Abortion

Abortion, the medical or surgical termination of a pregnancy, is one of the oldest, most common and most controversial medical procedures. One controversy centers on whether abortion harms women psychologically.

Adapted from the Report of the APA Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion

Research on Mental Health and Abortion

Mental Health and Abortion
This research review found no evidence that a single abortion harms a woman’s mental health. It also found that women who report distress post-abortion typically have other risk factors for mental health problems, such as substance abuse, poverty or exposure to domestic violence. The evidence regarding the relative mental health risks associated with multiple abortions is less clear; the report recommends further study in this area.