ABORTION-effects

on the woman’s
health
Dudová Sára
Contents
Introduction Definition, history

What is the usual emotional reaction

Stress, sadness, relief, guilt etc.
to abortion?
Is there any specific psychiatric
PAS- post abortion syndrome
disorder related to abortion?
Prevalence of psychiatric disorders
PTSD, depression, substance abuse, suicidal behaviour
post-abortion

Risk of breast cancer Association between abortion and cancer?

Risk of future infertility Does abortion lead to infertility?

Impact of abortion in other areas Education, finances, relationships with partners

Conclusion

Resources
 01
Introduction
Introduction
- First written evidence – 4500 years old
- Removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus
- induced termination of pregnancy before twenty
weeks of being pregnant
- Spontaneous/ induced
- Most common surgical procedure in the Western
world
 02
What is the usual
emotional reaction to
abortion?
 What is the usual emotional reaction
to abortion?
- Distress is prominent prior to abortion
- 2 groups of women :

1.
2.
Group – relief, no negative emotions
Group – strong distress and guilt after a
LEGALITY
long period of time
!
 03
Is there any specific
psychiatric disorder
related to abortion?
Is there any specific psychiatric disorder related
to abortion?
- PAS – post abortion syndrome
- Based on PTSD
- Not considered as a discrete disorder
 04
Prevalence of psychiatric
disorders post-abortion
Prevalence of psychiatric disorders post-abortion

PTSD Suicidal behaviour

Study (1) Study (2)

Cannabis,
19.8% nicotine,
alcohol
37,4% 22%

Depression
2x
Substance abuse
11,4% Study (3)
 05
Risk of breast cancer
Risk of breast cancer
- The US National Institute of Cancer and the
UK Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists - abortion is not associated
with an increase in breast cancer risk
 06
Risk to future fertility
 “Roughly 25% of the women who
interrupt their first pregnancy have
remained permanently childless .”
— Dr. Bohumil Stipal, Deputy Minister of
Health of the former Czechoslovakia
Risk to future fertility
- WHO or McKenzie and Fry – 97% of
women had no complications with getting
pregnant after abortion
 07
Impact of abortion in other
areas
Impact of abortion in other areas
- Women after abortion: benefits in educational and financial area
but lower self esteem problems with their intimate life
- Abortion also effects men – jealousy, mistrust
- Arguments between partners
 08
Conclusions
Conclusions
- Either benefical or problematic
- Small chance of suffering from mental
disorders, substance abuse etc.
Resources
(1) Coleman PK, Coyle CT, Shuping M, Rue VM. Induced abortion and anxiety, mood, and substance abuse disorders:
isolating the effects of abortion in the national comorbidity survey. J Psychiatr Res. 2009 May;43(8):770-6. doi:
10.1016/j.jpsychires.2008.10.009. Epub 2008 Nov 28. Erratum in: J Psychiatr Res. 2011 Aug;45(8):1133-4. PMID:
19046750.

(2) Reardon DC, Ney PG, Scheuren F, Cougle J, Coleman PK, Strahan TW. Deaths associated with pregnancy outcome: a
record linkage study of low income women. South Med J. 2002 Aug;95(8):834-41. PMID: 12190217.

(3) Major B, Cozzarelli C, Cooper ML, Zubek J, Richards C, Wilhite M, Gramzow RH. Psychological responses of
women after first-trimester abortion. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000 Aug;57(8):777-84. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.57.8.777.
PMID: 10920466.

(4) Pourreza A, Batebi A. Psychological Consequences of Abortion among the Post Abortion Care Seeking Women in
Tehran. Iran J Psychiatry. 2011 Winter;6(1):31-6. PMID: 22952518; PMCID: PMC3395931.
Resources
(5) Patricia R. Casey, Abortion among young women and subsequent life outcomes, Best Practice & Research Clinical
Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Volume 24, Issue 4, 2010, Pages 491-502, ISSN 1521-6934

(6) Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Ridder, E. M. (2006). Abortion in young women and subsequent mental health.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47(1), 16–24.

(7) Rowlands, S. (2011). Misinformation on abortion. The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health
Care, 16(4), 233–240. https://doi.org/10.3109/13625187.2011.570883

(8) Romans-Clarkson SE. Psychological sequelae of induced abortion. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 1989 Dec;23(4):555-65. doi:
10.3109/00048678909062625. PMID: 2692552.

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‌
 Thank you
for attention!