Lately people on the internet have been getting all twisted up about the proposed abortion laws in Virginia.  Of particular contention is the bill that states that women must have a transvaginal ultrasound before undergoing the abortion procedure and a lot of people are really upset about that.

Um, haven’t you always had to have a transvaginal ultrasound before having an abortion?  Isn’t that a requirement to ensure that it is safe to have the procedure done?

People are arguing that having an ultrasound probe inserted in your vagina is invasive and traumatizing.  If the individual is a victim of rape or other sexual abuse I can certainly understand why the ultrasound would make them uncomfortable.  However, if you are having an abortion performed through the vacuum aspiration or D&C procedure, there will be medical instruments inserted into your vagina.  The abortion cannot take place without this happening.  It’s not as though the ultrasound is the only time that any insertion takes place.

I didn’t know that there were clinics out there that would perform an abortion WITHOUT an ultrasound being done first.