Abortion Mental Health Problem

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

Abortion can cause periods of depression in which the pain can encysted. Some women become aggressive or nervous, or even hyperactive. Anxiety can find an answer food such as bulimia or, conversely, anorexia. For others, psychosomatic reactions will take over with stomach aches, absence of periods, headaches, the loss of self-esteem ("I'm bad, I'm unworthy, painful for others"), the fear of not being pregnant again or anxiety of existential insecurity are consequences commonly observed. Some episodes of a woman’s life can relive the acutely suffering felt at the time of abortion: the date in which the child had been born, or the anniversary date of the abortion, the desire to make present the dead child, are conducive to outbreaks of suffering intensely lived as, for example, anxiety or depressive

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

According to abortion.procon.org, the federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act, states that under federal law, “anybody intentionally killing or attempting to kill an unborn child should be punished... for intentionally killing or attempting to kill a human being.”This law protects the unborn children from murder and assault. According to www.afterabortion.org, women who undergo an abortion would have a 2.3 higher chance of getting cervical cancer than women who did not have an abortion. In addition, women who had an abortion are linked to health issues like infertility, hemorrhage, infection, embolism, anesthesia, and undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies. Abortion can also affect the mental and social health of the women. Women after abortion can develop lowered self-esteem, greater distrust of males, sexual dysfunction, substance abuse, and increased levels of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and anger. She may also loss relationship with her male partner or other family

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

After a woman has an abortion, the chances are three to four times higher of the mother having a miscarriage because of damage to the uterus. There is a higher chance of the mother dying from having an abortion than there is from her dying from natural childbirth. Even though after an abortion the mother feels relief that the ordeal is over, feelings of “numbness” soon set in on their emotions. It’s not any different from what soldiers feel after being in the midst of war. It has been found in a study of 500 aborted women, 50 percent of them were dealing with negative feelings and 10 percent had “serious psychiatric complications.”

Sharon Salzberg once said, “As we look around, it's very clear that in this world people do outrageous things to one another all of the time. It's not that these qualities or actions make us bad people, but they bring tremendous suffering if we don't know how to work with them”. The wake of devastation abortion leaves behind could not be described better. It is argued that it is the woman’s body; therefore it is the woman’s choice. What many do not know, however, is that abortion not only affects the mother, but the father, and of course the child. Guilt, anger, anxiety, depression, broken relationships, “numbing”, and even suicide; all of these are symptoms of Post-Abortion Syndrome (PAS). PAS is the emotional/psychological damage women may experience after having an abortion. According to Dangers of Legal Abortion by Ann Saltenberger, women who have had abortions are nine times more likely to attempt suicide than women in the general population. Men, or the father, portray a range of emotions after their partner’s abortion. These include grief, guilt,

Death is more common for the mother during abortion than people think. Any type of abortion, including emergency contraception can cause complications. Complications include death, hemorrhaging which can result in death, and scarring (Friedman 41). Abortion also can lead to excessive alcohol or drug use which can lead to death if it persists throughout time (Friedman 42). Another side affect from abortion is that women who have one have a significantly higher chance of contracting breast cancer (Friedman 41). Women who have had an abortion are 154% more likely to commit suicide than a woman who decides to go through with the child birth (Abortion 86) (Friedman 42). Women have a significant chance of death due to depression, substance abuse, or procedure complications during any form of abortion.

First, an abortion is more dangerous than childbirth. Women do not realize how dangerous is abortion. According to the Guttmacher institute (AGI) 47000 women die from complications of unsafe abortion each year. Also some researchers said that women who does abortion they will face 2.3 times higher risk of having cervical cancer, compared to women with on history of abortion. This increased cancer rates post-aborted women may be linked to the unnatural disruption of the hormonal changes which accompany pregnancy and untreated cervical damages or to increased stress and the negative impact of stress on the immune system. In addition, the women experience the loss of their fertility or increase in miscarriages after abortion. For example, my elder sister has tow daughter, and she was pregnant again but she could

One argument against abortion is that it can cause not only emotional defects to the mother, but psychological and spiritual harm as well. In the aftermath, the woman will most likely experience unfortunate emotional and spiritual scars. Many Americans who are opposed to women having the right to an abortion usually don 't speak out for fear that they will be called radicals for telling women it 's morally wrong to seek an abortion prematurely (Wilson). Post-abortive women often experience depression, pain, sadness, and significant amounts of

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.

Research indicates 85% of women report it having a bad effect on their mental health. Women from the ages 15-30 were interviewed and more than 85% say after abortion came negative reactions. These women state that it brings them sorrow, sadness, guilt, regret, grief, and disappointment. Women having an abortion rate of mental health problems, approximately 1.4 to 1.8 times higher than women who have not had abortions. While people who decided to keep their baby did not have any negative mental health problems because of keeping their

The risk of breast cancer increases almost twice as much with each abortion performed. The mother is also prone to cervical, ovarian, and liver cancer. This is related to the disruption of the hormonal changes in the woman’s body during pregnancy and untreated cervical damage (“A List of Major Physical Related to Abortion”).

According to many studies, abortion is either criminal or medical has several side effects including psychological, social, emotional as well as physical. Recent studies have found that abortion is directly correlated to both emotional and psychological side effects (Fine-Davis, 17). Most abortions result