Abortion is a very hot button and controversial topic with many people on both sides of the argument. Abortion is a sensitive topic and there are several different aspects to the discussion; whether people support abortion over adoption, whether people believe abortion should be made fully illegal or allowed in certain circumstances, whether third trimester abortions should be permitted, and so on. While I am pro choice myself, I believe that abortion in an ideal world would not be as necessary as it is now.

When it comes to sexual education in schools, studies have shown that sex ed actually lowers the rate of teen pregnancies, as opposed to abstinence-only education, which does not teach teenagers about safe sex, but rather tells them to avoid it altogether. Knowledge is power.

Yes, in this day and age, information is available one google search away. Despite this, however, the internet can be misleading or inaccurate. Aside from that, learning about these things online is not the same as being able to talk to an adult you trust.

While the United States is known for having low teen pregnancy rates overall, but sexual education is still lacking in many areas.

Contraception, pregnancy risk, STIs, these should all be part of a comprehensive sex education. It is not necessarily only the "mechanics" that kids need to know at an earlier age, but things like consent, personal boundaries, and same sex relationships are important as well.

People who end up with unwanted pregnancies or are in need of an abortion may have not known how to correctly use contraception. Or they may have used contraception which didn't work (no contraception is 100% effective). One argument which is commonly used when someone points this out is that if a woman didn't want to become pregnant, she shouldn't have had sex in the first place. Many argue that those who are not ready to have/parent a baby, or women don't want to become pregnant, should practice abstinence.

Children and pregnancy are not, and should never be considered punishments for having sex. Although adoption is an option for those who still wish to carry out the pregnancy to term and give birth, pregnancy is still an ordeal which lasts almost a year and causes drastic changes to a person's body. Childbirth can be dangerous, despite advancements made in modern medicine, and it is overall a very personal decision a woman makes regarding whether or not they wish to go through it.

While abstinence is the only 100% fool-proof method of avoiding pregnancy, it is unrealistic to expect every person on earth to avoid having sex until they are financially and emotionally prepared to raise a child or endure a pregnancy. Sex is something natural which shouldn't carry the burden of shame with it that it does, and older teenagers/older children who are starting to enter puberty deserve to know how to do it safely and respectfully. They deserve access to contraception defending them from pregnancy and dangerous STIs.

Overall, abortion is definitely not a black and white issue. But I will always believe people should do what is best for them, and keeps them safe.