Repercussions of Mental Health After Terminating Pregnancy

1229 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: psychological & physical effect of abortion

In the overarching state of humanity, few topics are as important to the long term societal standpoint as abortion. Even more important and contested is the controversial subject of whether or not a woman will endure long term psychological effects or disorders after said abortion. This subject has been highly debated, with valid points made by both sides. It is important that we all look into these repercussions, especially since approximately 33% of women will undergo an abortion by the time they reach forty-five years old. This often challenged subject has many aspects. The main ideas that I researched where whether or not having an abortion leads to a higher risk for mental health issues, whether or not “post-abortion syndrome” is a relevant medical term and if it actually affects a substantial number of women, and whether having an abortion at as a teen puts the individual at a higher risk for these psychological issues to develop. With concrete proof due to many studies and research, it has become apparent that though any time a woman chooses to abort her pregnancy there are chances that mental health issues will surface, but there is no guarantee that long term damage will occur.

First and foremost, I researched whether or not terminating a pregnancy has a significant effect on a woman’s mental health. Since the debate came to light during the Reagan era, many researchers have disagreed on the conclusion of this subject. It is the general consensus of the academic community that a woman may experience of range of emotions after terminating her pregnancy, such as: guilt, depression, remorse, or helplessness. One of the main points that researchers who believe that abortion doesn’t affect a woman’s mental health make is tha...

... middle of paper ...

...e, Ellie. Abortion, motherhood, and mental health: medicalizing reproduction in the United States and Great Britain“. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine De Gruyter, 2003. Print.

Major, B. “Abortion and mental health: evaluating the evidence“. 2009: 863-890. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 April 2011.

Steinberg, Julia R., and Lawrence B. Finer. "Examining the association of abortion history and current mental health: A reanalysis of the National Comorbidity Survey using a common-risk-factors model." Social Science & Medicine 72.1 2011: 72-82. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 7 Apr. 2011.

Warren, Jocelyn T., S. Marie Harvey, and Jillian T. Henderson. "Do depression and low self-esteem follow abortion among adolescents? evidence from a national study." Perspectives on Sexual & Reproductive Health 42.4. 2010: 230-235. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 7 Apr. 2011.

Show More
Related

  • Postpartum Depression Essay

    521 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pregnancies are often correlated with the assumption that it will bring happiness to the household and ignite feelings of love between the couple. What remains invisible is how the new responsibilities of caring and communicating with the baby affects the mother; and thus, many women experience a temporary clinical depression after giving birth which is called postpartum depression (commonly known as postnatal depression) (Aktaş & Terzioğlu, 2013).

    Read More

  • Postpartum Depression

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    Having a child can be the happiest moment of a person’s life. A sweet little baby usually gives new parents tremendous joy. That joy can be accompanied with anxiety about the baby and the responsibility the new parents are faced with. The anxiety, in most cases, fades and joy is what remains. For some new mothers, however, the joy is replaced with a condition known as postpartum depression. “Postpartum depression is a serious disorder that until recently was not discussed in public…Women did not recognize their symptoms as those of depression, nor did they discuss their thoughts and fears regarding their symptoms” (Wolf, 2010). As such, postpartum depression is now recognized as a disorder harmful to both mother and infant, but, with early detection, is highly treatable with the use of psychotherapy, antidepressants, breastfeeding, and other natural remedies, including exercise.

    Read More

  • Minors and Abortion: Parental Consent Must be Mandatory

    897 Words  | 2 Pages

    Talking about abortion brings out an emotional response in many women. This is because having an abortion takes a massive emotional toll on some women. As Nanyjo Mann said, three weeks after having an abortion, “I became preoccupied with the thoughts of death. I fantasized about how I would die. My baby struggled for two hours” (Reardon, 1987, p. xviii). In the forward of the book “Aborted Women, Silent No More” Nanyjo, a women telling her story of abortion, goes on to tell about feeling unstable with herself after having an abortion. She wanted to prove to herself that destroying others didn’t hurt, but it does (Reardon, 1987, p. xix-xx). Continuing in reading Nanyjo’s story, she tells all of the effects and feelings she went through after having an abortion including stress, depression and low self esteem. Any girl under the age of 18 would have an even harder time dealing with this type of stress. Teenagers are already seeking their identity and worry about their grades, looks, and peer acceptance. Going through the post abortion stress all by themselves would be overwhelming and potentially put them at risk for mental breakdown.

    Read More

  • Acivity on Postpartum Depression Syndrome, Rape Trauma Syndrome and Premenstrual Syndrome

    1214 Words  | 3 Pages

    Postpartum depression syndrome is said to be a type of depression that typically is connected to pregnancy and childbirth and can be temporarily. Postpartum depression ranges from being moderate, like not that serious to severe depression after giving birth to a child. According to the National Institutes of Health. Postpartum depression syndrome tends to occur after the baby is delivered, may occur up to about a year later and many time occurs within the first 3 months after the delivery process. In postpartum depression syndrome, there are two types of forms that usually occur such as, early onset which is baby blues and late onset. Early onset range is mild. According to the National Institutes of Health, it may affect about 80% of women after they deliver and it starts after delivery and can be resolved within a couple of weeks without needed medical treatment involved. On the other hand, late onset is considered more severe and can be identified within several weeks after the delivery process and according to NIH, it tends to affect about 10% to 16% of women.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Abortion Divide America Today

    1200 Words  | 3 Pages

    The most common conflicts that cause a woman to get an abortion are based on their own personal responsibilities. Sixteen percent of women, who get abortions, believe that their life would be changed too much to acquire a child. Twenty-one percent of expectant mothers feel that they are not ready for the responsibility to care for an adolescent. Few as twelve percent have complications with relationships or are unmarried. One perecent have been raped and/or incested. Twenty-one percent have financial disputes. Eight percent currently bare children and have all they wish for. Three percent have discovered that the baby in the womb has health issues. Four perecent of the abortions are other reasons. Lastly, the abortion pill used to minimize the fetus, does not work, therefore the woman receives an

    Read More

  • Abortion: Perspectives, Consequences and Legalities

    720 Words  | 2 Pages

    Abortion has so many different viewpoints on the topic, some positive, some negative. Roe and Wade played a huge part in the decision making process on abortion. Everyone has their own opinions about abortion, but the opinions concerning when life begins have a significant effect on a person’s views concerning whether they are for or against abortion. Studies of the long-term effects of abortion on women are traumatic and devastating. They can include mental, physical, and emotional problems after an abortion.

    Read More

  • Abortion Should be Illegal in the Untied States

    2279 Words  | 5 Pages

    Babbel, Susan, Ph.D. “Post Abortion Stress Syndrome (PASS) - Does It Exist?” Psychology Today. N.p., 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 14 Mar. 2012. .

    Read More

  • Abortion Is A Touchy Subject Like Politics And Religion

    1097 Words  | 3 Pages

    When the smoke clears and the dust settles, only the women who experienced such events in their lives should speak on the psychological effects of abortions. However, I do know, as the poet so puts it (Banh, 2014) that, I knew them all though faintly, I loved them all and I will always have an open space in my heart for all my un-born children.

    Read More

  • Abortion And Mental Health Essay

    513 Words  | 2 Pages

    The correlation given is that abortion puts women at risk of mental health problems. This correlation seems to be a positive correlation, meaning as abortion goes up, the higher the risk of mental health problems in women. This can be due to the possible side effects of having an abortion, and then it takes a toll emotionally and mentally on the woman, increasing the risk of mental illness. For example, a woman decides to get an abortion and as time passes she feels remorseful about the abortion, which can put the woman at risk in getting a mental illness.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Abortion

    902 Words  | 2 Pages

    Women who reported in this concluded in the idea that they chose abortion becsue they felt that a child would interfere with their future success and that they don’t want to waste their youth on their mistakes. Others want to give their baby a better life and they know that the baby will only be living in misery if they kept the baby. Immaturity and lack of independence is another factor for abortion, younger women fall in this category because they feel that they have not yet lived life to the fullest and that having a baby would be a drastic thing that could affect their

    Read More

  • Does Abortion Have Severe Psychological Effects?

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today many people ask the question, does abortion have severe psychological effects? People that are pro-life claim that most women who abort their unborn child suffer from many negative effects, such as guilty feelings, anxiety, depression, loss, anger and even suicide. In one case a woman had an abortion assuming that it would take away all of the stress of being pregnant and thinking about the consequences of having a child. Afterwards she said, “I was unprepared for the maze of emotions that hit me after I had the procedure. Instead of feeling relieved, I was awash in anxiety and confusion” (Lawlor, 2002, par.3). The disorder of having negative effects after an abortion is called Post Abortion Syndrome or PAS. In order to tell if a woman has PAS she has to be completely honest with herself and admit the feelings that she has. The symptoms that most women have are strong feelings of guilt and confusion. Some cases are much more extreme, for example, there was a seventeen year old who developed lethargy, malaise, and vomiting. Doctors where unable to reach a conclusion about her condition until the anniversary of her abortion when she experienced overt psychosis. Mental examinations also revealed signs of hallucinations, as well as psychotic thought processes. Research has shown that in most cases women will go on and say they are fine about the whole thing, and many years later be ...

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Late Term Abortion

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    In addition, one analysis, in relation to abortion problems, states, “from 1988 to 1997 found the risk of death increased by 38% for each additional week of gestation, during the pregnancy.” (Jones). “Such studies rely on information from many countries and include legally mandated registers hospital administrative data,” so current research affirms that an induced abortion increase the risk of different physical consequences, such as breast cancer, placenta previa, and maternal suicide. (Bachiochi). Late term abortion not only affects the mother’s condition physically, but also psychologically. Although not all women respond in the same way, some of them develop diverse mental disorders leading to suicide after they received an abortion. Studies in Canadian newspapers show “a suicide rate of 34.9 per 1000” from women who experimented an abortion, in contrast to “a suicide rate of 5.9 per 1000” from women who gave birth to their babies. The same newspapers report “a rate of 5.2 per thousand hospitalizations for psychiatric

    Read More

  • Consequentialism Vs Abortion

    1141 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to the consequentialist group that supports abortion, termination should be allowed because denial may lead to disastrous consequences. Their argument is based on population control and social welfare of the women. They argue that abortion is good as it controls population that would affect future social systems and sustainability of biological systems (Baird & Stuart, 34). In essence, they claim that unwanted pregnancies lead to distress and depression to the community, and therefore abortion should be the primary

    Read More

  • Persuasive Speech Outline On Teenage Pregnancy

    1378 Words  | 3 Pages

    Teenage girls are ten times more likely to attempt suicide if they have had an abortion in the last six months. Most young mothers who abort are more likely to develop psychological problems and a clinical depression problem. In a study of teenage abortion patients, half of them suffered a horrifying psychosocial functioning within 7 months after the abortion. The immediate impact appeared to be greater on the patients who were under 17 years of age than for those with previous psychosocial problems. Symptoms included: self-reproach, depression, social regression, withdrawal, obsession with need to become pregnant again, and hasty marriages. Usually most teen mothers place their child up for adoption. Some place their child up for adoption because they know that they do not quite have what it takes to shape a child in a stable environment so they give others the opportunity to give the child a better living because they also maybe lacking

    Read More

  • Review of Literature on Abortion in the Family

    1321 Words  | 3 Pages

    When pregnancy is unwanted women perceive the choice of abortion as the least of three evils: abortion, adoption, or keeping the child (Smith, 2000). Pregnancy changes a woman's life, regardless of whether or not it ends in abortion. The woman making the abortion decision looks at a variety of relationships to help her make the decision. Often, she will discuss her options with a physician or counselor. If she does decide to get an abortion, there are many factors she will have to face. According to an article in Business 2.0, written by David Shribman (2000), women who have had abortions are at greater risk of suffering emotional and psychological problems which may interfere with their ability to concentrate, make decisions, and interact with others. As a result, it reduces the woman's level of job skills and employment opportunities. Post-abortion women are more likely to engage in drug and alcohol abuse, often as a result of the guilt and negative feelings held inside of them after the abortion. This may prevent them from entering other meaningful relationships. They are likely to become pregnant again and undergo additional abortions and are more likely to never marry, more likely divorce, and m...

    Read More

More about Repercussions of Mental Health After Terminating Pregnancy

Open Document