Abortion is surrounded by myths and one of them is that having an abortion leaves after-effects or mental disorders, such as depression, suicide or substance abuse. There is even talk of the existence of a “post-abortion syndrome”. This is completely false and several scientific studies have proven it.
If you are considering abortion as an option and are concerned that this procedure may negatively and transcendentally impact your psycho-emotional health, don’t worry, we share information based on scientific evidence for you to find some answers.
Since 2007, different teams of experts in countries such as the United States, England, Australia, the Netherlands and New Zealand1 have conducted research to answer the question: Does abortion affect women’s mental health?
The conclusion is clear!Abortion in legal and safe conditions is not associated with the development of negative mental health conditions. In fact, 95% of women who participated in these studies said they made the best decision.
Performing an abortion in a safe, legal, informed and technologically appropriate manner avoids negative consequences for the mental health of those who choose to exercise this right. Thanks to this type of research, we now know that those who underwent a chosen abortion tended to project a positive future, with goals and a satisfactory life plan.
To take into account
However, experts warned of other factors that could have an impact. Studies revealed that women forced to continue with unwanted pregnancies tend to develop anxiety and pregnancy complications.
Stigma and social prejudice for having an abortion were also found to be triggers for the discomfort that some women who terminate their pregnancies may feel. In Mexico City, for example, 1 in 3 women reported feeling worried that people close to them would judge them for having an abortion.2
Regarding depression, it is important to know that living with this condition prior to terminating a pregnancy may be related to later symptoms. However, it is normal to experience sadness or stress after the abortion if there is social stigma; fortunately, it has been proven that these emotions diminish with time and many women express that the initial discomfort has turned into relief.
In these adverse environments, it is essential to have support according to the needs of each person, either through mental health professionals, support networks such as friends, partners, family members or groups of companions. Deciding about our reproduction allows us to regain control over our bodies and build, with freedom, our life plan.3
We invite you to read our blog Safe abortion from the voices of women who used medication, to learn the findings of women who had safe abortions using this method.
You can also visit Focos, a platform where you will find testimonials in audio, video, images and letters.
If you would like to learn more, please see our publication Abortion and Mental Health.
1. This research includes: the American Psychological Association evidence assessment (2018); the Royal Academy of Medical Colleges of London report (2011); the study on emotions and perception of the abortion decision five years later, published in Social Science & Medicine (2020), among others.
Research: “Relationship between perceived stigma and depressive symptomatology in women who legally terminate pregnancy in Mexico City”, Mental Health (2019).
3. Research: “Story Circles and abortion stigma in Mexico”, mixed methods evaluation published in Culture, Health & Sexuality (2020).