It seems that no state in Australia keeps the statistics - after all there is no reason to, as each woman seeking the medical termination of a pregnancy is an individual and why should we count what individuals chose to do?

But the British do keep these statistics: and as we are both broadly similar (not the same) societies it could be assumed the the British stats provide a few clues as to what may be happening here.

Britain has a population of around 60,000,000 or three times that of Australia: Extrapolation of the figures in this article should be straightforward.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6335880.ece

Quote:

"A breakdown of the data showed 11,354 women had their third abortion and 2,780 their fourth. The figures showed 46 women had had eight or more terminations."

I guess it is relatively insignificant that in any recent year perhaps 3,500 women exercised their right to choose for a 3rd time, perhaps 900 for a fourth time but only around 15 women in Australia may have exercised their right to chose 8 times or more (per year). Only small numbers really.

But it is their choice.

i'm sorry Dougthebear, but this woman's husband must have been truly stupid? He continues to have unprotected sex with her despite knowing about at least several of her 17 abortions?

He REALLY didn't want children did he!
They were both obviously insane or incredibly stupid!

I agree that multiple abortions are inherently wrong.
If women really don't want to get pregnant there are now injections or under-skin hormone implants that can give long-term contraception without the need for women to remember to take the pill at all.

Certainly, they should not wait for the man to take care of the contraception needs! Men don't like wearing condoms.

Suzie

You wrote: "I agree that multiple abortions are inherently wrong."

Firstly I want to say that I am not arguing with you about what you have said, but what you have said actually brings this, and other matters, into context.

I actually question the use, in this situation. of the word, or the concept, 'wrong'.

We live in a society where there is essentially no such thing as right or wrong. There is legal or illegal, lawful or not lawful, honest or dishonest. The idea of 'right or wrong' has slipped away, except when it comes what children are told. We have people who are guilty of bad things not being held responsible because of quirks of law.

In terms of terminations, if one or even two terminations are a matter of choice for the woman involved, and therefore neither right nor wrong, then multiple terminations are also a matter of choice, and neither right nor wrong. Multiple terminations may be unhealthy or undesirable, but they are not 'wrong'.

In much the same way as some (very few) women and their partners keeping having many children, and keep neglecting them so that they are taken into care, the having of many children, or not having any children, is a choice. It is neither right nor wrong. The community has decided not to stop those multiple mothers from having more children, so that they keep on having them and they keep getting removed. If we had 'right or wrong' those women would be sterilized by force: but that is not going to happen.

So how can we stop multiple terminations, except by force and denying what is defended as a choice and a the right to have control over your own body? We cannot. That is the way that it is.

I see your point Doug, and it would seem there are no easy answers.
If a woman keeps having abortions, with one partner, then I guess he could have a vasectomy by choice?

On the other hand, I have heard of disabled or intellectually handicapped females and males who put their lives in danger by constantly having unprotected sex, with resulting pregnancies and abortions.

If the guardians of these people agreed, then they were surgically 'fixed' so they were now infertile as well as having lowered sexual drive.
That is another controversial topic all by itself!

This is pretty radical of course, but I imagine that in some cases that is all they can do.

At the end of the day, it is a question of choice for able minded people.
Who is able minded and who is not is open to conjecture!