A new study suggests that abortion has no adverse psychological effects.
Critics of abortion claim that the process induces depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, dissatisfaction, and other negative psychological conditions.
In fact, nine states in the U.S. mandate individuals who request for the deliberate termination of their pregnancy to undergo counseling mandatorily. In Texas, women are allegedly made afraid about the consequence of abortion through "A Woman's Right to Know" pamphlet saying that the procedure will snatch their lifetime joy.
The study titled "Women's Mental Health and Well-Being 5 Years After Receiving or Being Denied an Abortion" was published in the JAMA Psychiatry journal. The study questioned the argument that abortion will make women psychologically impaired. According to the results of the study, women who were denied the procedure manifested psychological problems.
Dr. Antonia Biggs said that "at this point, there is no evidence of emerging mental health problems after having an abortion."
The research, conducted by the Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), said that women who want to undergo the procedure are usually very anxious and have low self-esteem which is not surprising because of the stress that unwanted pregnancy brings. However, the study found that women who were denied of the procedure manifested more problems associated with mental health compared to those who had their pregnancy terminated.
Biggs added that "women who were denied an abortion, at the time they were denied an abortion, they do have more anxiety, lower self-esteem, and less life satisfaction."
The researchers pointed out the previous study compared women who had abortions and those who gave birth. "By comparing two very similar groups of women, it provides very solid evidence of what the effects of abortion on women's mental health are," the researchers said.
The author of the study said, "if we want to protect women's mental health, this evidence shows we want to expand access to abortion, not restrict it."