There are a lot of myths and misinformation about abortion. These myths may be passed down by parents or perpetuated by friends, perhaps well-meaning but just uninformed. Or they may be shouted by the president of the United States during the State of the Union address, or repeated on his much-followed Twitter account. But abortion is legal, and it's an essential part of health care for many people. That's why it's so important to dig down to the medical truth about abortion amid all the polarizing opinions, debates, and emotions.

In an effort to highlight what's real and what's not when we talk about abortion, the National Women's Health Network launched a tweetstorm at 2 P.M. on March 5 to #BustAbortionMyths. All kinds of people weighed in, including doctors, nurses, and the people behind the Twitter accounts of trusted organizations like Planned Parenthood and the Guttmacher Institute. Below are some of the most-tweeted-about abortion myths, and the truth behind them.

Myth: Abortion isn't safe

Wrong! As many pointed out during the tweetstorm, abortion is actually very safe; in fact, it's a safer procedure than getting a colonoscopy, and it's safer than giving birth. Access to legal and safe abortions can help those who need them in both the short and long term.

Myth: Abortion can lead to breast cancer

Scientific consensus does not support this claim — it's wrong! Most studies investigating whether abortion can cause breast cancer haven't found a link, though according to the American Cancer Society, there may be an increased risk of breast cancer for a short time after a pregnancy that results in giving birth. While there are some conflicting studies on whether abortion can increase the risk of breast cancer, the American Cancer Society says that experts generally agree that "the scientific evidence does not support the notion that abortion of any kind raises the risk of breast cancer or any other type of cancer."

Myth: Only straight, cisgender women have abortions

Anyone who can get pregnant can have an abortion, including transgender, gender nonconforming, queer, bisexual, and many others. When we talk about abortion, it's important to talk about it as something that's not exclusive to straight, cisgender women, because that ignores the experience so many other people have.

Myth: Medication abortion can be reversed

Medication abortion involves taking a series of pills that will end a pregnancy. Some say that an injection of progesterone after taking the first pill can reverse a medication abortion, but the truth is that an abortion, medical or surgical, cannot be reversed. You might hear politicians talking about the idea of reversing a medical abortion, but it may be a tactic to push the idea of regret over terminating a pregnancy, which studies have shown most people don't feel after having an abortion.

Myth: Most people regret their abortions

As mentioned above, research has shown that most people feel sure in their decision to have an abortion. One study found that 95% of people who had an abortion were still confident that they had made the right choice a week after the procedure, or three years after.

There are many more abortion myths out there, but these are some of the top ones busted during the March 5 tweetstorm. Ultimately, abortion is a standard part of health care — one that is constitutionally protected.

Related: Planned Parenthood Videos Explain Abortion Process