Abortion vs. Unwanted Pregnancy: The Impact on Mental Health

Two years ago, there were poignant anecdotes published on the pages of Shakesville and Her Bad Mother, looking at the emotional consequences of abortion and adoption from a deeply personal perspective. These are the type of anecdotes that help personalize the important case for choice. As much as stories help, however, we all know that “the plural of anecdote is not data.” But now, there is data demonstrating that abortion does not have a greater impact on a woman’s mental health than carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term and giving birth.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges published the largest, most comprehensive and systematic review of the mental health impact of abortion. According to the Steering Group, which conducted the review:

Having an unwanted pregnancy is associated with an increased mental health problems. However, the rates of mental health problems for women with an unwanted pregnancy are the same, whether they have an abortion or give birth.

Previous mental health issues, women’s attitudes towards abortion, pressure to have an abortion, or other stressful life events can all contribute to increased post-abortion mental health issues. Overall, the conclusion of the of the Steering Group is that all women who have an unwanted pregnancy should be supported and should be reassured that the choice is theirs to make.

In her anonymous post on Shakesville, the woman who told her story wrote:

I have given a baby up for adoption, and I have had an abortion, and while anecdotes are not evidence, I can assert that abortions may or may not cause depression – it certainly did not in me, apart from briefly mourning the path not taken – but adoption? That is an entirely different matter. I don’t doubt that there are women who were fine after adoption, and there is emphatically nothing wrong with that or with them; but I want to point out that if we’re going to have a seemingly neverending discussion about the sorrow and remorse caused by abortion, then it is about goddamn time that we hear from birth mothers too. Believe me when I say that of the two choices, it was adoption that nearly destroyed me – and it never ends.

She also wrote about the lack of support for women who do go through the adoption process. There is plenty of “help” to get them to make the decision to carry their baby to term and give it up for adoption, but not nearly enough support for the emotional fallout from doing so.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges study found that while 11 to 12 percent of women suffer from mental health issues, around one third of women with an unwanted pregnancy suffer from mental health problems. This data certainly furthers the case for better education on how to avoid unwanted pregnancies, as well as for easy access to emergency contraception.

Survey Shows Need for Better Teen Sex Ed

Teens Today Postponing Sex, Using Condoms

Read more: abortion, pregnancy, pro-choice, reproductive rights, research, study, uk

Image credit: dno1967b on flickr

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Carol M.

6:59PM PDT on Mar 22, 2012

Every woman makes their choices, but abortion is the willfull taking of human life. Plain and simple .

send a green star

Emma S.

1:48PM PDT on Mar 22, 2012

The deleterious effect on a woman's mental health of an unwanted child is felt not just by the woman but the child to. So many 'pro-lifers' seem to care only for embryonic health, but not for that of women or viable children.

Mark S.

11:43AM PDT on Mar 17, 2012

Imagine if men had to carry a fetus for 9 months.

Cherish L.

11:41AM PDT on Mar 17, 2012

I am a nurse and I work at an OB/Gyn office and we also have counselors and Psychiatrist. I have seen mixtures of post abortive/adoption woman come in. I see woman coming in getting counseling and depression medication as well as woman that had their baby adoptive come in for counseling. I have also had patients that treat abortion like a birth control coming in twice a year for pregnancy test and then having an abortion every time... NOT HEALTHY NOT RIGHT. I had seen woman being emotionally hurt for ending their abortions. as far as adoption, I do know that woman that suffer after adoption regret it and felt that they should of just kept their baby, the reason for that is that when a woman carries their unborn baby though out their pregnancy there is that instant mother/child bond or love so it makes it harder on them. so we cannot say that abortion is better than adoption because every woman takes both differently than other woman. I have a cousin that had an abortion and because we are surrounded of children all over she literary went psycho and she is not her self anymore and takes strong psychiatric meds.

Charli S.

11:07AM PST on Jan 31, 2012

con't

3. I believe each of us should tend our own gardens. I would never tell a woman that she can't have an abortion because I don't live her life. If you don't want an abortion then don't have one but don't assume that you should have the right to tell anyone they can't have an abortion.

I find it interesting that the GOP candidates that are "pro-life" don't support birth control and don't support the fetus once it slides past it's mothers thighs (most believe that "welfare" is a waste of tax dollars). Our country is one of the few in which it's illegal to be poor.

11:06AM PST on Jan 31, 2012

The type of abortions you're talking about are rare and can only be done to save the woman's life. Which is more important? I think only the woman and her doctor can decide. If you don't want abortions then support research for better birth control. The only thing you outlaw when your outlaw legal abortions are safe abortions for poor women/families. Rich women get safe abortions no matter how illegal they are.

I am pro-choice for 3 reasons.

1. I lived during a time when abortions were illegal and my girlfriend was raped and got pregnant. she went to an abortionist. The abortionist first raped and sodomized her and then preformed the abortion. His reasoning was that she wasn't pure anyway and she didn't fight because of the drugs he had given her. She developed an infection and died because he didn't tell her she could get an infection or that he wasn't a doctor. I think she died because she was brutalized a 2nd time and lost the will to fight.
2. I worked with a young man who was in juvenile prison. He told me once that he wished his mother had aborted him BEFORE he was born rather then aborting him every day of his life. He showed me scars where she had beaten him, burned him and worse. Do you think the pain of an abortion would be worse then what he endured in life? There have been studies that show that high criminal rates are tied to unwanted pregnancies. Every child deserves to be wanted.

3. I believe each of us should tend our own gardens. I

Butterfly b.

3:55AM PST on Jan 30, 2012

Can any of you please tell me how the baby doesn't feel pain when this happens or how it is not a complete person in the 2nd and 3rd trimester?

Second and Third Trimester - Dilation and Extraction
Congressional action in 1996 brought to light yet another procedure for aborting late-term unborn babies. This technique, called D&X abortion does not dismember the fetus; rather the fetus is delivered intact, without infusions.

As described and performed by abortion doctor Martin Haskell, D&X abortions take three days to complete. In the first two days, the woman's cervix is dilated with laminaria in two or more sessions, with medication given for cramping. On the day of the procedure, the laminaria are removed, and the patient is injected with pitocin to induce contractions.

The abortion doctor next determines the fetus' orientation in the uterus through ultrasound, and locates the legs. Grasping a leg with large forceps, he then pulls the leg into the vagina, and delivers the baby (live) up to the baby's head with his hands.

Next, the abortionist slides his hand up the baby's back and hooks his fingers over the shoulders of the baby. Then, a pair of scissors is inserted into the base of the skull to create an opening. Removing the scissors, he inserts a suction catheter into the opening, and suctions out the skull contents.10 Minus the brains, the skull decompresses, and is easy to remove. Finally, the abortionist removes the placenta with forceps and scrape

11:57AM PST on Jan 28, 2012

I do understand the Bible. But being a Christian isn't a good fit for everyone. that's why there are so many paths to God. I believe the words of Jesus have been twisted and used to spread hate and gain power. Just look at the Catholic Church and TV Evangelists. Both are rich (while many of their members are very poor) and powerful. Jesus taught about spiritual growth and many of his teachings do not agree with the Bible. People twist the Bible to suit their own agenda. The Bible doesn't say that abortion is evil. If being a Christian brings you peace then I'm happy for you. But as I said it's not for everyone and I wish people would quit hitting the rest of us over the head trying to convert us or make us obey YOUR rules.

Heather N.

10:30PM PST on Dec 19, 2011

To any and all with beliefs and views or a lack there of: This IS very simple. Though the U.S. govt. seems to 'operate' contrarily, morality is not governable. It is a part of the very essence of individuality and is deeply personal. My morality is not meant to rule anyone but me. And I consider it threatening to my being to have another's forced on me. --That said, I would rather rip my uterus out with my bare hands than be FORCED to bear children...even if I begged God for the chance to be blessed with life I would not be able to abide the candid theft of free will.

Redgie H.

11:59AM PST on Dec 18, 2011

Carol,
The point is, "cutting down" a human fetus is even less than cutting down a tree. The tree is at least a complete tree. A fetus is not a complete person. A complete person, a "living soul," is the uniting of a living body, mind, and spirit. Until you have all three, the fetus is but an empty shell. It cannot be MURDERED. It is living only in the sense that it is growing. If your finger is amputated, you mourn the loss of the finger, but not the death of the finger. So it should be with the fetus.