RSS Feeds

Earth Science

Space Science

Life Science

Fields of Scientific Study

Nanotechnology

Cancer

Definitions of The Fields of Scientific Study

Mental distress due to abortion lasts for years

December 12, 2005

Women who have had an abortion still experience mental distress related to the abortion years after it happened. A study published today in the open access journal BMC Medicine reveals that five years on, women who have had an abortion suffer higher levels of mental distress than other women and than women who have had a miscarriage.

Anne Nordal Broen and colleagues from the University of Oslo, in Norway, collaborated with colleagues from the Buskerud Hospital in Drammen, Norway. They studied 40 women who had had a miscarriage and 80 women who had undergone an induced abortion. The women were interviewed and asked to complete questionnaires 10 days, six months, two years and five years after the pregnancy termination. The aim was to assess the women's feelings about the event and measure their levels of stress, anxiety and their quality of life.

Broen et al.'s results show that women who had a miscarriage suffer more mental distress up until six months after the event than women who had an abortion. Women who had an abortion, however, experienced more mental distress long after the event-two and five years afterwards-than women who had a miscarriage. Women who had an abortion experienced high levels of anxiety, feelings of guilt, shame and relief and had to make efforts to avoid thoughts about the event. When compared with women from the general population, women who had an abortion experienced more anxiety 10 days, six months, two years and five years after the event.

BioMed Central

Related Abortion Current Events and Abortion News Articles

Abortion Current Events and Abortion News RSS

Heartburn drugs deemed safe for fetuses according to Ben-Gurion University researchers
H2 Blocker drugs, such as Famotidine, Cimetidine and Ranitidine, approved in the U.S. for acid reflux (heartburn), pose no significant risks for the fetus according to a large collaborative cohort study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

While adolescents may reason as well as adults, their emotional maturity lags, says new research
A 16-year-old might be quite capable of making an informed decision about whether to end a pregnancy - a decision likely to be made after due consideration and consultation with an adult - but this same adolescent may not possess the maturity to be held to adult levels of responsibility if she commits a violent crime, according to new research into adolescent psychological development.

Democrats Seen as the
In a recent study, researchers from several universities looked at why white working-class voters voted Republican in recent national elections even when they didn't like Republican policies.

Genome duplication responsible for more plant species than previously thought
Extra genomes appear, on average, to offer no benefit or disadvantage to plants, but still play a key role in the origin of new species, say scientists from Indiana University Bloomington and three other institutions in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Perform non-radiation ERCP during pregnancy: Is it safe?
Hormonal changes during pregnancy increase the lithogenicity of bile and impair gallbladder emptying, which create a favorable environment for gallstone formation.

Chromosomal problems affect nearly all human embryos
For the first time, scientists have shown that chromosomal abnormalities are present in more than 90% of IVF embryos, even those produced by young, fertile couples.

Easily grossed out? You're more likely a conservative, says Cornell psychologist
Are you someone who squirms when confronted with slime, shudders at stickiness or gets grossed out by gore? Do crawly insects make you cringe or dead bodies make you blanch?

Religious devotion does not impact abortion decisions of young unwed women
Unwed pregnant teens and twenty-somethings who attend or have graduated from private religious schools are more likely to obtain abortions than their peers from public schools.

Houston: The face of America in the next 20 years
Houston is a reflection of where most of America's cities will be in the next 20 years, according to Stephen Klineberg, Rice University sociologist and director of the annual Houston Area Survey.

Study: Health undervalued in reproductive rights debate
Women's health is increasingly undervalued in conflicts over reproductive rights, including clashes based on moral objections under so-called conscience clauses, a new study by a University of Illinois legal expert found.

More Abortion Current Events and Abortion News Articles

	The Ethics of Abortion : Pro-Life Vs. Pro-Choice (Contemporary Issues) by Robert M. Baird (Editor), Stuart E. Rosenbaum (Editor) More than a quarter century after Roe v. Wade, the debate over abortion--with all its moral, ethical, and religious implications--rages on. In their third edition of THE ETHICS OF ABORTION, the editors continue to maintain a balanced, comprehensive approach toward the differing and evolving viewpoints on this complex issue, while at the same time providing readers with the information needed to draw their own conclusions on this heated topic. Twenty-four essays and four excerpts from landmark Supreme Court decisions--including eleven new contributions--cover the history of abortion in the pre-Roe period; creative responses to the problem of abandoned infants; abortion in relation to the Constitution, feminism, and Christianity; and the fundamental moral issues surrounding this...
	Abortion & Life by Jennifer Baumgardner (Author) “In her role as author and activist, Jennifer Baumgardner has permanently changed the way people think about feminism . . . and will shape the next hundred years of politics and culture.”—The Commonwealth Club of California, hailing Baumgardner as one of Six Visionaries for the Twenty-First Century “If Jennifer Baumgardner ever needs another mom, I’ll be the first in line to adopt her. She’s smart, fearless, and a formidable force for change.”—Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed In Abortion & Life, author and activist Jennifer Baumgardner reveals how the most controversial and stigmatized Supreme Court decision of our time cuts across eras, classes, and race. Stunning portraits by photographer Tara Todras-Whitehill of folk singer Ani DiFranco,...
	This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor by Susan Wicklund (Author), Alan Kesselheim (Author) Susan Wicklund was twenty-two-years old and juggling three jobs in Portland, Oregon, when she endured a difficult abortion. Partly in response to that experience, she later embarked on an improbable life journey devoted to women’s reproductive health, going to medical school while raising a daughter. It was not until she became a doctor that she realized how many women share the ordeal of unwanted pregnancies—and how hidden this common experience remains. This Common Secret is an emotional and dramatic story covering twenty years on the front lines of the abortion war. As we enter the most fevered political fight over abortion that America has ever seen, this raw and revealing memoir shows us what is at stake.
	The Healing Choice: Your Guide to Emotional Recovery After an Abortion by Candace De puy (Author), Dana Dovitch (Author) Two psychotherapists present a supportive guide to coping with the emotional and psychological aftermath of abortion, offering a step-by-step program that combines information, reassurance, and guidance to help women begin the process of recovery.
	Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice by Francis J. Beckwith (Author) Defending Life is the most comprehensive defense of the prolife position on abortion ever published. It is sophisticated, but still accessible to the ordinary citizen. Without high-pitched rhetoric or appeals to religion, the author offers a careful and respectful case for why the prolife view of human life is correct. He responds to the strongest prochoice arguments found in law, science, philosophy, politics, and the media. He explains and critiques Roe v. Wade, and he explains why virtually all the popular prochoice arguments fail. There is simply nothing like this book.
	When Abortion Was a Crime: Women, Medicine, and Law in the United States, 1867-1973 by Leslie J. Reagan (Author) Marking the 25th anniversary of ROE v. WADE, it's crucial to look back to the time when abortion was illegal. Leslie Reagan traces the practice and policing of abortion, which although illegal was nonetheless available, with risk to both doctor and patient. For those today who have never known that abortion was once a crime, this work offers chilling and vital lessons.
	Forgiven and Set Free: A Post-Abortion Bible Study for Women by Linda Cochrane (Author) Women who hurt after an abortion usually have such dep scars that they have difficulty talking about their pain. Linda Cochrane, who suffered from post-abortion syndrome, gently helps these women open up and unearth deeply buried feelings of stress, guilt, and shame in an atmosphere of love and acceptance.
	Real Abortion Stories: The Hurting and The Healing by Barbara Horak (Editor) DESCRIPTION These deeply personal stories demonstrate that healing is possible from the traumatic aftermath of abortion. Dr. Alveda C. King, Pastoral Associate, Gospel of Life; niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. From these true stories, discover how to find healing and peace after an abortion. Millie Lace, MSE, LPC Courageous Women Speak Out on Abortion Since Roe v. Wade in 1973, there have been more than 45 million abortions performed in the United States. Many post-abortive women suffer from some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These women, emotionally battered by their symptoms, are often hesitant to talk openly about their ordeal. A new book, Real Abortion Stories: The Hurting and The Healing, contains the powerful first-person...
	I Was Wrong Starring: Norma McCorvey; Joyce Zounis Directed By: Wout Heslinga Norma McCorvey, "Jane Roe" of Roe v. Wade, never could have imagined the outcome of her deception: 4,000 abortions a day since 1973. Norma never had an abortion, but her Supreme Court case brought abortion on demand to America. Darkness and disillusionment plagued her life with baby parts, alcohol, drugs, and suicidal attempts. The power of prayer plus the loving actions of a little girl and others drove Norma from working in an abortion center into the arms of Jesus. Joyce Zounis' choice of abortion, not once but seven times, nearly cost her life. Tormented by disbelief, she lived a nightmare of anger, guilt, and disconnection. She grieves not only for her seven children but also for the heritage of their children. Touched by the truth of God's tender love through a radio show,...
	You're Not Alone: Healing Through God's Grace After Abortion by Jennifer O'Neill (Author) Whether you're pro-life or pro-choice, you probably agree on one thing: abortion hurts women, both mentally and physically. Unfortunately, both sides are guilty of ignoring the individual in favor of the higher moral ground. No more. This book is designed to help people heal from their abortions on an individual level, and to finally be able to put guilt, shame, fear, doubt and other negative feelings behind them forever. Jennifer O'Neill's approach to healing is Christ-centered, showing post-abortive women that God still loves them, and that they should therefore love themselves. She should know--she felt guilt and shame over her own abortion for years. And she is not alone in that pain. This book: presents the symptoms of post-abortion syndrome (experienced by 80...