Which statement about abortions prior to 1973 is NOT correct? The History of Abortion: Select the best answer from the choices provided. The criminalization of abortion reduced the number of women who sought to end their pregnancies. The number of illegal abortions ranged as high as 1.2 million a year. Illegal abortions, often referred to as "back alley" abortions, were often performed by untrained practitioners or in unsanitary conditions. Wealthy women were usually able to obtain relatively safe abortions performed by doctors.