Will Abortion Affect Me Psychologically?
Are There Emotional Effects of Abortion?
This discussion is on the psychological effects or emotional impact of abortion. Unfortunately the data about the long-term effects of abortion is difficult to obtain. The failure to tie side effects to the abortion procedure makes it difficult to determine the extent of emotional and psychological harm. There are many studies out there and there is indeed evidence.
Fergusson Study
In 2008, the pro-choice Professor of Psychology, David Fergusson produced a study that the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH) considered the best analysis of the effects of abortion on a woman’s mental health. He later updated his study and undertook a meta-analysis of the best quality studies on this relationship and found a clear trend. This data was collected in 2013 - which is important to note as it is before the readily available access to the abortion pill where women are now undergoing at-home procedures - often without medical support or intervention.
Based on Ferguson’s meta- analysis, abortion was associated with increases of 28% for anxiety, 13% for depression, 69% for suicidal behavior, 134% for alcohol misuse, and 291% for drug use. As far back as 1992, Rue and Speckhard posited that the traumatic experience of abortion can lead to serious mental health problems, for which they coined the term postabortion syndrome (PAS). which is very similar to PTSD which in addition to the above stated symptoms, can lead to relationship issues, destructive behavior, nightmares, detachment from friends and family, lack of interest in activities, and avoidance of things or situations that induce memory of the abortion.
In addition, many women experience a range of long term negative emotions. Furguson’s work in New Zealand, where abortion stigma is minimal, found 71.1% felt sadness, 34.6% of those extreme: 63.5% felt guilt, 33.7% of those extreme; - tested several years after their procedure and these numbers frequently increase as time goes on (as found by Brenda Major, pro-abortion researcher back in 2009). You might say that research is old but the impact of abortion does not change.
Sullins Study
In September, 2025, Paul Sullins published the results of his clinical study in the International Journal of Women's Health Care. His study concluded that of a representative sample of 1000 women in the US between 41-45, that 44% of post-abortive women reported moderate (20.7%) to high (24.1%) post-abortion distress (PAD) related to their abortion(s), including “frequent feelings of loss, grief or sadness” (31.2%) and “frequent thoughts, dreams, or flashbacks” (24.6%). It is important to note that for most of the women, this survey was not conducted 1 week after the abortion, but rather, years later. Even if you used the statistics touted by the abortion industry that only 1-3% of women experience adverse effects, that is still a huge number of women. Abortion has been legal in the US for 50+ years. There are an estimated 7 million women of all ages who are carrying this burden in their hearts. And the abortion industry stays silent or denies it.
If there is this evidence, conducted by pro-choice or neutral research organizations, how and why is this evidence denied?
One reason is the claim that women who suffer from mental health problems after abortion had mental health issues before pregnancy. That their symptoms were already present.
Women facing the abortion decision indeed may have diminished mental health due to experiences and circumstances. The fact that they are facing an unplanned pregnancy alone very likely causes distress, fear and anxiety. But the verified studies account for prior mental health; the conclusion is still that abortion is associated with increased psychiatric outcomes.
The large majority of women feel they made the right decision after abortion.
This statement is very misleading. The decision they are making is based on their circumstances and the thought of surviving them with a dependent. They do not know of solutions to their situation or challenges or cannot clearly see how a child will impact their lives. It does not mean at all that it is something that they WANT to do. The claim of the right decision comes from the 2022 Turnaway Study which compared 1000 women who sought abortion near the gestational limit in their respective state. It compared women who obtained an abortion with women denied an abortion. But there are significant flaws and weaknesses with the study.
For one, it was not a representative sample of women. The study had a very low response rate, a very high attrition rate, and a majority refused to even participate. By the end of the study, only 17% of the original participants remained. The Turnaway Study itself found that women with negative reactions to abortion dropped out. This very depleted sample is not a reliable conclusion about mental health. While this claims that there is a very large percentage of women stating that they feel they made the right decision at that time, the Sullins study in 2025 refutes that this relief is stable. Sullins found a large percentage of women grew to regret their abortion over time. A woman may feel like an obstacle was overcome, but that does not mean that she does not have regret, remorse, sadness or any of the other documented conditions resulting from abortion. On another side note, an abortion minded woman who chose to carry to term rarely regrets that decision. In fact, in the Turnaway study, 98% of the women who were denied abortion were thankful for the opposition. So this objection simply tells us that women are good at coming to terms with their situations and justifying their decision. It tells us nothing about the objective psychological conditions that may result. Also, what is not documented is the percentage of women who feel they made the wrong decision. Many post abortive women verify the evidence by flat out stating that they would never do it again.
Another objection cited by the abortion industry is that the overall rate of mental disorders is the same for women who chose abortion and those who continued a pregnancy because the risks balance out, meaning that there are risks to both options so both can cause difficulties.
This is the stance that the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health took in 2018. This is comparing apples to oranges. The two are completely opposite and reactions should not be calculated the same. Even though both can cause stress, that is like saying that planning a wedding and a funeral are the same. It is also well documented that suicidality among women decreases when she becomes a mother, and increases in women after abortion.
Women are suffering, suffering in silence. But, if you are human with human emotions, the idea that abortion is easy simply does not add up. If you or someone you know can relate to this at all, it is time to end the silence.