For many women, abortion is no big deal

Guess what these women are talking about: "As soon as I came round from the anaesthetic I felt amazing - invigorated and positive"; "The procedure itself was uncomfortable but interesting and I feel lucky to have had the experience."

Liposuction? Breast augmentation? No. Abortion. Both of these women are describing their experiences on the website of the pro-choice campaign group Abortion Rights.

Sheer honesty such as this is a rare commodity in the pro-choice community. We might like the fact that abortion exists, but we keep a tight rein on our enthusiasm. The best prevarication is: "Of course it's a terribly difficult decision for any woman,” but, really, we're silently scoffing, "A baby!? You must be joking!"

Of course, abortion is a hugely traumatic and confusing prospect for many women. But for others, it's not. It's not a soul-wrenching, hand-wringing ordeal. For plenty

of women it's a no-brainer. I have friends who've agonised longer and harder over what to wear for a date than whether or not to bring a new life into this world.

Conventional wisdom dictates that abortion is, at best, a necessary evil; at worst, 'barbaric', or 'foeticide'. Those are the words of Nadine Dorries MP, spearhead of the nattily titled '20 Reasons for 20 Weeks' pro-life campaign. Today that campaign will be tested when MPs vote on lowering the current 24-week limit on abortion to 20 – one of the many issues included in the Human Embryology & Fertilisation Bill.

Britain's upper limit for abortion is extremely liberal compared to the rest of Europe, where it hovers around 12 weeks. Abortion is hardly taboo: the media talk about it all the time. Yesterday, the Sunday Telegraph reported that "thousands of woman have had four or more abortions". So why don't we hear more from those women who find abortion 'positive' or 'invigorating'?

If the pro-life lobby emerges victorious after Tuesday's vote, those women will find it even harder to speak out.