After Abortion: Physical and Mental Recovery

While abortion is presented as a helpful option to those facing unplanned pregnancies, what happens as a result often goes unmentioned by abortion-rights advocates. In fact, many advocates speak out against any repercussions or even recovery issues at all. Despite this, abortion is major surgery. Recovery is a necessary consequence of surgery in general. Abortion recovery has several components, affecting physical, mental, and emotional health.

PHYSICAL

As abortion is a surgical procedure, physical recovery is to be expected. Many women experience bleeding for several weeks after an abortion. You might also experience painful cramping. In some cases, infection from what’s known as an “incomplete” abortion can occur. This is when fetal tissue remains in the uterus after a D&C/D&E. D&C stands for dilation and curettage, which is a procedure in which the fetus is extracted out of the vagina using a metal instrument. Since abortion is a surgical procedure, this also means that there is likely soreness and pain in the area afterward. There is also a link between abortion and the development of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).

EMOTIONAL

Despite what abortion rights advocates say, emotional recovery is necessary after an abortion. There are a few reasons for it. First, your hormones level out as they would after any form of childbirth, resulting in mood swings and emotional ups and downs. Many abortion-rights supporters chalk most of the emotional recovery to hormonal changes, but this is not the full picture. Other articles refer to the intense emotional struggle following an abortion. These can be marked by feelings including but not limited to guilt, remorse, anger, loss of self-esteem, shame, sleep problems, and more. Clearly, this type of emotional recovery is more than hormonal changes. It’s important to be aware of the emotional toll that having an abortion has on anyone – in fact, most of these responses are considered “common”.

MENTAL

Like emotional recovery, abortion affects more than just your physical body. Abortion influences mental health as well, which in turn impacts the rest of your health. Recent research indicates that women who have an abortion have an 81% chance of developing mental health disorders like depression and even suicidal thoughts. Even more concerning is that among those statistics, 10% of those who developed mental health struggles directly connected them with the abortion itself. This goes against the popular idea that abortion is safe and unlikely to have any lasting effects. Abortion affects your physical, emotional, and mental health.

SUPPORT WHEN YOU NEED IT

Have you or someone you know recently had an abortion? Our team of Advocates helps provide support and point you to resources as you heal. Schedule your free and confidential consultation today.