Post Abortion Syndrome

delapena · Newbie Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 15

I have been told how many pro-life groups conclude that a large percentage of women who have undergone an abortion experience serious consequences. They said it is usually depression, and massive feelings of guilt. They called this posttraumatic abortion syndrome, or post abortion syndrome. I believe this is possible so I would like to hear more about it.

dane · Newbie Joined: 23 Mar 2005 Posts: 21

Post-Abortion Syndrome or PAS is a term that has been used to describe the emotional and psychological consequences after abortion. It is well known that whenever someone goes through a traumatic experience, without the opportunity to process the experience emotionally, he or she can expect a delayed negative reaction. Since we live in a society that ignores the painful consequences of abortion that is something what is happening often. Men and women who have experienced it are urged into denial. That is why they do not talk about and process the normal feelings of anxiety, fear, shame, guilt and grief, which often follow the abortion. When this kind of emotions are denied and buried, they will often resurface having been magnified by time. Anxiety is defined as an unpleasant emotional and physical state of apprehension, common as symptoms of post abortion syndrome, beside guilt and anger. Post-abortive women with anxiety may experience tension, physical responses, such as dizziness, pounding heart, upset stomach and headache, etc.

CRAZYGIRL · Newbie Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 6

I personally had an abortion at the age of 18 ad i still to this day believe that was one of the best decisions for me. I was able to finish school, get a degree, and be more responsibile when i was ready to have children... so your saying that depression is one of the draw backs... I disagree.... I am one who experiencedit all. at 18 i had an abortion and at 20 i gave my child up for adoption... i now regret neither... one bothers me more than the other... my child is out there somewhere and i have not idea where and i have no idea how he is doing... now this is what will bring on depression... i now have a 2 children and i live everyday to the fullest... i realize we all make dumb decisins in our past there is noone to blame but ourselves... but we do no need people like you trying to bring us down as well... quilt is not a big factor with BORTION....

crzyfl · Veteran Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 1164

The studies relating depression and abortion were ruled scientifically invalid. This is because no history of depression was taken before the abortion. It could be possible that many of these woman were depressed prior to the abortion. It is also possible that woman suffering from depression are more likely to have an abortion. If depressed woman are more likely to have an abortion, then the percentage of people that suffer depression after abortion will be skewed higher. Since it wasn't included in the study it is unknown

If you are having feelings of guilt then it is best to go to a councillor and talk about it

eastcoastgirl · Guest

I also had an abortion about 30+ years ago, and the only negative is that if I mention it openly and honestly I am sometimes verbally attacked by people with strong beliefs against it. I suspect that if one holds strong beliefs against it, they would probably also have negative thoughts after going through the procedure. I still think it was the best decision for me, and I think it should be safe and legal. I'm pleased with the morning after pill, which I believe has the potential to prevent abortions in the first place. I think people make mistakes, and some of them involve reproduction. If we can't forgive ourselves for this, I suspect we have trouble forgiving ourselves for anything.

Carifairy · Veteran Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 2723

I have had 3 abortions, I am 24, college educated, and work for planned parenthood part time.

WOMEN WITH REGRET generally have ONE THING IN COMMON..They did NOT really want to do it, they were usually forced or coerced by a loved one.

Guest · Guest

carifary...3 abortions??? I'm not a pro-lifer by any means. I can certainly understand the right to choose whether or not to carry a pregnancy..but 3 abortions? In what areas of your life are you educated? To me abortion is something that someone has the right to ...once..if at all. How is it you allowed yourself to be put into this position more than once? Were you raped twice? I'm sorry...I want to always support a woman's right to choose,...but abortion to me, is a decision made only when all other options are not possible. 3 abortions?? No matter what you believe about the viability of a fetus and whether or not it is a "human" at 6 or 7 or 3 or 12 weeks, bottom line is from the moment the ovum is fertilized it is potentially a person. I can see how the decision to end a pergrancy is every woman's perogative...but to me..it should be something that a woman would entertain once, if ever, in a lifetime. 3 abortions? What the f"" is up with that? Abortion is every woman's choice. It is not, nor shold it be a method of birth control!

Carifairy · Veteran Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 2723

I am degreed and educated, I work in an abortion clinic.

I cannot use hormonal BC, so I am left with 'barrier' methods, which are not as effective.

FOR the record, I did get pregnant with an IUD.

Carifairy · Veteran Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 2723

I am also happily married.

JUST because I am married, am a woman, and am well off financially, does not mean that I MUST have children.

We do not ever want children, it is a personal choice.

ImmortalOne · Gold Member Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 437

By no means is this intended to be rude. If you and your husband are certain you never want to have children, why not have him get a Visectomy or have you get your tubes tied? If your convictions are that strong, would these options be viable?

By no means am I telling you what to do, it is your body after all, just trying to understand. I know women who have had the tubal litigation and then regreted it later, and personally I know something so permenent is not for myself. However I would be a liar if I said I didn't consider it now and again. After the removal of my right ovary with this surgery, again just personal thoughts and mostly messed up by Morphine right now, I can't ever consider doing a tubal litigation.

Post Abortion Syndrome

LIFEFORM SOCIAL COMMUNITY NETWORK