Mental and Social Health Risks of Abortion Joe Emmerich Text Evaluation.

Mental and Social Mental and Social Health Risks of Health Risks of

AbortionAbortion

Joe Emmerich Joe Emmerich

Text Evaluation Text Evaluation

Abortion Is Abortion Is NotNot A Quick Fix ! A Quick Fix ! ““Abortions were supposed to be a “quick fix” for Abortions were supposed to be a “quick fix” for

my problems, but they didn’t tell me there is no my problems, but they didn’t tell me there is no “quick fix” for regret. I went to a psychiatric “quick fix” for regret. I went to a psychiatric hospital and they gave me shock treatments. hospital and they gave me shock treatments. They didn’t help. The nightmare continued. I They didn’t help. The nightmare continued. I became a workaholic. Work didn’t help. I became a workaholic. Work didn’t help. I became a compulsive eater. Food didn’t help. I became a compulsive eater. Food didn’t help. I became an anorexic as another form of self-became an anorexic as another form of self-punishment. That came close to killing me, I had punishment. That came close to killing me, I had two strokes. I tried alcohol. It helped two strokes. I tried alcohol. It helped temporarily. The torment would still be there temporarily. The torment would still be there when I woke up.”when I woke up.”

Judith EvansJudith Evans

Why Should Post Abortion Why Should Post Abortion Mental Health Be Addressed in Mental Health Be Addressed in

Our Text?Our Text? At current rates, 35% of American women At current rates, 35% of American women

will have had an abortion by the age of 45will have had an abortion by the age of 45 Nearly half of all American pregnancies Nearly half of all American pregnancies

are unintended and 40% of these end in are unintended and 40% of these end in an abortion. an abortion.

National Right to LifeNational Right to Life

22% of all U.S. pregnancies (excluding 22% of all U.S. pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion. This equals miscarriages) end in abortion. This equals approximately 1.3 million a year. approximately 1.3 million a year.

Guttmacher InstituteGuttmacher Institute

Abortion Is Linked to Abortion Is Linked to Contraception Contraception

92% of women who have an abortion 92% of women who have an abortion have used a method of birth control have used a method of birth control prior to their abortion prior to their abortion

54% of American women who have 54% of American women who have an abortion have used a an abortion have used a contraceptive method during the contraceptive method during the month they become pregnant month they become pregnant

Guttmacher InstituteGuttmacher Institute

How does abortion effect How does abortion effect women?women?

Women who had an abortion have a 98% Women who had an abortion have a 98% increase for one or more mental health increase for one or more mental health disorders as compared to women who disorders as compared to women who did not have an abortion. did not have an abortion.

In addition, women who had an abortion In addition, women who had an abortion have an increased risk of social and have an increased risk of social and relationship problems including relationship problems including substance abuse, divorce and child substance abuse, divorce and child abuseabuse

Elliot InstituteElliot Institute

Mental Health RisksMental Health Risks

Suicide and Suicidal Suicide and Suicidal ThoughtsThoughts

60%60% of women report suicidal thoughts of women report suicidal thoughts after abortionafter abortion

6%6% of all suicidal thought cases in the of all suicidal thought cases in the United States can be attributed to United States can be attributed to abortionsabortions

28%28% of women have one or more suicide of women have one or more suicide attempt after abortionattempt after abortion

Suicide rate within one year after abortion Suicide rate within one year after abortion is is 6 times higher6 times higher than for women than for women carrying their baby to termcarrying their baby to term


Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse 25%25% of cases of drug use in the U.S. are of cases of drug use in the U.S. are

believed to be related to abortionbelieved to be related to abortionCanadian Journal of PsychiatryCanadian Journal of Psychiatry

280%280% increased risk for any substance increased risk for any substance abuse disorderabuse disorder

Five-fold Five-fold increased risk of drug abuse (in increased risk of drug abuse (in those who had no previous history of drug those who had no previous history of drug abuse)abuse)

261%261% increased risk of alcohol abuse increased risk of alcohol abuse TwiceTwice as likely to become heavy smokers as likely to become heavy smokers

(and suffer the corresponding health risks)(and suffer the corresponding health risks)Elliot InstituteElliot Institute

Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)(PTSD)

At least 19%At least 19% of women suffer from of women suffer from diagnosable PTSD after abortiondiagnosable PTSD after abortion

Approximately 50%Approximately 50% of women had of women had many but not all symptoms of PTSDmany but not all symptoms of PTSD

20%-40%20%-40% showed moderate to high showed moderate to high levels of stress and avoidance levels of stress and avoidance behavior related to their abortion behavior related to their abortion experienceexperience


Eating DisordersEating Disorders

Post abortion stress is associated Post abortion stress is associated with:with:– Binge eatingBinge eating– BulimiaBulimia– Anorexia nervosaAnorexia nervosa

Elliot InstitueElliot Institue

Sexual DysfunctionSexual Dysfunction

30%-50% of women report sexual 30%-50% of women report sexual dysfunction following abortion dysfunction following abortion including:including:– PromiscuityPromiscuity– Loss of pleasure from intercourseLoss of pleasure from intercourse– Increased painIncreased pain– Aversion to sex and/or menAversion to sex and/or men


Other mental health risks after Other mental health risks after

abortionabortion 167%167% increase rate higher for bipolar increase rate higher for bipolar

Journal of Psychiatric ResearchJournal of Psychiatric Research

65%65% increase risk of clinical depression increase risk of clinical depression Medical Science Monitor Medical Science Monitor

61%61% increased risk for mood disorder increased risk for mood disorder 61%61% increased risk for social anxiety increased risk for social anxiety

disorderdisorderCanadian Journal of PsychiatryCanadian Journal of Psychiatry

59%59% increased risk for suicidal thoughts increased risk for suicidal thoughts 44%44% increased rate of panic attacks increased rate of panic attacks 30%30% higher risk of generalized anxiety higher risk of generalized anxiety

disorderdisorder Journal of Journal of Anxiety DisorderAnxiety Disorder

Social and Social and Relationship ProblemsRelationship Problems

Divorce and Chronic Divorce and Chronic Relationship ProblemsRelationship Problems

Couples are more likely to divorce or Couples are more likely to divorce or separate following abortionseparate following abortion

Many women develop a greater Many women develop a greater difficulty forming lasting bonds with a difficulty forming lasting bonds with a male partner following abortion, male partner following abortion, resulting in shorter relationships and resulting in shorter relationships and more divorcesmore divorces


Child AbuseChild Abuse

144% more likely to abuse their 144% more likely to abuse their childrenchildren

Increase in child abuse likely related to:Increase in child abuse likely related to:– Increased depressionIncreased depression– Violent behaviorViolent behavior– Alcohol and drug abuseAlcohol and drug abuse– Replacement pregnanciesReplacement pregnancies– Reduced maternal bonding with childrenReduced maternal bonding with children


Post-Abortion Counseling Post-Abortion Counseling

Rachel’s VineyardRachel’s Vineyard– www.rachelsvineyard.orgwww.rachelsvineyard.org – 877-HOPE 4 ME877-HOPE 4 ME

Pro-Life AmericaPro-Life America– www.prolifeamerica.com – 1-800-401-64941-800-401-6494

Work Cited PageWork Cited Page

1. www.elliotinstitute.com 2.2. www.guttmacher.orgwww.guttmacher.org 3.3. www.researchforlife.orgwww.researchforlife.org4.4. DC Reardon et al, “Death Associated With Pregnancy outcome: Record DC Reardon et al, “Death Associated With Pregnancy outcome: Record

Linkage Study of Low Income Women,” Southern Medical Journal 95(8) 834-41 Linkage Study of Low Income Women,” Southern Medical Journal 95(8) 834-41 Aug 2002Aug 2002

5.5. Mota, NP et al., “Associations Between Abortion, Mental Disorders and Suicidal Mota, NP et al., “Associations Between Abortion, Mental Disorders and Suicidal Behavior in a Nationally Reprsentative Sample,” Behavior in a Nationally Reprsentative Sample,” The Canadian Journal of The Canadian Journal of PsychiatryPsychiatry 55(4): 239-246 (April 2010) 55(4): 239-246 (April 2010)

6.6. Coleman, PK et. al., “Induced abortion and anxiety, mood, and substance Coleman, PK et. al., “Induced abortion and anxiety, mood, and substance abuse disorders: Isolating the effects of abortion in the national co morbidity abuse disorders: Isolating the effects of abortion in the national co morbidity survey, “ survey, “ Journal of Psychiatric Research Journal of Psychiatric Research (2008), doi10.10.1016/j.jpshchires (2008), doi10.10.1016/j.jpshchires 2008.10.0092008.10.009

7.7. DC Reardon, JR Cougle “Depression Associated With Abortion and Child birth: DC Reardon, JR Cougle “Depression Associated With Abortion and Child birth: A Long Term Analysis of the NYLS Cohort,” A Long Term Analysis of the NYLS Cohort,” Medical Science Monitor 9Medical Science Monitor 9(4): (4): CR105-112, 2003CR105-112, 2003

8.8. JR Cougle, DC Reardon, PK Coleman, “General Anxiety Following Uninteded JR Cougle, DC Reardon, PK Coleman, “General Anxiety Following Uninteded Resolved through Child birth or Abortion: A Cohort Study of the 1995 National Resolved through Child birth or Abortion: A Cohort Study of the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth,” Survey of Family Growth,” Journal of Anxiety DisorderJournal of Anxiety Disorder 19:137-142,2005 19:137-142,2005

Mental and Social Health Risks of Abortion Joe Emmerich Text Evaluation.

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