Post-Abortion Syndrome: Understanding the Controversy and Evidence
Post-abortion syndrome is a diagnosis that some people argue can result from terminating a pregnancy. No major medical organization recognizes it as a real health condition. Despite this, groups with political or religious motivations sometimes use the concept of post-abortion syndrome to deter people from having the procedure.
What is Post-Abortion Syndrome?
Post-abortion syndrome describes a group of symptoms that some people believe develop due to terminating a pregnancy. People who support this idea believe that abortions are uniquely harmful to mental health and can cause a specific mental health disorder, such as depression, with symptoms that include guilt, shame, and self-loathing. Some sources also describe post-abortion stress syndrome (PASS), which they allege has similar symptoms to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Proposed Symptoms of Post-Abortion Syndrome
One of the reasons doctors do not consider post-abortion syndrome a real medical condition is that the symptoms are inconsistent. Different sources list different symptoms. In general, proponents of this syndrome list regret and remorse as symptoms. Some other symptoms people may find online include:
- depression
- anxiety
- substance misuse
- self-harm
- spiritual or religious conflict
- relationship problems
- guilt and shame
Why Major Medical Organizations Do Not Recognize Post-Abortion Syndrome
Major medical organizations do not recognize these terms as real medical conditions for the following reasons:
- Broad symptoms: The symptoms proposed by supporters of post-abortion syndrome are broad and can occur for many reasons. The sources of information about post-abortion syndrome vary in detail, making the definition of this syndrome inconsistent.
- Oversimplification: Most mental health conditions are complex and do not occur for one reason. Usually, multiple factors contribute to them, such as a person’s beliefs, family history, genetics, and more.
- Pathologization: Pathologization involves turning typical emotions and behaviors into signs of a disease. For example, some people may feel temporarily sad after having an abortion, thinking of what might have happened had they made a different decision. This does not necessarily indicate they are unwell.
- Political bias: The concept of post-abortion syndrome can deter people from having the procedure. For this reason, it appears on websites with political or religious agendas. Groups that want to stop people from having abortions use the idea of post-abortion syndrome to try to persuade people not to terminate the pregnancy. They may also use it as a reason to restrict access to abortions.
- Lack of evidence: There is no evidence that the proposed symptoms of post-abortion syndrome occur in a significant number of people following a termination. There is also no evidence abortion increases the risk of any mental health condition.
Emotions After Abortion
It is common for people to feel a mixture of emotions after an abortion, or termination of pregnancy. Depending on the circumstances, some people may experience difficult emotions, such as sadness or grief. This does not necessarily mean they have a mental illness. People can feel a wide range of emotions after abortion. Their feelings might be about the abortion itself, how the medical staff treated them, or the circumstances that led to their decision. Ending an unwanted or potentially dangerous pregnancy may inspire feelings of relief or gratitude. A 2020 study found that 5 years after an abortion, people who could access pregnancy termination reported...
Medical Consensus on Mental Health After Abortion
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) states that there is no evidence that people who get abortions develop a distinct mental health condition. In fact, a growing amount of research shows that, for most people, terminating a pregnancy is not damaging to mental health. While some people do experience difficult emotions after an abortion, there is no evidence to support the existence of PASS. It is important to note that even if a person feels bad for a long time after an abortion, this is not evidence of post-abortion syndrome. Other diagnoses, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD, can better explain the symptoms.
Myths Surrounding Abortion and Health Risks
Post-abortion syndrome is one of many myths surrounding abortion and the associated health risks.
- it raises the risk of cancer
- it affects future fertility
- it is riskier than continuing the pregnancy.
| Aspect | Post-Abortion Syndrome | Major Medical Organization View |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition | Some argue it can result from terminating a pregnancy | Not recognized as a real health condition |
| Proposed Symptoms | Guilt, shame, self-loathing, depression, anxiety, substance misuse, self-harm, spiritual conflict, relationship problems | Inconsistent and broad; can occur for many reasons |
| Mental Health Impact | Believed to be uniquely harmful to mental health, causing specific mental health disorders | No evidence that terminating a pregnancy is damaging to mental health for most people; no distinct mental health condition develops |
| Evidence | No evidence to support existence; used by groups with political/religious motivations | No evidence of increased risk of mental health conditions; other diagnoses better explain symptoms |