| |  |
The Emotional Effects of Abortion |  |
| 92% | Emotional deadening
(Reported either feeling less in touch with their emotions or feeling a "need to stifle their emotions") | | 86% | Increased tendency toward anger or rage
(48% reported they became more violent when angered) | | 86% | Had a fear of others learning of the abortion or a greater sense of fear for unknown reasons | | 82% | Greater feelings of loneliness or isolation | | 75% | Had less self-confidence | | 73% | Sexual dysfunctions
(Increased pain during intercourse, promiscuity, frigidity, or loss of pleasure) | | 63% | Denial
(Respondents were asked, "Was there a period of time when you would have denied the existence of any doubts or negative feelings about your abortion?" Of those responding yes, the average period of denial that they reported was 5.25 years.) | | 58% | Suffered from insomnia or nightmares | | 57% | Greater difficulty in maintaining or developing relationships | | 56% | Suicidal feelings | | 53% | Increased or began use of drugs or alcohol | | 39% | Eating disorders which began after the abortion
(binge eating, anorexia, or bulimia) | | 28% | Attempted suicide |
This is a partial list of symptoms drawn from a survey of 260 women who, on average, had their first abortion 10.6 years prior to being surveyed. These women were volunteers who either were seeking post-abortion counseling, had participated in post-abortion counseling in the past, or had a history of prior abortion and were seeking help at a crisis pregnancy center to carry a subsequent pregnancy to term. These findings appear to be representative of the reactions of the group of women who experience negative emotional reactions to abortion. These figures may not be representative of the entire population of women who have had abortions, of whom very little is known. For more information on this study and other research, visit the research page at our web site.
| |
