Abortion's Long-Term Effects Recognized


By staff reports,
Citizenlink

Researchers in Norway found that women who had an abortion are more likely to suffer psychological distress than those who had a miscarriage, WebMD reported.

Scientists found that women who lost a child they wanted suffered anxiety and depression for a short time, but women who had an abortion suffered those symptoms for years.

"The women who had miscarriages were often psychologically traumatized for several months," said researcher Dr. Anne Nordal Broen. "Nightmares and flashbacks were not uncommon, but within half a year most of these mental responses were over and they were managing well."

Broen noted that women who chose to abort their preborn child seemed to lack an emotional impact right after the procedure but they often experience effects down the road. Psychological testing showed even five years later, women who had abortions were twice as likely to feel guilt and 60 percent more likely to feel shame.

"I don't think it is much of a surprise that there was residual guilt and shame following the voluntary termination of a pregnancy," she said. "This is not the kind of thing that someone does and never thinks about again."