Abortion And Its Effects On Health

In the United States “1.7% of women aged 15–44 have an abortion” (“Induced Abortion in the United States”). Twenty-one percent of all pregnancies end in abortion (“Induced Abortion in the United States”). Women most commonly have abortions before the end of her first trimester, twelve weeks into the pregnancy, however, abortions may also be performed after the first trimester. Abortions are quite common, but they also lead to numerous issues for the parents such as regret, depression, drug abuse and even suicide. The parent’s choice of abortion has lasting physical and psychological effects on the parents of the aborted child, even years after the abortion process.

The practice of abortions throughout the United States are safe. Abortions have become safer since the procedure was reluctantly legalized in the United States-by the Supreme Court-in 1973. According to The American Medical Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs the number of deaths associated with abortion drastically dropped from roughly four out of every one hundred thousand women in 1973 to .6 per every one hundred thousand women in 1997 (Abortion is Safe). These statistics show that procedure in how an abortion is performed has become safer since legalization. Legalization of abortion permitted the procedure to be performed in a sterile setting- such as a hospital operating room. The medical risk associated with an abortion procedure is highly overestimated. An abortion performed exactly as medically advised carries half the risk of a tonsillectomy (Abortion is Safe). (A tonsillectomy is a simple procedure that is performed on many children in their childhood.) On the other hand, anti-abortion advocates point to emotional problems that could harm the pregnant woman after an abortion. These advocates attempt to show there is a link to mental disorders in post abortion women. A New Zealand study looked to verify this claim. The analysis showed that there was a credible link between depression, suicide attempts and substance abuse in post abortion women (Cords). Researchers also aimed to connect having an abortion with post-traumatic stress disorder

In a time fraught with hot button issues, one that polarizes perhaps more than any other is that of abortion. Unfortunately, it is also an issue that is difficult to write about while remaining unbiased. Paul Stark’s “How Abortion Hurts Women” and Sarah Barnes’ “The Long Term Effects of Abortion on Women” both set out to prove that abortion has serious side effects on the affected party. Both Stark and Barnes cite several studies done in both America and abroad to support their claims, as well as, in Barnes case, offering their own insights on the matter. It seems that both authors purpose is to enlighten their audiences on the under-reported effects of abortion on women in order to spark a new conversation that doesn’t center around the unborn

One of the most widely discussed issues within the topic of abortion is the mental health of the mother. Research by Guttmacher Advisory says “Based on the best scientific evidence currently available, there is no credible evidence that abortion, in and of itself, causes mental health problems for most women.”(2008). Guttmacher backs their claims with studies and research done by the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA states that many studies didn’t take into account how a woman’s mental health was before thinking about abortion. They also point out that any significant life event is stressful such as divorce or a death so one cannot say abortion

In the overarching state of humanity, few topics are as important to the long term societal standpoint as abortion. Even more important and contested is the controversial subject of whether or not a woman will endure long term psychological effects or disorders after said abortion. This subject has been highly debated, with valid points made by both sides. It is important that we all look into these repercussions, especially since approximately 33% of women will undergo an abortion by the time they reach forty-five years old. This often challenged subject has many aspects. The main ideas that I researched where whether or not having an abortion leads to a higher risk for mental health issues, whether or not “post-abortion syndrome” is a

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment had a study that showed that women who had an unintentional pregnancy and could not get an abortion so they had to follow through faced a higher chance of having maternal depression. Also, there are studies done that showed a group of women both who were denied abortion and those who were allowed abortion. The women who could go through with the abortions helped happier after the procedure was done as well as it was the right decision. With the women who were denied the abortion, however, felt unhappy and did not feel relief. These women that didn't get the abortion are less happy and could face the maternal depression (postpartum depression) with taking the option away that raises the chance to mess with someone's mental health. Someone's mental health is not something people should have the right to pick and chose how they are affected by

My second scholarly article, Women's Rights on the Right: The History and Stakes of Modern Pro-Life Feminism, by Mary Ziegler, actually goes against my belief on abortion. It talks about how abortion actually harms women instead of help them. After reading this article, it has helped me see from the other point of view that opposes mine. The findings suggest that abortion in young women may be associated with increased risks of mental health problems. In particular, various writers have recommended that premature birth may have longer-term unfriendly psychological wellness impacts inferable from sentiments of blame, uncertain misfortune and self-esteem issues. Everything has its pros and cons, and for abortion it’s the same way.

On the flip side studies by the American Psychological Association (APA) says that women who receives abortions are less likely to suffer mental health problems than those who denied. In fact, 95% of the women who went through

Various studies have been conducted to show the psychological effects following an abortion. According to the results some women experience depression and anxiety. These psychological effects reflect on several factors. Abortion may relieve stress by ending an unwanted pregnancy, but the event itself may simultaneously be experienced as a stressor causing anxiety grief, guilt, despair and anger. These factors could lead to depression, as feelings of powerless, anger and self-condemnation are emotions that underlie depression. Controversies exist whether abortion is linked with mental health or not. Future research requires a better understanding of the conditions that lead to unwanted pregnancy and abortion with the ultimate goal of improving women’s lives and well being.

Statement of Problem: Abortion is defined as the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. Today, especially here in the United States of America, there is a growing issue and debate around the idea of abortion. There is a stigma against abortion because of the possibility of negative religious, political, medical, emotional, and mental consequences it may cause. Each year, worldwide there is an estimated 42 billion abortions that take place. This number does not include abortions that are not performed by professionals. The big issue alongside with abortion itself, is the affects it has on the mental health of females who undergo the procedure.

The American Psychological Association created an exhaustive review in which they studied the scientifically valid research effects for mental health and abortion in 1989. They then recreated a task force in 2006 and issued a complete report in 2008. They concluded “The best scientific evidence published indicates that among adult women who have an unplanned pregnancy the relative risk of mental health problems is no greater if they have a single elective first-trimester abortion than if they deliver that pregnancy” (Guttmacher). The risk of mental health problems after abortion is no different from actually having the baby. Some antiabortion activists claim that abortion causes mental health problems and have relied solely on anecdotes and claim science is on their side. However, several scientific institutions have conducted large-scale literature reviews and analyzes and all have confirmed that abortion still does not pose any increased mental health risk to women (Guttmacher). In 2011, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges commissioned and published a review that was conducted by the National Collaborating Center for Mental Health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The review concluded that "rates of mental health problems for women with an unwanted pregnancy were the same whether they had an abortion or birth" (Guttmacher). They concluded mental health was not associated with abortion but it was the "unwanted

Women have been found to suffer emotional distress after having had the abortion. Around 42 million women worldwide obtain a legal abortion each year, although many experience emotional relief over 30 % have experienced significant psychological distress that does not vanish over time. By examining California state Medicaid records of more than 56,700 low-income women, the research team found that women who aborted were 72 percent more likely to be admitted to hospital for "adjustment reactions," depressive psychosis and bipolar disorder in the first four years after their pregnancy than those who carried their babies to term. Statistics show that it is better for a woman to give birth to their baby rather than terminate their pregnancy regardless of their age of conceiving. Thoughts of suicide, a horrific mark of mental illness, the figures should be enough to convince anyone who cares about young women to desire a ban on abortion for minors, no pregnancy: 23%; pregnancy, no abortion: 25%; abortion: 50%. In December 2005 report, the South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion, appointed by Gov. Mike Rounds (R.), cited

Abortion was created to aid in certain situations in which a woman could not or did not want to give birth to a child and to care for the child. Abortion is a method in which the baby still in the mother’s womb or the living embryo/fetus is killed. Abortions will be performed for many reasons if it is an unwanted pregnancy for social and/or financial reasons or if there are medical circumstances with the child and/or the mother. A woman may be unable to carry the child or there may be congenital defects and the child would not be able to live afterbirth. The child may have genetic irregularities, such as Down syndrome. The parents may feel that they would be incapable of caring for the child and often the parents may feel that to have

Many women that choose to have an abortion do not realize that it is a dangerous surgery with serious side effects. These side effects are both physical and psychological. Having an abortion is unnatural and interrupts this function of the human body. “The women’s body naturally resists the abortion, causing physical and emotional problems” (“Who does Abortion Affect?”). Almost all of the women who had abortions feel that they have made the wrong decision. The women are not informed about the side effects of abortion. Many women that had abortions said their doctors gave “little or no information about the potential health risks

The modern world today is brought together by many different cultures, beliefs, thoughts, opinions and morals. Which makes life difficult at times and causes people to not get along when differences can not be set aside. There are many issues and topics that are the root of these problems, which may never be solved and more than likely will never be solved based on characteristics of cultures and beliefs. Abortion is a very diverse topic in today’s society for which there may never be a correct answer to live up to everyone’s morals, but both sides present persuasive facts and opinions to justify their beliefs.