General Article Post-abortion stress – the psychological stress some women suffer after abortion

Topic Selected: Abortion
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By Julia Acott – CareConfidential

 

What is post-abortion stress?

While we would be the first to agree that not all abortions cause obvious distress to all women, nevertheless there are a substantial number who do struggle afterwards. Research has shown that up to 50% of post-abortive women may need antidepressants at some stage in their lives, which they often relate back to problems following the abortion. 

Abortion can affect women and some men in the following areas: physically, emotionally, psychologically, behaviourally and spiritually. Post-abortion stress is now recognised as a medical condition.

 

The facts

A new study entitled ‘Late-Term Elective Abortion and Susceptibility to Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms’ has been published in the Journal of Pregnancy by Dr Priscilla Coleman of Bowling Green State University in the US and two other colleagues. This is the first ever study to detail the experiences of women having early abortions (up to 12 weeks) compared to those having ...

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