How having an abortion affects your mental health

Abortion is a common and safe procedure performed to end a pregnancy.  It’s been around since the dawn of time and is legal in all fifty states, despite the efforts to criminalize it by some religious groups and more socially-consertative lawmakers. 

Anti-choice organizations flood the internet with false information intended to overwhelm pregnant people from making informed choices regarding their pregnancy. These organizations may pose as medical professionals online and make claims that abortion is harmful to your mental and physical health.

However, the data is clear; abortion is very safe and has no long-term impact on your mental health. Access to abortion is central to obtaining an equal society for women and studies show that 99% of women* say they “feel relief, not regret” 5 years after their abortion. 

Does abortion cause mental health issues?

What we do know about abortion and mental health is that:

• Experiencing unintended pregnancies has strong associations with poor mental health later in life.
• Pregnant people who are denied an abortion experience immediate high levels of anxiety, poor self-esteem, and lowered life satisfaction when compared to people who are able to obtain an abortion.
• Unintended pregnancies are associated with cognitive, emotional, and social deficits in the subsequent child.
• There is a strong correlation between unintended pregnancy and interpersonal violence. Being unable to access abortion may force people to stay in violent relationships which puts their lives, and the lives of their children, at risk.
  

Abortions may not cause mental health issues, but restricting access to them hurts pregnant people substantially. Abortion restrictions harm people physically too, as restricting abortion access increases the number of unsafe abortions.

How does abortion affect mental health?

Most people report that they feel relieved after their abortion. It’s normal to experience a range of feelings and any major life event can cause stress or temporary highs and lows. Practice self-care after your treatment and reach out to safe friends and family if you need someone to talk to. We’ve also put together some resources including hotlines and textlines that are available to help you as you process your abortion. If you’re having persistent feelings of depression, anxiety, or lethargy, speak with your doctor, a mental health care provider, or someone you trust. 

Why Hey Jane cares

Hey Jane supports those seeking options for their pregnancy and aims to make patients feel informed about their choices. We offer loads of resources and provide accurate information about abortion and the process.

By offering telehealth abortion services and abortion pills online, we eliminate the need to find an in-person clinic—which can be difficult, especially as the number of abortion clinics declines and wait times increase. 

We also offer financial assistance to those who can’t afford our abortion services, through our abortion fund partner program. Plus, all Hey Jane patients have an automatic support network through The Lounge, our private peer-to-peer community forum available to patients past and present.

If you have any questions about Hey Jane—or finding the best option for you—feel free to text us directly at (405) 643-7957.