ABORTION[1] INTRODUCTION In Israeli society, saying ”I’m pregnant” immediately evokes a reaction of ‘Mazel Tov!’ [‘congratulations’]. Yet, not every pregnancy is a wanted one, and even a wanted pregnancy does not always end with childbirth. Many women are unsure whether or not to carry a pregnancy to term. Women may face many ...

During the second half of the 20th Century, many changes have occurred which relate to a woman’s reproductive choices. Until fifty years ago, fertile women became pregnant and gave birth out of choice or because there were no adequate contraceptives. The decisions were defined by rigid social expectations and medical ...

The right to make decisions regarding our bodies is in our hands and includes, amongst other things, the right to reproduce. We can decide whether we wish to bring children into this world, when and with whom. The various contraceptives at our disposal allow us to engage in safe sex ...

About half the women discover, at some stage in their life, that they are unexpectedly pregnant. If we suspect we have such pregnancy, it is important to identify the last day of the menstrual cycle and, of course, take a pregnancy test. Early discovery could allow us more choices of ...

When giving birth, our history, our ceremonies, our values, needs, strengths and anxieties play a part. Childbirth is one of the most fundamental events in our life and we can experience it in a variety of forms. This chapter offers detailed information about childbirth, starting from conception through to the ...