The world’s largest, most comprehensive and systematic review into the mental health outcomes of induced abortion has been published by U.K.’s Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.
The review concluded that having an abortion does not increase the risk of mental health problems. The evidence suggested that it made no difference to a woman’s mental health whether she chose to have an abortion or continued with the pregnancy.
After reviewing 44 relevant studies published between 1990 and 2011, researchers concluded that having an unwanted pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of mental health problems. However, the rates of mental health problems for women with an unwanted pregnancy are the same, whether they have an abortion or give birth.
The most reliable predictor of post-abortion mental health problems is having a history of mental health problems. In other words, women who have had mental health problems before the abortion are at greater risk of mental health problems after the abortion.
Researchers recommended that future practice and research should focus on supporting all women who have an unwanted pregnancy.
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