Along with physical risks, the mental challenges that come with abortion are important to consider. If you’re thinking of abortion and already struggle with mental health, you may want to talk about the mental health effects of abortion with a medical professional to find clarity.
Your mental health matters, as it affects many aspects of your everyday life.
Mental Health Defined
The World Health Organization defines mental health as “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 healthy choices.”
Your decisions have the power to impact your mental state of being, and your mental health affects your physical and emotional state as well.
Long-Term Mental Health Effects of Abortion
According to a study by the National Library of Medicine for women after a miscarriage or abortion, ‘A significant number of those experiencing a reproductive loss exhibit signs of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.’
This study shows that there was often a delay in mental effects, as women may not experience them until months later – or longer. Other mental health conditions mentioned attributed to reproductive loss, including subsequent relationship problems, substance misuse, and suicidal ideation.
In another study, psychotherapist Vincent Rue first introduced the connection between mental health issues and abortion. His study, “Induced Abortion and Traumatic Stress,” shared that…
- 60% reported that they felt “part of me died” after their abortions
- 25% said they didn’t receive adequate counseling
- 64% said they felt pressured by others to abort
- 65% of U.S. women experienced multiple symptoms of PTSD (which they attributed to their abortions)
Be Informed of All the Risks
Though you may be considering abortion because it feels like the quickest choice, abortion has major long-term effects.
To learn more about your pregnancy options, we are here to educate you more. You deserve to know the facts.
Before an abortion, it’s important to confirm your pregnancy with a pregnancy test with a medical professional and get an ultrasound. An ultrasound will confirm you have a viable, non-life-threatening pregnancy. We provide both of these services at no cost to you.
Contact us today for more information and to schedule an appointment.
