While the physical risks and side effects of abortion are well known and documented, the emotional and mental impact of abortion is another risk you may face, with symptoms that can occur immediately after your procedure and develop months or years later.
For the sake of your health, it’s essential to understand the mental health risks you may experience after an abortion.
If you have already had an abortion, understanding the risks you may be experiencing is an important step in getting the help and healing you need.
What is Mental Health?
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services defines mental health as the part of our health that “includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.”
In other words, your mental health impacts a large part of your everyday life, and protecting it should be given the same priority as protecting your overall health.
Effects on Mental Health After Abortion
Thanks to recent research and studies, more is becoming known about the impact abortion can have on your emotional and mental health.
According to psychotherapist Vincent Rue’s study, “Induced Abortion and Traumatic Stress,” nearly two-thirds of post-abortive women experienced similar symptoms to those associated with PTSD. They attributed the onset of those symptoms to their abortion procedure.
Additionally, the research by Professor David Fergusson noted that abortion was an independent “risk factor for the onset of mental illness.” He identified critical mental health side effects in women who had previously had abortions, including:
- Post-abortive women had rates of mental health disorders that were nearly a third higher than the rates of mental health issues in women who had not had an abortion.
- At age 25, 42% of post-abortive women said they had struggled with major depression in the previous four years, twice the rate for other women.
The National Library of Medicine has also found that “…abortion is consistently associated with elevated rates of mental illness compared to women without a history of abortion.”
Know Your Options
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering your options, the best step is to learn all the details about your pregnancy.
Confirming your pregnancy with an ultrasound scan and speaking with a medical professional to understand all your options and any risks or side effects to be aware of will empower you to make the best decision for your health and future.
Choices Pregnancy Resource Center provides you with all these services free of charge. Contact us today to schedule your free and confidential appointment.
Pregnancy Testing
To confirm your pregnancy, start with a no-cost pregnancy test from Choices. We will confidentially provide conclusive results at no cost to you.
STD/STI Services
During your pregnancy test, we also offer limited STD/STI screening. You and your partner receive no-cost treatment if you test positive for gonorrhea, chlamydia, or trichomoniasis.
Ultrasounds
If your pregnancy test is positive, complete the confirmation process with a no-cost limited ultrasound. An ultrasound confirms viability, the gestational age, and the location of your pregnancy.
Abortion Pill Reversal
If you’ve taken the first dose of the abortion pill method and regret your decision, it may not be too late to save your pregnancy. There’s a process called Abortion Pill Reversal, but you must act quickly.
Pregnancy Testing
To confirm your pregnancy, start with a no-cost pregnancy test from Choices. We will confidentially provide conclusive results at no cost to you.
STD/STI Services
During your pregnancy test, we also offer limited STD/STI screening. You and your partner receive no-cost treatment if you test positive for gonorrhea, chlamydia, or trichomoniasis.
Ultrasounds
If your pregnancy test is positive, complete the confirmation process with a no-cost limited ultrasound. An ultrasound confirms viability, the gestational age, and the location of your pregnancy.
Abortion Pill Reversal
If you’ve taken the first dose of the abortion pill method and regret your decision, it may not be too late to save your pregnancy. There’s a process called Abortion Pill Reversal, but you must act quickly.
