What Are the Mental Health Effects of Abortion?

August 1, 2024
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While not in every case, abortion can lead to various mental health challenges, including anxiety, guilt, and depression for some women. 

Coping with your emotions after an abortion can be extremely difficult, and many women seek healing and peace after their abortion experience.


If you’re considering an abortion, it's essential to understand the potential emotional risks and how they might impact your daily life. If you’ve already had an abortion and are struggling, know that you’re not alone. Seeking the support you need is crucial in overcoming these challenges and finding a path to recovery. 

Knowing The Risks

The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons reported that nearly 75% of women who had an abortion felt at least subtly pressured into the decision. Feeling pressured is a significant risk factor for experiencing negative mental health issues. 

Many of the women studied experienced psychological effects afterward, including:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Shame
  • Guilt
  • Feelings of worthlessness
  • Self-destructive behaviors

These are just some of the potential adverse mental health outcomes that can happen post-abortion. However, every woman’s experience and reaction is different.


Find Support


Collage offers
after-abortion support designed to help you on your path to healing. By taking advantage of Collage's support programs, you can find the understanding and compassion needed to navigate this difficult time and work towards a place of peace and recovery.


Whether you’re dealing with the effects of an abortion experience or have just discovered you are unexpectedly pregnant, know that there’s hope. You don’t have to do this alone. 


Collage offers free pregnancy testing, limited OB ultrasounds, STD testing and treatment, and after-abortion support. We’re here to help you understand your options and get the services you need when facing pregnancy.


Contact us
today for confidential support in a safe and nonjudgmental environment.

September 7, 2026
Seeing another positive pregnancy test after having had a past abortion may bring up memories or emotions from that experience. If you already know you don’t want another abortion, you may be wondering what other choices you have and whether either feels realistic for your life right now. You have time to learn about your options and the available support. Collage is here to give you a place to discuss your circumstances so you can decide what’s right for you. Schedule a no-cost appointment today to learn more about your pregnancy and what your next steps could look like. And read on to learn more about your pregnancy options besides abortion. Consider What Parenting Would Require You may want to parent but have concerns about whether you can make it work. Finances, housing, childcare, your relationship, work, or school can all influence how possible this option feels right now. Before deciding that those challenges make parenting unrealistic, it can help to identify your biggest concerns individually. Some of those concerns may have solutions you haven’t considered yet. Think about the support you already have, along with what you would need during pregnancy and after your baby arrives. Knowing where the gaps are can make it easier to find resources rather than trying to solve everything at once. Learn More About Adoption If you don’t want another abortion but aren’t ready to parent, adoption is another option. Today, a woman making an adoption plan can have a significant role in deciding what that plan looks like. Depending on the type of adoption, you may be able to choose an adoptive family and decide what level of contact you would like after placement. Open, semi-open, and closed adoption offer different levels of communication and privacy. Speaking with a licensed adoption professional can help you understand these differences, your rights, and what the process would involve before you make any commitments. Discuss Your Options in a Confidential Space Having had an abortion before does not mean you have to make the same pregnancy decision again. Your feelings, circumstances, priorities, or perspective may be different this time. If you know you don’t want another abortion, start by learning what parenting and adoption could realistically look like in your current situation. Collage provides a place to talk about your pregnancy and the concerns influencing your decision. We can also connect you with adoption agencies and community organizations that provide the support you’re seeking. Reaching out doesn’t lock you into a specific decision. Schedule a no-cost appointment with Collage today to get your questions answered and explore the options available to you. Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.
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