Post Abortion Syndrome

THE STORY OF DOMINIQUE

A while ago we had a surprise walk-in appointment. Dominique noted that another woman recommended our Pregnancy resource center to her. She lives about an hour away and was driving through the area when she called.  She lives with a boyfriend of 4 years who has 3 children from 3 different women. She has a six-year-old from a different relationship. After going through her story for a bit she broke down as she reported that she has had 10 abortions, 3 with her current boyfriend. She said they were all awful, but she was always told she would be a terrible mother and it was the only option. She began tearing up when saying that she "can't do this anymore."  She noted that after the last one, she turned off her phone and was dangerously suicidal, staying in a dark hotel room for days. She reported how she had nightmares, especially after the birth of her son. She was unaware that healing and support groups existed and were available to her, as she never spoke about  her pain. We introduced her to resources through SupportAfterAbortion.org to help her start the journey of recognition, healing, and forgiveness. 

From the very first pregnancy and abortion, Dominique was not provided with compassionate healthcare that considered her long term well being. She was encouraged to persist in behavior that ultimately almost led her to suicide. She deserves better. 

Dominique’s story is not unique.  We have had clients tell us that they experienced intense negative emotions but thought they were the only one to experience them. They were told to move on or get over them.  In this article, we will cover the known and recognized symptoms that are increasingly being described by the term “post abortion syndrome” or PAS.  PAS is a sub-category of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when PTSD is a result of abortion.  Since Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is more commonly known and understood than PAS, we will start with PTSD.  

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER in ABORTION

The full criteria for PTSD are available via The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychological  Disorders, 5th Edition  (DSM-5) For each criterion, only one or two symptoms need to be experienced for a diagnosis.  We are going to list those that are associated with post abortive women that we encounter and serve. 

Criterion A (1 required): The person was exposed to: death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury,  or actual or threatened sexual violence, in the following way(s):

• Direct exposure (a surgical or chemical abortion constitutes direct exposure) 

• Witnessing the trauma (many women report seeing their unborn child after a chemical abortion)

Criterion B (1 required): The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced, in the following way(s): 

• Unwanted upsetting memories

• Nightmares

• Flashbacks

• Emotional or physical distress after exposure to traumatic reminders - like triggers seeing a mother and baby in a park that causes regret, crying and guilt.

 Criterion C (1 required): Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli after the trauma, in the following way(s):  

• Trauma-related thoughts or feelings

• Trauma-related reminders

Criterion D (2 required): Negative thoughts or feelings that began or worsen after the trauma, in the following way(s):

• Inability to recall key features of the trauma 

• Overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world

• Exaggerated blame of self or others for causing the trauma

• Negative affect or depression

• Decreased interest in activities

• Feeling isolated

• Difficulty experiencing positive affect - negative view of the world

Criterion E (2 required): Trauma-related arousal and reactivity that began or worsen after the trauma, in the following way(s): arousal meaning causing a trauma related reaction - like a panic attack

• Irritability or aggression

• Risky or destructive behavior

• Difficulty concentrating

• Difficulty sleeping

Criterion F (required): Symptoms last for more than 1 month.

Criterion G (required): Symptoms create distress or functional impairment (e.g., social, occupational).

Criterion H (required): Symptoms are not due to medication, substance use or other illness.

There is no denying that abortion is among the many traumatic events that can result in PTSD symptoms. Just like PTSD,  each woman is different and has different natural tendencies and coping mechanisms. 

WHO IS VULNERABLE TO PAS

Not all women report all of the negative symptoms of PAS. However, many women consider abortion as the violent killing of their child, a traumatic experience that causes significant physical injury and psychological damage. Women who are pressured or violently forced into unwanted abortions by husbands, boyfriends, parents, etc., are more likely to experience PAS symptoms as the pressure intensifies the experience. Their feelings of fear, anxiety and pain about the abortion procedure itself are compounded by guilt and anguish over the death of their child.

In researchers have found that women with a history of sexual assault my experience greater distress during and after an abortion, precisely because of the similarities between the two experiences.  

Overall, a major study found that 65% of American women who underwent abortions reported multiple symptoms of PTSD, which they attributed to their abortions. Slightly over 14% reported all the symptoms for a clinical diagnosis of abortion-related PTSD (PAS)

RESEARCH ON PAS SYMPTOMS 

So what about the many pro-abortion advocates who report that there is no psychological impact of abortion on women, who deny the existence of PAS?  They will likely state that it is not listed in the DSM-5. And that is true. The DSM does not provide a complete list of all the ways people experience trauma-related PTSD.  

However, a retrospective cohort study  published by the Journal of Psychiatric Research in July 2025 compared the mental health outcomes of more than 28,000 induced abortions and 1.2 million births between April 2006 and March 2022 in Quebec, Canada. The researchers  included induced abortions, stillbirths, or live births occurring in a hospital among women between the ages of 10–59 years. They used unique personal identifiers to follow the patients over 17 years to identify future mental health hospitalizations. 

Their findings determined that rates of mental health-related hospitalizations were 2-½ times higher following induced abortions compared to other pregnancies. Abortion was associated with hospitalization for psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders , and suicide attempts compared with other pregnancies, within five years. 

Likewise, in a study published by the National Institute of Medicine in 2023, researchers looked at the incidence of depression in post abortion women. Their analysis included 15 papers with over 18,000 research participants out of a total of 657 articles. The overall pooled prevalence of post-abortion depression was found to be  34.5%. 

And, a recent Elliot Institute study established a strong statistical correlation between abortion and subsequent drug or alcohol abuse. This finding is based on a national, random sample of 700 women participating in a reproductive history survey.

After excluding women who engaged in substance abuse prior to their first pregnancy, Elliot Institute researchers found the rate of post-pregnancy substance abuse rose from 3.8% for women who did not abort to 14.6% for women who did abort their first pregnancy. In context, in the US, approximately 870,000 women have an abortion for the first time each year. Of this number, it is estimated that 500,000 of the women have not previously used drugs or alcohol. By using the difference between 14.6% and 3.8%, it is reasonable to project that 54,000 women per year may begin abusing drugs and/or alcohol as a means of dealing with post-abortion stress. That is a huge number of women.  

According to the Eliot Institute study, this study is backed up by prior research. For example, a 1981 random study found that women who admitted a history of induced abortion were more than twice as likely to be heavy drinkers (13%) compared to women in general (6%).  In another study of women treated at an alcohol detoxification center in Washington state, researchers found that female patients were likely to have experienced an abortion in the same year as their alcohol related problems began.  

All this said, we want to highlight that in our experience, PAS exists and no amount of the abortion industry denying this will change that. Abortion is the ending of an innocent human life. But it is also a traumatic, often life altering event that can negatively impact the woman. Women need to know this before they make any decisions. 

It is therefore important to emphasize that there is help available for women who are suffering from post abortion PTSD.  If you suspect that you or someone you know is suffering from PAS - or simply struggling with your feelings about abortion - don’t try to handle it alone.  Friends or relatives may help, but it is very common for women with these symptoms to need professional counseling to work through their trauma.  It is important to get a referral to someone with post abortion experience.  Many counselors may not understand your issues and therefore are not effective in treating you.  Feel free to ask questions in order to find a counselor or support group with whom you feel comfortable.  To get started, please visit www.supportafterabortion.com.  It is a great resource for all kinds of options for both women and men who are affected by abortion.  No one should have to suffer in silence.  Forgiveness and healing are possible. You are not alone.