So much of the abortion debate is based on myths, bad assumptions, bad logic, or outright gaslighting through deception. For the rest of 2019 we will highlight one common abortion myth every month.
#4: Abortion has no side effects for women.
The bottom line: Abortion can be a traumatic experience for women and often leaves long-lasting emotional and physical impacts.
The myth that abortion has no side effects for women is perpetuated by the abortion industry in their desire to save face and make money. The industry wants to provide more abortions to more women. They seek to do this even if they must use deception and disinformation to sell abortion procedures to women—procedures which can have detrimental side effects.
Many abortion supporters push back against anything that suggests abortion causes any harm to women, including denying the experiences of women. In doing so, the self-proclaimed champions of women’s empowerment fail to provide women with accurate or complete information.
Post-Abortion Syndrome is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder experienced by some women following an abortion. The emotional trauma and pain of post-abortion syndrome can be experienced immediately after an abortion. Often, symptoms of post-abortion syndrome may not surface until long after the abortion.
Symptoms and disorders that have been attributed to post-abortion syndrome are various and can include sadness, eating disorders, depression, insomnia, low self-esteem, anxiety, relationship issues, survival guilt, uncontrollable crying, flashbacks, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.
Many scientific studies have been conducted throughout the world demonstrating evidence of post-abortion syndrome in women.
- A 2017 study recorded survey responses from 927 post-abortive women and detailed the emotional suffering women experienced because of abortion. Women expressed feeling regret, shame, guilt, depression, and anxiety. Nearly 50 women in the study voiced a “lack of desire to continue living based on the reality of their choice and the heartache that ensued.” The abortion industry denies stories like these.
- A 2016 study examined thirteen years of evidence and found women who had experienced an induced abortion were at significantly elevated rates of mental distress, along with alcohol and drug abuse.
- A 2018 review of literature relating to abortion and mental health found that studies from abortion opponents and proponents both signify higher rates of mental illness being associated with women who have an abortion in their past compared to women without a history of abortion.
- Suicidal ideation is one sign of mental distress in post-abortive women. A 2019 study examined the suicide rates of Italian women. The suicide rate of women who had abortions was more than double the suicide rate of women who gave birth.
The studies listed above—along with many other surveys that have been conducted—demonstrate the evidence of many side effects women can suffer after experiencing an abortion procedure.
Women can also suffer physical side effects from abortions. Despite Planned Parenthood’s claim that abortion is “one of the safest medical procedures you can get,” serious medical complications can be caused by an abortion.
The pro-abortion American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lists common side-effects encountered following an abortion. These include bleeding, severe cramping, soreness, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. Major complications can also occur after an abortion procedure including infection or injury to the cervix, uterus, or other organs.
Abortion has been linked to an increased risk for post-abortive women being diagnosed with breast cancer later in life. 58 out of 74 worldwide studies from 1957 to 2013 have shown that abortion increases a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer.
Abortion has left many women emotionally and physically scarred. Botched abortions have impacted the health and wellness of women. In some cases, abortion results in the death of the woman.
Many post-abortive women, men and families suffer alone in silence. After all, they have been repeatedly told by abortion-friendly media sources that abortion has no side effects and should even be celebrated. However, abortion is totally unlike other medical procedures in that the object is to take a life. The pain and trauma experienced after an abortion is real and not infrequent.
Help is available for people who are struggling with the pain resulting from an abortion. There are many organizations in Michigan that provide post-abortive resources and counseling.
Women deserve better than abortion and the long-lasting detrimental impacts abortion can leave on their lives. Sadly, it’s the real stories of love, support and forgiveness that are treated as myths by the abortion industry.
Myth Series:
#10: Late-term abortions are only for health problems
#9: Abortion is a small part of Planned Parenthood’s services
#8: Women pregnant through rape all have abortions
#7: Most women support abortion
#6: Late-term abortions are rare
#5: Prolife people don’t care about the baby after it’s born