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There are many burdensome life situations that require some mental preparation to get through. For women specifically, pregnancy can be a life-changing experience that greatly affects mental and physical health. A recent report suggests that unwanted pregnancy is a situation that can be harmful for mental health, but that two outcomes (giving birth or getting an abortion) don’t affect mental health any differently.
“The rates of mental health problems for women with an unwanted pregnancy were the same whether they had an abortion or gave birth,” according to the report.
However, women who have unwanted pregnancies overall have more of a risk for mental health problems, according to the report.
“The most reliable predictor of post-abortion mental health problems was having a history of mental health problems before the abortion,” the authors of the report stated. “There were some additional factors associated with an increased risk of mental health problems specifically related to abortion, such as pressure from a partner to have an abortion and negative attitudes towards abortions in general and towards a woman’s personal experience of the abortion.”
The report was published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and conducted by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, according to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges website.
According to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges website, the report is “the world’s largest, most comprehensive and systematic review into the mental health outcomes of induced abortion.” The report can be found on the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges website that is listed under “sources.”
Understandably this report comes in a time where abortion is still controversial and laws are continually being drafted that limit abortion rights. One women’s psychology expert gave her opinions on what this report could contribute to women put in a situation of an unwanted pregnancy, and how women can mentally prepare for giving birth to an unwanted child or having an abortion, considering the mental health implications for having an unwanted pregnancy.
Jessica LeRoy, the founder and executive director of the Center for the Psychology of Women, said she has worked with women who have gone through unwanted pregnancies and abortions, and she’s even had her own abortion.
“I don't think any woman wants to think about an unwanted pregnancy or
abortion, it is not a scenario we want to be in and not a choice we honestly want to make,” LeRoy said. “But when it does happen it is a choice we are faced with.”
She said women can start thinking now of what they would do in an unwanted pregnancy situation.
“I find that it can be helpful to know where you stand on these issues
and what you think you may do if one should occur, but then be open and
flexible to how you may feel if an unwanted pregnancy occurs,” LeRoy said.
Having some mental preparation of what you would want to do doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind later.
Women can prepare by knowing that certain emotions may arise during an unwanted pregnancy, whether they take the abortion route or decide to have a baby.
“First is to know that this is a difficult situation and very stressful and
overwhelming,” LeRoy said. “Every woman is going to experience it differently. Be open to whatever emotions come up around this situation, [such as] anger, hurt, shame, sadness [and] grief. You will typically experience a wide range of emotions, and relief will be one of them and that is OK.”
She said this report could be somewhat comforting to women.
“I think that it may give women some relief knowing that just having an
abortion is not going to adversely affect their mental health,” LeRoy said. “Again, most of the time the unwanted pregnancy is not planned and so being faced with
the pregnancy and the abortion is enough stress and pressure upon a woman
that to know this experience is difficult and not one I wanted to
experience.”
Sources:
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. Systematic Review of Induced Abortion and Women’s Mental Health Published. Web. Dec. 13, 2011. http://www.aomrc.org.uk/component/content/article/38-general-news/283-systematic-review-of-induced-abortion-and-womens-ental-health-published.html
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health. Induced Abortion and Mental Health. Web. Dec. 13, 2011. http://www.aomrc.org.uk/publications/reports-guidance.html
LeRoy, Jessica. Email interview. Dec. 13, 2011
Reviewed December 14, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
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