Crisis Pregnancy Centers Offer Misleading Information on Abortion Risks

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First published online:

Federally funded "crisis pregnancy centers" (CPCs) frequently mislead and misinform pregnant teens about the health risks of induced abortion, according to a congressional investigative report titled False and Misleading Health Information Provided by Federally Funded Pregnancy Resource Centers. The report was released on July 17 by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), ranking member of the House Government Reform Committee and outlines how CPCs in 15 states that received federal tax dollars misled or provided false information to investigators who called posing as pregnant 17-year-olds seeking advice about an unintended pregnancy.

Of the 23 CPCs contacted by investigators, 20 provided false or misleading information by claiming–contrary to the scientific evidence–that there is a link between abortion and breast cancer, that abortion harms future fertility or that abortion increases a woman’s risk of suffering severe mental health problems. CPCs, which are often affiliated with antichoice organizations, engage in what the report labels an "inappropriate public health practice," despite having received over $30 million in federal funding between 2001 and 2005.

Click here for more information on:

Abortion and Mental Health: Myths and Realities

The Long-Term Safety of Abortion (see pages 22–24)