Another Argument Dispelled
August 14th, 2008 by Bob Schwartz
The American Psychological Association (APA) just completed a 2 year study on the mental effects of abortion and they find that there is no evidence that abortion causes any significant mental health issues.
“The best scientific evidence published indicates that among adult women who have an unplanned pregnancy, the relative risk of mental health problems is no greater if they have a single elective first-trimester abortion or deliver that pregnancy,” said Brenda Major, PhD, chair of the task force. “The evidence regarding the relative mental health risks associated with multiple abortions is more uncertain.”
Women who have emotional issues after abortion are those whose church tells them to feel guilty. Abortion doesn’t “hurt women” — churches that operate on fear and loathing “hurt women.”
I would argue that the so-called “psychological trauma” endured by many women post-abortion has less to do with the procedure itself and more to do with the circumstances surrounding it: circumstances such as young age, financial instability, relationship problems, etc.
But I also think that going through the abortion procedure and not wanting to do it again tend to encourage women to re-evaluate their lives and to make such changes as can be made to improve their situation.