In today’s culture of competing “expert” voices, partial truths often shape public perception. This article examines claims surrounding abortion—particularly the abortion pill—and asks whether important risks and realities are being minimized while powerful organizations profit. You decide if the public is being given the full story.
Protecting women and the unborn,
Wendy Wixom, President
United Families International
Partial Truths: What the Abortion Industry doesn’t say
Rebecca Heiner
We live in an environment that makes it difficult to know who and what to trust. We are inclined to trust the “experts” of society, who are typically organizations or people of authority we consider credible. But not every professional organization has an individual’s best interest in mind. In a cultural and political climate that offers partial truths to push agenda or accumulate wealth, it’s important to seek multiple sources of information, on all sides of the ideological aisle, and in the end, sharpen our skill of discernment.
Examining Partial Truths
Throughout history we have examples of harmful products that were at one point presented as safe. In hindsight, we often see a company or organization that stood to profit by overemphasizing safety before an extensive amount of research was done. But even when research is conducted, focusing mainly on the favorable research to gain approval.
A few specific examples to consider are:
- Cigarettes – (Who Benefited -The Tobacco Industry): Often using Doctors and health messaging, downplaying risks to reassure consumers.
- Sugar & The Use of High Fructose Corn Syrup – (Who Benefited -The Food Industry): The consumption of fat was villainized to distract from the possibility of harmful effects from excess sugar & processed sugar.
- Oxycontin – (The Pharmaceutical Industry) – Was first marketed as having “low addiction risk” when used to treat pain.
Each of these products was at one time or another presented as having low risk, even as evidence against them mounted. The fact that the provider or company of the product is steadily profiting suggests they will continue to do so for as long as they can -even if it means risk to the public.
This isn’t to say that every claim made about a product is a deliberate misrepresentation. But when money, power, and political agendas are in the mix, the line between full transparency and false advertising can easily become murky. Politics, especially, make this issue complicated. Politicians, often sponsored by big companies who donate money to their cause, enter a co-dependent relationship with the donor. This means they have each other’s backs and benefit from one another.
Partial Truths Within The Pro-Abortion Movement
Abortion continues to be a hot topic in our culture and among political parties. Aside from the more obvious moral implications tied to abortion, the “pro-choice” movement also likes to focus on convenience, safety, and commonality of abortion procedures to pacify the public. In regard to using the abortion pill, Planned Parenthood states on their website that “Medication abortion is really safe and effective. It’s a super common way to have an abortion, and millions of people have used it safely.”
While it’s possible millions of people have used the abortion pill, saying it’s “super common” takes away from the seriousness of a complex procedure, not to mention what it is actually doing. In addition, using the word “safe” implies an attempt to placate fears and divert attention from the bigger picture-which regardless of how common or uncommon, risks are indeed associated with the use of medication abortion pills.
In September of 2025, a letter was sent from Washington to the Attorney General suggesting further research be done into the possible harmful effects from use of the pill.The FDA and organizations such as Planned Parenthood claim the drug is safe and effective, with only 0.5% of users experiencing adverse effects.
A recent study conducted by the Ethics and Public Policy Center determined the abortion pill is significantly more dangerous than pro-abortion organizations (like Planned Parenthood) have claimed. Referencing data collected from 865,727 insurance claims, the study, which was more extensive than past studies, reports that 10.9% of women (1 in 10) experience adverse effects. These can include sepsis, hemorrhaging, and infection-all of which can be life threatening. This number is 22 times higher than the reported 0.5% claim on the label.
Critics of the study argue it has limitations-such as not being peer reviewed. They also argue that going off insurance claims is not an accurate way to determine cause. But it’s important to note that getting the public on board with abortion and abortion procedures benefits many big companies and organizations. The old truism, “follow the money” certainly applies!
Downplaying Risks of abortion
To what lengths might pro abortion organizations go to in order to minimize risks and push their agenda? According to Mayra Rodriguez, who worked as a center coordinator and Director for Planned Parenthood from 2000-2017, the answer may surprise you.
Rodriguez has seen first hand the dismissal of women’s safety and well-being to further the perception that abortion is safe, easy, minimally invasive, and commonplace. When she saw things that concerned her, she was told to mind her own business. She was consistently fed the idea that Planned Parenthood was helping women who would otherwise have to seek “back alley” abortions.
Rodriguez was told, and then promoted, a partial truth – the pill will cause some cramping and bleeding like a regular period. While that may be true for some, others who experience severe symptoms (according to Rodriguez) are dismissed when they call in complaining that the pain and bleeding is so severe they don’t know what to do.
Another concerning partial truth can also be found in the wording of this statement, also included on the website- “People can have a range of emotions after having an abortion. Studies show that most people feel relief-but sometimes people feel sad or regretful.” There are many links to articles citing a study conducted in 2020 that claimed an overwhelming 84% of women felt positive emotions about their abortion decision.
However, there are alternate studies that can also debunk this information. One more recent survey, conducted in 2024-2025, counters this claim by showing it’s not that simple. The survey found that multiple variables and circumstances contribute to feelings about an abortion. Many women have complex feelings, including guilt, anger, grief, emptiness, anxiety, and depression. In this survey, relief was the predominant emotion in only 29.8% of women whose abortions were freely wanted and aligned with their values. Stating that “most people feel relief” is a blanket statement that is over simplified and even manipulative.
The Pull Of The Almighty Dollar
Rodriguez, who said she originally joined Planned Parenthood to “help women,” is now speaking out about the things she saw during her time with Planned Parenthood. In a recent article, she said “As a center director, to me, the obvious reason why Planned Parenthood trains staff to mislead women to have an abortion and lies to them: it’s easy money…there’s hardly any responsibility or legal backlash to them.”
She explained that money, or lack of it, is the one thing the company responds to and truly cares about. In our societies, false advertising to gain a profit is nothing new. But when it comes to an issue such as this, it’s harming human beings and devaluing life to accumulate wealth and push a political narrative.
Exposing Truth
In partnership with Live Action, Rodriguez has filmed and released a video telling her story. In addition, she and three other women are providing witness testimony in a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood chapters, and Minnesota officials. It brings to light violation of the 14th amendment rights of pregnant mothers, claiming the Minnesota abortion laws allow coercion and exploitation of pregnant women. The website linked to the lawsuit explains “This case exposes government collusion with the abortion industry, fights to end forced and uninformed abortions, and demands justice to restore mothers’ constitutional rights across America.”
Individuals like Mayra Rodriguez are sharing their experiences to educate and influence change. Mayra said she never saw medical or procedural abortion lead to happiness for the woman involved. She saw darkness, pain, grief, and a million dollar industry take their cut, while leaving women to pick up pieces in the aftermath. And all because they were sold “an ideal” under the premise of “women’s rights.”
This lawsuit is important for women, and the unborn, everywhere. The ulterior motives are being exposed. The abortion industry, for countless years, has capitalized on exploiting the vulnerable and misleading them with partial truths and information. That is something we should all be furious about, and seek to lay bare. A healthy future for women, and life itself for children, is dependent on truth being brought to light.
If you would like to learn more about this topic, please see these additional resources:
https://proliferibbon.com/podcast/the-prolife-team-podcast-141-mayra-rodriguez/
Rebecca is a recent graduate of BYU-Idaho, earning a bachelor’s degree in Marriage and Family Studies with an emphasis on family advocacy. Rebecca is passionate about the importance of families within communities and is especially dedicated to reinforcing this within society. She believes it is important to pass this knowledge along to the next generation and has a special interest in family issues regarding children, teens, and young adults.