Abortion Can Lead To Mental Health Problems

A study has found that women who have had an abortion have a higher risk of mental health problems.

Researchers say “risk of mental illness was ‘proportional to the degree of distress’ associated with the abortion”.

“Collectively, this evidence raises important questions about the practice of justifying termination of pregnancy on the grounds that this procedure will reduce risks of mental health problems in women having unwanted pregnancy.

“Currently there is no evidence to support the assumptions underlying this practice, and the findings of the present study suggest that abortion may, in fact, increase mental health risks among those women who find seeking and obtaining an abortion a distressing experience.”

No doubt this study is going to be controversial.

However, when the results are examined more closely it is clear that the media is trying to be controversial to stir up trouble, as they can be so good at doing.

For example, a similar percentage of women reported at least one positive reaction compared to those who reported at least one negative reaction. As well, the increased risk of mental health issues is 1.4 to 1.8% higher compared to women who have not had an abortion and they do not say if this is actually a significant amount.

What about the mental health problems and distress of having an unwanted child? The guilt of knowing you didn’t want your child? The problems associated with being a parent in general?

This is far too complicated an issue to solve with simple statistics.