Abortion is a medical procedure to remove an unwanted fetus. There are 1.1 million abortions a year in the U.S. alone. 50% of the women seeking an abortion have had previous procedures. And 51% of the women are under the age of 25. Many reasons for why so many women have abortions is the amount of “incest and rape pregnancies, pregnancies in women suffering from some form of mental illness and pregnancies precipitating depression or other psychopathological states in “normal” women..” (Mall and Watts, the Psychological Aspects of Abortion). This then creates not only worry but tension upon the women, because if the child is unwanted or the mother of the child is too young or immature, or there is no husband to support the child. Another reason is that the child may have a birth defect, or the parents may pressure the girl to get rid of the pregnancy, and so on. Abortion can cause many effects and three of these are psychological disorders, medical complications, and the emotional complications after the procedure.
One of the main effects after an abortion is Psychological disorders. “Women who have abortions are 81 percent more likely to experience subsequent mental health problems, according to a new study published by Britain’s Royal College of Psychiatrists. The greatest increases were seen in relation to suicidal behaviors and substance abuse.”(Afterabortion.org) Research has shown the recent increase in these disorders, for example, sleep disturbances. Many women dream
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.
Women may have an abortion for a variety of reasons, but in general they choose abortion because a pregnancy at that time is in some way wrong for them. “Abortion is the removal of a fetus from the uterus before it is mature enough to live on its own” (Kuechler 1996). When this happens spontaneously we call it a miscarriage. Induced abortion is brought about deliberately by a medical procedure that ends pregnancy. Legal abortion, carried out by trained medical practitioners, is one of the most common and safest surgical procedures. “About 1.5 million American women choose to have induced abortions each year. Less than 1% of all abortion patients experience a major complication associated with the procedure” (Kuechler 1996).
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
For example, “ Emotional and psychological effects following abortion are more common than physical side effects and can range from mild regret to more serious complications such as depression.” stated Americanpregnancy.org. Every woman's body is different so each one would react differently to the abortion, while some will not have any side effects. According to independence.com “A new study from the US has also shown that 95% of women don’t regret having an abortion.” 1 in 3 women has an abortion, and 95% don’t regret it but the other 5% usually will be diagnosed with postpartum depression because of the emotional toll. Postpartum depression can a stressful and challenging
According to the article “Are Abortion Rights Threatened, 2013” over fifty million infants, died in 2012 before they even stepped foot into this world, due to abortion. To clarify abortion is the termination of the fetus in the mother’s womb typically by chopping up the baby into pieces with a knife, cracking its skull and vacuuming out its brains, or with the drug RU-486. As a result, abortion is one of the most common and cruel cause of death in the United States, yet the government has legalized this practice. Moreover, there are other measures that can be taken if a women feels she needs an abortion including adoption and financial aid. Therefore, women should not choose to abort her baby, because it is immoral and harmful
Abortion is a common debated topic in the United States. It is becoming commonplace in our society. Terminating an unwanted pregnancy is a difficult choice that many women have faced throughout the years. Through out this paper, reasons for abortion, women, underage girls, parental laws, emotions, and the procedures of terminating a pregnancy will be discussed. While there is still more research being done, it is said that abortion can have both negative and positive effects.
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.
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus. People have used the negative psychological effects of abortion as a basis to either promote or discourage abortion; making it one of the most highly debated topics for years. Many studies argue that abortion can lead to serious mental illness as people have disclosed effects ranging from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, substance abuse, sexual dysfunction, sleep interruption, and suicidal ideation or attempts. Others claim that while abortion may lead to some negative psychological effects, they are only temporary; reporting positive outcomes for the female choosing abortion in the
An Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. According to Linda Lowen’s research, The World’s Health Organizations estimated that around fifty million abortions happen each year. Since they happen as frequently as 125,000 per day, they have become one of the most talked about topics in the United States (Lowen). Many people have different opinions on this topic. In an overview of the results of a survey conducted, it was found that even though there are that many abortions, twenty-five percent of the students that were surveyed disagreeed with them, forty-four percent are debatable, leaving only thirty-one percent of agreeing with them (Daley). More than half of the United States population thinks that most mothers who have abortions are
Women who get abortions have an 81% higher risk to get a mental health disorder. There is over 50% of an increased chance for post-abortion women to get suicidal thoughts, mood disorders, social anxiety, and abuse alcohol and substances. It was found that 14% of women in the U.S suffer from all symptoms of PTSD post-abortion. After getting an abortion, women are twice as likely to become heavy smokers and still smoke during a wanted pregnancy, which could harm both the mother and child (“Abortion Risks: A list of major psychological complications related to abortion”).Overall, abortion can greatly affect the mental and physical health of post-abortion
Foremost, abortion has been linked to numerous psychological disorders, detrimental and benign. In 2006, a study conducted by Sleep, the official journal of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, found that 36% of women who experienced an abortion surgery suffered sleeping disorders and nightmares. Of that 36%, 11% were affected further resulting from the sleeping disorder. Studies have shown that cases of insomnia have been discovered; thus, affecting those women’s lives even further. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry published an astonishing study in 2010 including a sample of 3000 females. They determined that women who underwent an abortion were 98% more susceptible to mental health disorders opposed to the
About 10% of women experience complications right after the abortion and about one fifth of those complications are major (After Effects of Abortion). The minor complications range from “minor infections, bleeding, fevers, chronic abdominal pain, gastro-intestinal disturbances, vomiting, and Rh sensitization” (After Effects of Abortion). While the most common major complications are “infection, excessive bleeding, embolism, ripping or perforation of the uterus, anesthesia complications, convulsions, hemorrhage, cervical injury, and endotoxic shock” ( After Effects of Abortion). Research has also shown that abortion can lead to miscarriages in later pregnancies and about 5% of women who have had an abortion are left sterile (After Effects of Abortion). Not only do women suffer from health complications but they also have to deal with the psychological trauma of abortion. In a study of 500 women who had an abortion up to 10% of those women suffered from “serious psychiatric complications” (After Effects of Abortion). Studies also show that “within 8 weeks after their abortions, 55% expressed guilt, 44% complained of nervous disorders, 36% had experienced sleep disturbances and 31% had regrets about their decision.” (After Effects of Abortion). Teenagers who abort are more likely to suffer from depression and self-esteem problems due from social
Abortion has always been present around the world and has been a controversial topic. As many people agree or disagree with women’s who have done this during their pregnancy. The loss of an immature embryo or fetus before violability is an abortion. When this happens spontaneously, the word miscarriage is used, the word abortion being kept for the intended removal of the fetus from the uterus. (Oxford, 2001). A woman who has taken the decision to abort, they can only do it during their first, second and third trimester. Abortion does not only hurt the baby but also the person who is involved in this situation and can affect that person not only mentally but also psychological. In some countries, a woman who is seeking for abortion,
This journal address the relationship on abortions and how women are mentally affected by it. It address two issues, one the risk that occurs with abortion as opposed to the risk that its alternative brings up, and two how a women responds after she have the abortion. An important point that was stated in the journal was that women who have a first-trimester abortion of a pregnancy that they do not want is not greater than women who choose not to have an abortion and deliver the unwanted baby. I am going to use this journal in my research to help me further discuss how abortion affects the aborter. It will help me give credibility to the research that I am trying to prove on how many women have different affects and the reason why they may
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