an abortion in 2010 had at least one prior abortion. A total of 881 women reported they had had 3 or more prior abortions
14,208 women received information about abortion risks, complications and alternatives under the Woman’s Right to Know informed consent law, which is 2,703 more than the number who underwent abortions
Planned Parenthood performed an average of more than 11 abortions every day in 2010, for a total of 4,033. The provider increased its abortions by 1% while total abortions decreased 7.1% It has been the state's largest abortionist since 2004. It performed almost 1,800 more than the next largest center
Abortionists:
- 101 different people performed abortions in 2010
- 6 physicians each performed more than 600 abortions last year
- Minnesota's 7 abortion centers performed 99% of all abortions in 2010
- 54 people performed abortions at the 7 abortion centers, down from 61 in 2009
65% of abortions were used as back-up birth control (no contraception used at time of conception)
Race and abortion: African Americans—4% of population, 23% of abortions; Asians—3% of population, 7% of abortions; Caucasians—90% of population, 60% of abortions; Hispanics—3% of population, 6% of abortions
Late-term abortions (after week 24) increased from 0 to 6. The latest abortion was performed at 28 weeks (in 2009 the latest was at 23 weeks)
Suction was the most common form of abortion, used for 73% of abortions (75% in 2009). Six instillation (saline) abortions were performed; induction of labor, as a form of abortion, increased from 6 to 18. No Intact D&X abortions were reported
Reasons women gave for their abortions (more than one reason could be given):
- Less than 1% for rape, incest, "impairment of major bodily function"
- 63% "does not want child at this time" (same as 2009)
- 32% economic reasons (up 1% from 2009)
- 22 occurred during abortion procedure (13 cervical lacerations, 3 hemorrhage, 6 other)
- 142 occurred after abortion procedure (up from 79 in 2009)
MCCL is Minnesota's oldest and largest pro-life organization with more than 70,000 member families and 240 chapters across the state.
