For the record, I was always somewhat ambivalent to abortion. Woman's body, women's choice was a good enough excuse for me to not concern myself with the ugliness of it all. This changed though, when I took Human Embryology in medical school.
In a meta-analysis carried out by Priscilla Coleman and published in the British Journal of Psychiatry we learn what is already intuitively understood, that abortion is something much more than a routing medical procedure. Professor Coleman analyzed 22 separate projects investigated the experiences of a total of 877,000 women, of whom 163,831 had an abortion.
The results are startling.
From the Telegraph:
“Results indicate quite consistently that abortion is associated with moderate to highly increased risks of psychological problems subsequent to the procedure.
“Overall, the results revealed that women who had undergone an abortion experienced an 81 per cent increased risk of mental health problems, and nearly 10 per cent of the incidence of mental health problems were shown to be directly attributable to abortion.”
The study said that abortion was linked with a 34 per cent greater chance of anxiety disorders, and 37 per cent higher possibility of depression, a more than double risk of alcohol abuse – 110 per cent – a three times greater risk of cannabis use – at 220 per cent – and 155 per cent greater risk of trying to commit suicide.
The conclusions from the published abstract,
This review offers the largest quantitative estimate of mental health risks associated with abortion available in the world literature. Calling into question the conclusions from traditional reviews, the results revealed a moderate to highly increased risk of mental health problems after abortion. Consistent with the tenets of evidence-based medicine, this information should inform the delivery of abortion services.
While correlation does not prove causation this is an impressive study and adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests that abortion is a traumatic intervention that is associated with increased risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation and intent. Wonder if this will be enough evidence for providers at Planned Parenthood to amend their abortion counseling to include this information?
Frankly I would prefer they told young mothers they would stop the beating of a heart.
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