If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering your options you may be wondering about the risks and side effects from an abortion.

While the physical risks of abortion have been well known and documented for several decades, recent research and studies are revealing a connection between mental health issues for some women after an abortion.

What is Mental Health?

You’ve heard the term mental health a lot, but what does it really mean?  The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services defines it this way: “Mental health 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.”

This means your mental health plays a big role in your overall health and well-being, so protecting it should be a top priority.

Effects on Mental Health After Abortion

In recent years more has become known about the mental health risks for post-abortive women. 

Psychotherapist Vincent Rue’s study, “Induced Abortion and Traumatic Stress”, discovered that almost two-thirds of post-abortive women experienced many symptoms associated with PTSD–which the women attributed to their abortions.

Professor David Fergusson’s medical research identified notable side effects on the mental health of women who had previously had abortions, including:

  • Abortion was an independent “risk factor for the onset of mental illness.”
  • 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 4 years, which is twice the rate for other women.

Additionally, after reviewing multiple studies that focused on the relation of mental health disorders and abortion the NIH found that 13 studies evidenced “a clear risk for at least one of the reported mental problems.”

Know Your Options

Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be scary and leave you feeling panicked—making you think you have to make a rushed decision. 

But for the sake of your body and safety, it’s important that you learn all you can about what options you have and what health risks may be present in the option you decide.

It’s also helpful to learn all you can about your pregnancy, such as confirming that it is indeed a pregnancy and if it is healthy and viable. All these details will empower you to make the best decision for your future and your health.

The trained staff at Wellspring Pregnancy and Health Center are here to help you. From confirming your pregnancy with a lab-quality test to an ultrasound scan, we can help you learn the important details about your pregnancy and talk about the options available to you—all at no cost to you.

You’re not alone, contact us today to schedule your free and confidential appointment.