How Will Abortion Affect Me Mentally?

Last month, we wrote, “How Can I Recover Emotionally After an Abortion?” We’re glad you’re asking about potential mental health issues before having an abortion. 

Every woman’s abortion experience is unique. Many women feel relief immediately following their abortions. However, within weeks, months, or even years, they begin to experience feelings of anxiety, guilt, and even depression. 

You’re wise to ask this question first. Let’s explore the various ways abortion could affect you mentally.

What Do the Experts Say?

Over the years, research has varied about how women can be affected mentally by an abortion. It can be difficult to study. Many factors enter into how a woman feels. Was she coerced into getting the abortion? How far along was she in her pregnancy? What type of procedure did she have?

Many experts agree that for at least some women, an abortion can cause mental health complications. Here’s what one study found:

• Abortion is consistently associated with elevated rates of mental illness compared to women without a history of abortion. 
• The abortion experience directly contributes to mental health problems for at least some women. 
• There are risk factors, such as pre-existing mental illness, that identify women at greatest risk of mental health problems after an abortion.

Another study concluded the following:

• Mental health hospitalization rates are higher after abortion than after delivery.
• Risk is elevated for psychiatric disorders, substance use, and suicide attempts.
• Patients with preexisting mental illness or age <25 years are more at risk.

What Do Women Say?

It’s important to remember that not every woman experiences emotional trauma or mental health complications, but many do. Random, anonymous women on Reddit make these comments:

At what point do you forget? Do you ever forget?

“Randomly every now and again it hits me that I actually did something like this, and it occurs to me that I have “3 children” not just the 2 who are alive and with me, and then my heart hurts even more…”

Triggered, does it get better?

“But I am still triggered. When a female character gets pregnant and cries, I am also in tears. When she has an abortion, and her partner holds her, I am sobbing as my man holds me. I keep thinking back to it.”

Had an abortion, and I am struggling mentally

“After all of that, a part of me does regret my decision. I mourn my baby. I am so depressed about everything.”

How Can Baywater Women’s Clinic Help Me?

At Baywater, we would start with a no-cost Women’s Wellness Exam. It’s a comprehensive health checkup. Your appointment includes not only physical examinations but also a discussion of your emotional health. 

If a pregnancy is suspected, we provide no-cost, confidential, medical-grade pregnancy testing. A positive test leads to a no-cost, limited obstetrical ultrasound to give you as much information about your pregnancy as possible.

Conveniently book an appointment online, call us at (410) 822-3311, or text us at (443) 698-8110. We’re always here for you.