Fact check: What percentage of abortions are in the first trimester

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available data from official sources, approximately 93% of abortions occur during the first trimester (at or before 13 weeks of gestation) in the United States. The CDC's 2021 abortion surveillance report shows that 93.5% of abortions were performed at ≤13 weeks' gestation ^[1], while Pew Research Center's analysis confirms this figure at 93% for the same year ^[2]. The most recent CDC data from 2022 shows a slight decrease to 92.8% of abortions performed at ≤13 weeks' gestation ^[3].

More specifically, the data reveals that the vast majority of first-trimester abortions occur very early:

• 80.8% of abortions were performed at ≤9 weeks' gestation in 2021 ^[1]
• 78.6% of abortions were performed at ≤9 weeks' gestation in 2022 ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important contextual information that would provide a more complete understanding of abortion timing patterns:

• Geographic variations: The data represents national averages but may not reflect significant state-by-state differences in abortion access and timing
• Impact of recent policy changes: The analyses don't address how the Dobbs v. Jackson decision and subsequent state-level restrictions may have affected the timing of abortions
• Reasons for timing: The question doesn't explore why the overwhelming majority of abortions occur in the first trimester, such as early detection of pregnancy, accessibility of services, or medical recommendations
• Trends over time: While we have 2021 and 2022 data showing consistency, longer-term trends aren't addressed

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is straightforward and factual, asking for a specific statistical measure without apparent bias. However, the framing could potentially be used to support different political narratives:

• Pro-choice advocates might benefit from emphasizing that the vast majority of abortions occur very early in pregnancy, when fetal development is minimal
• Pro-life advocates might use the same data to argue that even early abortions represent significant numbers of terminated pregnancies

The question's neutrality makes it less susceptible to misinformation, though the interpretation and application of the statistical answer could vary significantly depending on the user's underlying agenda regarding abortion policy debates.