Making a pregnancy decision can be difficult. This is especially true when the pregnancy is unexpected. You may have thought about abortion as an option, but what are the mental health effects?
Abortion and mental health is a controversial topic because every woman will react differently to an abortion experience. However, we do know mental health issues are possible for at least some women, and there are certain risk factors.
Keep reading to learn more.
Risk Factors for Mental Health Effects
A comprehensive study determined that there are certain risk factors for experiencing negative mental health impacts after an abortion. These include:
- Pressure to Abort – Sometimes those close to the woman, such as her parents or partner, will pressure her to abort when otherwise that would not have been her choice.
If a woman feels pressured into the decision, she is at a greater risk of experiencing adverse mental health effects. - Existing Mental Health Issues – If a woman is already diagnosed with mental health conditions, she is at a greater risk for these issues resurfacing after an abortion.
- Conflicting Moral Beliefs – If a woman has existing religious or moral beliefs that conflict with her abortion choice, she may have a difficult time reconciling her decision with her self-identity.
- Existing Maternal Desires – If a woman truly wants to parent or ignores her parenting desires and chooses abortion, she could experience negative mental health issues afterward.
Increased Chance of Mental Health Issues
If you have had an abortion and you are struggling, know that you are not alone.
Studies have found that women who have aborted have an 81% increased risk of developing mental health problems. About 10% of those incidents could be attributed to abortion.
These mental health problems include:
- Drug and alcohol use
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Suicide
- Suicidal behaviors
However, it could take time for these symptoms to develop. Some women may feel relief at first, and then they could experience grief reactions months or years later.
Visit Assurance Care Today
If you are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy, Assurance Care is here to help. Our medical team can provide a clinical-grade pregnancy test and limited obstetric ultrasound at no cost to you.
Before considering an abortion, it is also crucial that you receive testing for STIs (sexually transmitted infections). At Assurance Care, we can also test you for several infections at no cost.
If you have had an abortion and are struggling, our team would love to speak with you and assist you in finding the help you need. Contact us today.
Assurance Care: No judgment and no pressure. Just help.