Votes have been cast. Votes have been counted. Seems the election was fairer this year. Less griping. Perhaps someone will figure out why.

Abortion was on the ballot in 10 states. Currently abortion is banned after conception in 13 states, banned after six weeks in four more states, and banned after 12 to 18 weeks in another five. This year measures supporting abortion rights were passed in seven of those 10 states.

Yet the results of the election also showed support for legislators who would push an anti-abortion agenda. And support for legislators who would appoint judges and justices that would uphold laws to ban abortion and interpret laws to limit or ban abortion.

So here we are. Popular opinion of supporting abortion access has been circumvented. So how do we live with it?

At the very least I think it is imperative that we level the playing field. Who is affected by pregnancy? Who is not? We are all going to live with the laws, so let’s ensure they affect everyone somewhat equally.

It takes two to tango, and two to conceive a baby. Maybe a husband and wife, maybe not. Maybe people who are in love, maybe not. Maybe a hormone rage. Maybe a rape. Maybe incest is involved. Regardless, conception.

But here’s the thing. Only the mom gets pregnant. Which means only mom has the potential disruption of her work schedule. Loss of income. Doctor’s visits.

Only the mom gets morning sickness. Only the mom has the risk of miscarriage. Hormone surges. Disruptions in social life. Exhaustion. Weight gain, body changes, changes that a mother may never return to after her pregnancy. Maybe mom must discontinue her meds to protect the health of the fetus. Gestational diabetes. Risk of infection. Postpartum depression. Risk of infertility. And, of course, death.

Perhaps these issues are compounded with the reality of rape, something that occurs far more frequently than we realize.

Dad? Well, pretty much a free pass. Maybe a bit of apprehension over pending child support. Maybe some emotional issues. But can he still go to work? Yep. Go out for a beer after work with no consequence to the fetus? Yep. Pretty much normal life.

What legislator has the guts to level the playing field? Why should a man get a free pass? If mom has risks, so should dad. And it starts now.

Life begins at conception? OK. So does child support — retroactive to the determined date of conception. The pregnancy affects mom financially and it can hurt. It’s going to hurt dad too — $3,000 a month. If the mom has health issues, up goes the risk. Double the fee to $6,000 a month.

If dad denies he is the father but genetic tests prove he is, the support is doubled — $6,000 a month, $12,000 a month if mom has health issues. It would be $10,000 a month if rape is involved, fees doubled under circumstances above.

If dad can’t afford it, sell assets. Run out of money? Sorry. Find a second job. It hits dad’s pocket but he isn’t sick and isn’t going to die. Does it ruin his life? Now he knows what mom faces.

In an at-risk pregnancy mom may be at health risk of potential future infertility. But she must keep the fetus to term. If she ends up infertile as a result, dad must have a mandatory vasectomy or castration. Feel the pain. It’s real.

If mom needs a life saving abortion but does not get care and dies? Well, sorry dad. It doesn’t seem fair that she had to die and you get to live. But you just voted overwhelmingly for that. Why should you get to live?

Is it fair to do this to a perfectly healthy man? Well, now you know how mom feels.

Wouldn’t women abuse this arrangement? Lure a man into having a baby just for the money? I’m sure of it. I have these words of advice for men. You should have thought about that before you had your fling.

Married or unmarried, conception is a shared risk now. Women have been burdened with producing children since the beginning of time. Women have taken the risks.

Dad, now you have them, too.

James Spangler, OD, is a Warren resident.