What Are the Mental Health Effects of Abortion?

August 29, 2024
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When considering an abortion, it's essential to acknowledge both your physical and mental health. While you may already be familiar with the physical risks of abortion, understanding the mental health effects is equally important.

An abortion can bring a
range of emotions, from relief to guilt, loss, and sadness, and it's crucial to recognize and address these feelings. 

Every woman's experience is unique, and the emotional impact can vary widely. Acknowledging your mental health is an essential step in caring for yourself during this time. 

We’ill explore the potential mental health effects of abortion and provide resources to help you manage your emotional well-being.

Feeling Pressure

A study by the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons reported that 75% of women who had an abortion felt at least subtly pressured into getting one. Of these women, many reported negative mental health outcomes afterward, including feelings of:


  • Worthlessness
  • Being unworthy of love
  • Low self-esteem
  • Anxiety
  • Shame
  • Guilt
  • Regret
  • Self-hatred


What this means is feeling pressured to make your decision is one of the most significant risk factors for experiencing negative mental health outcomes. You can prioritize your health by making sure this decision is yours. 


Other Risk Factors

Another thing to look out for when you’re considering abortion is any risk factors that would make you susceptible to mental health issues.


Some of these
pre-existing factors that can contribute to an issue after an abortion include:

  • Having a history of prior mental illness
  • Having moral or religious beliefs that conflict with abortion
  • Having a maternal desire to have children now or in the future


Mental Health Risks

Study findings also show abortion is associated with higher rates of various mental health issues, including:


  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Substance use
  • Traumatic symptoms
  • Sleep disorders


Get Support

You don’t have to go through an unexpected pregnancy alone. Collage provides free pregnancy services such as pregnancy testing, limited OB ultrasounds, and more to help you feel equipped. 


We also offer after-abortion support for women who’ve undergone an abortion procedure. You can find healing and support through us. 


Reach out to us
to request a no-cost and confidential appointment today. 

*All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.


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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