Deciding whether or not to have an abortion can be a difficult decision. There is a lot of misinformation—some of it spread by anti-choice groups—that can make the decision even harder. Here are some of the most common misconceptions about abortion and the real facts behind them.

MYTH: Abortion is dangerous.

FACT: Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures performed in the United States, and one of the safest. The risk of serious complications is less than 1 percent. The risk of death associated with childbirth is actually eleven times higher than that associated with abortion.

MYTH: Abortion causes breast cancer or Abortion increases your breast cancer risk.

FACT: The National Cancer Institute has found that there is no association between abortion and increased breast cancer risk. Unfortunately, anti-choice activists have tried to scare women into thinking there is a link in order to prevent them from choosing abortion.

MYTH: Abortion risks a woman’s future fertility.

FACT: There is no scientific evidence that having an abortion will affect your ability to have a baby in the future. Only when a woman experiences serious but rare complications, is future fertility affected. Medical studies show that having an abortion will not make it more difficult to become pregnant again.

MYTH: Abortion is very painful.

FACT: Pain management is always offered to women choosing abortion. Most women experience cramping similar to menstrual cramps during abortion Women who have had an abortion report all different levels of discomfort. If you are particularly worried about pain management, talk to your chosen abortion care provider about your pain management options.

MYTH: Abortion is expensive.

FACT: The cost of an abortion depends on many factors, including how far along the pregnancy is, the type of procedure and anesthesia used, and the kind of facility. The average first-trimester abortion costs around $400. If you have health insurance, the cost will be significantly less. The majority of private health insurance programs provide coverage for abortions, and public health insurance programs such as Medicaid in New York State also provide coverage for abortion. If you are uninsured, many clinics offer a sliding scale for abortions, based on your income, so that the procedure will be more affordable. They may also allow you to use credit cards or work out a payment plan. For more information on payment, see Paying for Your Care.

MYTH: Women who have abortions suffer from “Post Abortion Stress Syndrome.”

FACT: Anti-choice activists have invented “post abortion stress Syndrome,” and claim women who have had an abortion suffer from a set of emotional symptoms such as severe depression, anxiety, and guilt, in order to scare women and prevent them from choosing abortion. Expert panels have found that no evidence exists to support this condition. In fact, studies show that the rate of post-partum depression (depression after childbirth) is higher than the rate of serious depression after abortion. Every woman and every situation is different. You might experience a range of emotions before choosing and after having an abortion. See An Unplanned Pregnancy: Your Choices for questions that will help you explore your feelings and make the best decision. The Oakland-based group Exhale offers unbiased post-abortion counseling to women nationwide. They can be reached at 1-866-4-EXHALE or at www.4exhale.org.