Abortion Mental Health Issues

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

The only terms used by the scientific community to refer to psychological pain of abortion are those associated with anxiety, depression or some corollaries of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Indeed, testing protocols and treatment of PTSD can be used only if the symptoms provide clear manifestations in a period close to the event. However, the manifestation of suffering of abortion is often part time, or even cannot come to the surface at the approach of its own death. Encysted psychological suffering will then wait for an event occur and strong for the person to make the connection between past events and the suffering of abortion. Some testimonials even mention the period immediately following

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

Nearly 81% of women who receive abortions experience subsequent mental health problems according to a recently published study by The Royal College of Psychiatrists. The study demonstrates that the aftermath of an abortion can result in higher rates of anxiety, depression, various forms of substance abuse, and suicidal behavior. As a result of the study, it shows that women who have an abortion face almost double the risk of mental health problems as women who have their baby. This outcome is due to the fact that most women who are terminating pregnancies “may feel a greater sense of loss, anxiety and distress due to lack of support”, as summarized in the Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit reproductive health organization. In fact, a five-year study shows that 25% of

This syndrome has been widely disseminated on the Web by abortion opponents. Although psychology cannot resolve moral differences of opinion about abortion, empirical research can answer questions of the relationship between abortion and psychological well-being. In fact, studies show that women typically experience relief after having a legal abortion.

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

Fetal pain has evolved into one of the main arguments for pro- life activists, despite 91% of all abortions happening in the first 13 weeks and 98% happening in the first 20 weeks. The fetal pain argument is often coupled with the myth, that abortions lead to a variety of mental health disorders like depression and drug abuse, but a study

Many women choosing to have an abortion are unaware of the psychological effects it will have on them. Many are affected for years or maybe even lifetime after the procedure. Abortion can affect each woman differently, some claim that abortion has negative effects on women’s mental health. Women have abortions for different reasons within different personal, social, economic, and cultural contexts. All of these may lead to variability in women’s psychological reactions following the abortion. This paper will focus on answering the following questions:

There are religious and emotional objections to abortion as well as the possibility of negative medical and mental consequences. Many are in favor of making abortion illegal because, they feel it is immoral. Others believe that government should not have a say so in such a personal matter. Are there any other factors that could possibly change the way people view abortion? The matter of abortions negatively affecting the women who have the procedure done is one that the world has been dealing with for some time now. Researchers have decided to explore the idea that women who have had an abortion could possibly be at a higher risk for developing and even intensifying mental health issues. Researchers use various measures to determine if or how having an abortion effects woman. Measures include factors such as women who request an abortion but have not yet gone through with it, women who have gone through with the procedure, and women who have lost a child due to abortions or other ways. The following literature explains these

A study was conducted among 843 women at 30 different United States abortion facilities between 2008 and 2010. This study used a series of questions to assess women’s emotions a week after their abortions. It was found that 95% of the women who obtained an abortion reported having the procedure done was the right decision for them. Among those who reported negative feelings toward the abortion, 84% felt it was still the correct choice for them. And finally, among those who felt some regret about the abortion, 89% still expressed it was the right choice for them (Rocca, C. H., Kimport, K., Gould, H., & Foster, D. G., 2013). While post abortion emotions vary from woman to woman, this study shows that of the 843 women, although for many it

The research aims to provide an overview of the effects of abortion on mental health. This methodological review also aims to gather ample data sources that provide contrasting research on abortion in relation to its effects on mental health. The research also aims to provide a non-biased data that will allow readers to determine the effects of abortion.

Studies by pro-choice researchers also conclude that women often have difficulty coping in life after an abortion. One study found that “17% of women felt guilt after the procedure… 56% of women experienced a sense of guilt about having had an abortion and 26% said they mostly regret the abortion.” (Dube 24). Sometimes, women have abortions and then carry such guilt with them that when they do want to become pregnant, they are not capable to because of the psychological stress associated with guilt. “In cases of selective abortion, there is grief for a wanted child, questions about the characteristics of the baby – not usually seen by the parents – worries about future pregnancies, ambivalence about abortion itself, and guilt – terrible guilt” is what Susan Borg and Judith Lasker had written in When Pregnancy Fails (Borg 50).

This article performs research on women’s emotions a week after abortion or being denied an abortion in the United States. Longitudinal studies are used to examine a woman’s emotions about abortion and pregnancy short-term after following through with abortion or being denied the abortion. The article states that previous studies in the past on mental health and emotions after abortions have had flaws or limitations within the study. Most studies focus on first trimester abortions; very few have done studies on abortions after the first trimester. Due to the fact it is not known if age has an effect on a woman’s emotion after receiving or being denied an abortion, makes for a great article. Another factor that has not been looked at in a different aspect is where the study is conducted. Most studies are conducted in small geographic locations, which limits the results on social or cultural attitudes toward the topic. It is important for a study like this to take place because there is many factor that can contribute to ones emotions.

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

Many anti-choice activists suggest that there is a particular type of psychological trauma, which they refer to as Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS), which women experience after having had an abortion. Furthermore, they suggest that the presence of this syndrome, with its negative impact on women, is another reason bolstering the outlawing of legal abortions. In order to examine that argument, this paper will investigate PAS, try to conclude whether it is a legitimate disorder, and determine whether its existence should impact the availability of legal abortions.