ISSUES
: Abortion
Chapter 1: Abortion facts
17
Post-abortion stress – the
psychological stress some women
suffer after abortion
By Julia Acott – CareConfidential
What is post-abortion
stress?
While we would be the first to
agree that not all abortions
cause obvious distress to all
women, nevertheless there are
a substantial number who do
struggle afterwards. Research
has shown that up to 50% of
post-abortive women may need
antidepressants at some stage in
their lives, which they often relate
back to problems following the
abortion.
Abortion can affect women
and some men in the following
areas: physically, emotionally,
psychologically, behaviourally and
spiritually. Post-abortion stress
is now recognised as a medical
condition.
The facts
A new study entitled ‘Late-
Term Elective Abortion and
Susceptibility to Posttraumatic
Stress Symptoms’ has been
published in the
Journal of
Pregnancy
by Dr Priscilla Coleman
of Bowling Green State University
in the US and two other colleagues.
This is the first ever study to detail
the experiences of women having
early abortions (up to 12 weeks)
compared to those having late
abortions (13 weeks onwards).
52% of the early abortion group
and 67% of the late abortion group
met the American Psychological
Association’s criteria for Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
symptoms.
External pressure
The results show breakdowns
of whether partners desired
the pregnancy, and if there was
pressure to abort from people
other than partners. In both sets
of data, women faced high levels
of external pressure, but in later
pregnancy they faced particularly
high pressure (47.8% compared to
30.5%).
Sadly, nearly 40% of women in
the survey said they wanted the
baby and fewer than 14% said they
received adequate pre-abortion
counselling or information on
alternatives or the physical and
emotional risks.
The cost to women
Although these read as ‘just
figures’, each of these statistics
represents a woman who has
suffered a terrible injury as a
mother. The right of women to be
protected during their pregnancy is
being compromised in the name of
choice.
Rebecca Ng from the ProLife
Alliance comments that when
women are at their most vulnerable
and should be supported, it is
terrible that so many are pressured
in this way. It is small wonder that
they suffer long-term psychological
problems. The ProLife Alliance
joins the authors of the study in
calling for more counselling and
support for women considering
abortion at any stage.
Coping after an abortion
Many women initially feel relieved
after an abortion. Some feel
sadness about the abortion, but
over time cope with it in a way
that’s acceptable to them.
However, there are some who do
not cope well and who experience
