After Your Abortion ~ Long-Term Questions
Abortion is an experience that can change people; it is an event that can make women stop, take stock of their lives, and go forward with a new perspective. In the long term, you may see this as a time of change or it may just be another thread in the fabric of your life. You will decide the meaning it has.
Be assured that both surgical and medication abortions are very safe. There is no evidence that they have any long-term negative effects, physically or psychologically.
The most frequent questions women ask about the long-term effect of abortion are:
- Will I be able to have children?
Most likely, yes. An uncomplicated abortion will not affect your ability to have children. This is true even if you've had more than one abortion. Preterm's complication rate is less than one percent.
- Will having an abortion give me breast cancer?
No. Anti-abortion groups frequently claim that there is a link between abortion and breast cancer. There were some early studies that suggested this might be the case, but follow-up investigations have shown the link to be false. The American Cancer Society has issued this statement explaining the problems with the early studies and asserting their firm view that abortion does not contribute to breast cancer.
- Will I have mental health issues?
You might have heard the term "post-abortion syndrome" (PAS) or other things that make you worry about the psychological effects of abortion. The American Psychological Association (APA) created a task force to study these concerns, and it found that there is no evidence that PAS exists or that women who have abortions have more mental health problems than women who do not. See the APA's discussion of abortion here.
This is not to say that you will not experience strong emotions after an abortion. Some women grieve deeply. That is a normal response to loss. As with any grief, it is important to work through the feelings so that you can move forward in your life. If you need help resolving your grief, you may find that mourning rituals can help you or you may benefit from talking with a counselor.
A Preterm patient advocate can help you find the right ritual or refer you to counselors and pro-choice clergy. Feel free to call. And see Emotional & Spiritual Concerns for more info.
If you have other questions about the long-term effects of abortion that you think should be included here, please submit them here.
