ST. PAUL — Planned Parenthood continues its abortion business expansion despite overall state and national trends of declining abortion numbers. As Minnesota's largest abortionist, Planned Parenthood grew its market by a staggering 11.5 percent last year and controlled a greater portion of the market, while statewide abortions rose less than 1 percent, according to the state's annual Abortion Report issued today by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Planned Parenthood increased its abortions by 44 percent from 2012 to 2016, and more than doubled its abortion business since 2001. Planned Parenthood's annual abortion numbers have increased every year but one since 2006. In stark contrast, annual state abortion totals fell in all but two of those years. Planned Parenthood's 2016 total of 5,629 abortions was by far its highest number ever, and a record market share of 56.5 percent of all abortions performed in Minnesota. "This data confirms once again that Planned Parenthood means abortion," said MCCL Executive Director Scott Fischbach. "As an organization that takes credit for the overall decline in abortions, Planned Parenthood has lost all credibility. Its clear goal is to perform as many abortions as possible, and it does so year after year."
Despite Planned Parenthood, some 2016 statistics are encouraging. Last year's 9,953 abortion total was the third lowest since 1974. Just 291 abortions were performed on minors, accounting for 2.9 percent of the total. This is the second lowest number since the state began recording minor abortions in 1975 and represents a decline of 87 percent from their peak in 1980, the year prior to passage of Minnesota's Parental Notification law. More than 11,500 women received factual, state provided information about abortion risks and complications, abortion alternatives and much more under the Woman's Right to Know law. MCCL helped to pass the informed consent law in 2003; state abortion numbers have decreased in all but two years since the program began. MCCL also helped to enact the Positive Alternatives law, which took effect in July 2006. Not all of today’s report is good news, however. Abortions were performed at a rate of more than 27 every single day last year. More than 40 percent of abortions in 2016 were performed on women who had undergone at least one prior abortion; 716 women had three or more previous abortions. The report also shows that African Americans remain a target of the abortion industry. They represent just 5.8 percent of the state’s population, yet accounted for 26 percent of abortions. About half of all abortions were performed on minorities, who make up only 19 percent of the population. Full reports for 2016 and prior years are available at the MDH website.
The following is additional information concerning "Induced Abortions in Minnesota, 2016, Report to the Legislature," released June 30, 2017, by the Minnesota Department of Health: The 2016 total of 9,953 reported abortions is the third lowest recorded since 1974, and also the second lowest abortion rate since 1973 (8.6 per 1,000 females age 15-44) The total number of reported abortions performed in Minnesota since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion on demand: 628,767 40% of women who received an abortion in 2016 had at least one prior abortion. A total of 716 women reported they had had 3 or more prior abortions; 94 women had had 6 or more previous abortions 11,585 women received information about abortion risks, complications and alternatives under the Woman’s Right to Know informed consent law, which is 1,632 more than the number who underwent abortions Abortionists:
104 different people performed abortions in 2016, an increase of 5 over the prior year
12 physicians each performed more than 300 abortions last year
Minnesota’s 5 abortion facilities performed 99% of all abortions in 2016
With few exceptions, abortions performed on minors have been declining annually since 1987. In 2006, abortions on minors spiked 16% after Planned Parenthood opened two feeder clinics in Twin Cities suburbs and heavily marketed its services to minors. Abortions performed on minors are down 87 percent from their peak of 2,327 in 1980 63% of abortions were used as birth control (no contraception used at time of conception) Race and abortion: African Americans—5.8% of population, 26% of abortions; Asians—4.8% of population, 7% of abortions; Caucasians—81% of population, 51% of abortions; Hispanics—5.2% of population, 7% of abortions, American Indians—1.1% of population, 2% of abortions Late-term abortions (after week 20) increased from 122 to 140. The latest abortion was performed at 26 weeks (in 2015 the latest was at 29 weeks) Suction was the most common form of abortion, used for 56% of abortions. RU486 chemical abortions reached an all-time high of 35.4% of the total, up from 32% in 2015. Dismemberment abortions, including dilation & evacuation (D&E) and sharp curettage (D&C), increased from 823 to 843. No intact D&X (partial-birth) abortions were reported Reasons women gave for their abortions (more than one reason could be given):
Less than 1% for rape, incest (consistent with past years)
70% “does not want child at this time” (same percentage in 2015)
29% economic reasons (26% in 2015)
Complications: 151 reported, up from 92 in 2015
62 occurred during abortion procedure (including 20 cervical laceration, 2 hemorrhage, 5 uterine perforation, 35 other), a more than 400% increase over 2015
89 occurred after abortion procedure (including 54 incomplete abortions, often associated with RU486 chemical abortions), up from 77 the previous year