Physical and Emotional Risks of Abortion

Following an abortion, some women report feeling immediate relief. Others never experience any physical or psychological effects following an abortion. But many women do report having emotional complications arise in the weeks, months or even years following the procedure.¹ If you choose to proceed with this medical option, we believe you have the right to know all of the facts regarding the potential physical or psychological effects of abortion.²

The potential physical effects of abortion vary from immediate complications to long-term issues. Generally, the further you are along in pregnancy, the greater the risk for complications. They also increase with general anesthesia. The list of possible complications include but is not limited to: ³

A study published in a major medical journal found that 31% of women surveyed who had undergone abortions had health complications.⁸

More resources about women’s health and abortion research:

• The Turnaway Study: A Case of Self-Correction in Science Upended by Political Motivation and Unvetted Findings
• Abortion and Violence Against Pregnant Women, UN, 2019.7.15
• Complications is a collection of over 650 scientific articles and research pertaining to abortion. You can find out more about Complications by visiting deVeber Institute – Complications: Abortion’s Impact on Women
• Hush is an award winning documentary on women’s health. For more information or to view online go to http://hushfilm.com/ or visit them on Facebook by clicking this link http://facebook.com/hushdoc.
• Victims and Victors: Speaking Out About Their Pregnancies, Abortions, and Children Resulting from Sexual Assault Paperback – February 2, 2000 by Makimaa, Sobie Reardon (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Victims-Victors-Pregnancies-Abortions-Resulting/dp/0964895714
• Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009: Abortion and Mental Health Analysis

Abortion, like most medical procedures, carries risks. It is extremely important for you to know what the potential effects on your health might be.⁸ The following is a sample of some published data:

• 65% Experienced Multiple Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

In this study comparing American and Russian women who had experienced abortion, 65% of American women studied experienced multiple symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which they attributed to their abortion.  Slightly over 14% reported all the symptoms necessary for a clinical diagnosis of abortion induced PTSD and 84% said they did not receive adequate counselling.⁹

Medical Science Monitor, 2004

• Higher Rates of Depression, Substance Abuse, Suicidal Behavior After Abortion

In a New Zealand study, women who had abortions subsequently experienced higher rates of substance abuse, anxiety disorders and suicidal behaviour than women who had not had abortions, even after controlling for pre-existing conditions.  Approximately 42% of women with a history of abortion had experienced major depression in the last four years – nearly double the rate of women who had not been pregnant and 35% higher than those who carried to term.¹⁰

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2006

• Significantly Higher Risk of Clinical Depression

Compared to women who carry their first unintended pregnancy to term, women who abort their first pregnancy are at significantly higher risk of clinical depression as measured an average of eight years after their first pregnancy. ¹¹

British Medical Journal, 2002

• 30% Higher Risk of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Researchers compared women who had no prior history of anxiety and who had experienced a first, unintended pregnancy.  Women who aborted were 30% more likely to subsequently report all the symptoms associated with a diagnosis for generalized anxiety disorder, compared to women who carried to term.^12,

Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 2005

Emotional complications can last for a very long time and some women don’t recognize them until years later.  A recent study on post –abortive women http://www.jpands.org/vol22no4/coleman.pdf   showed 53% did not indicate a positive outcome.

Websites and counselling centres exist to help women deal with the emotional after-effects of abortion:

• www.centreforlife.ca Confidential, professional counselling provided at no cost to the individual.  For information  Highway to Hope
• Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat Weekends and Rachel’s Vineyard information page
• www.abortionrecovery.org
• www.onlinecare.ca