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Abortion 'does not harm women's mental health'

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Women do not put their mental health at risk by having an abortion, according to an authoritative new study.

A wide-ranging review of research by the American Psychological Association (APA), one of the world's most influential mental health bodies, found no evidence that the majority of abortions cause psychiatric problems.

The finding will undermine the campaign to tighten the UK's abortion laws which if successful would make it harder for British women to obtain terminations.

Anti-abortion MPs have tabled an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which is to be debated by the House of Commons in October.

The amendment would require all women to undergo counselling focusing on the psychiatric risks before they were allowed to have a termination.

The MPs who are trying to tighten the law cite research suggesting that depression and anxiety are more common among women who have had abortions.

But the APA report said the findings of such studies were unreliable.

The study found 'no credible evidence' that single abortions could directly cause mental health problems among adults with unwanted pregnancies - and that the evidence for the adverse psychiatric effects of multiple abortions was also weak.

Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: 'Abortion research is highly politicised, but large, high-quality studies consistently show that having an abortion does not result in psychological damage.'

Monday 18 August 2008

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Focusing on only adult women with a single abortion, no prior history of mental stress, and no attachment to their pregnancy ignores the fact that almost half of all abortions in the US are second, third or fourth abortions, 20% are for minors, 30% or more do have prior mental stress that can be aggravated by an abortion, and nearly half are emotionally attached to their pregnancy either because it was a wanted pregnancy or because they have a maternal attachment to their unplanned pregnancy.

Also, it turns out the chair of the APA task force is actively involved in pro-choice activities and continues to withhold her own data on abortion and mental health in violation of the APA's own ethics rules on data sharing. To learn more about this growing scandal, see Researcher: APA Chair Withholding Info on Abortion's Mental Health Risks by Steven Ertelt
Comment by Martha on August 18 18:45

I had an Abortion just over 1 month ago, it was my and my partners choice. I would love to one day have a child but I am not ready just now. I did not take the decision lightly but am glad its all over with. I have cried but thats over the emotional turmoil not depression or similar.

We all need a right to choose and life is not a game its real, so we all have to try and make the best decisions we can.

Dont feel guilty for choice and look forward to the future :o)
Comment by Princess on August 21 12:07