Abortion has always been a controversial topic, dividing people into two opposing sides: those who are for it, and those against it.
One side of the argument posits that what a woman does to her body should concern her and only her. They argue that at the time of pregnancy they are not in a position in their life where they can comfortably raise a child and provide a future for them.
On the other hand, people believe that terminating pregnancy is immoral, that it’s an unborn child has a right to live and get a chance at life.
These conflicting views are reflected in the said effects of abortion to women.
According to American Pregnancy Association, a woman can experience a plethora of negative emotional and psychological effects following an abortion. These can range from mild regret to a serious case of depression.
“One important factor related to the vulnerability of negative emotional or psychological effects has to do with your belief about the baby inside of you,” the association said. “Those who believe it is not a baby until it is born have less of a chance of experiencing negative emotional consequences.
“However, those who believe it is a baby are more likely to experience negative emotional side effects.”
It’s also important to highlight that there are certain women who are more prone to these psychological effects.
Such women are those with previous emotional or psychological concerns; coerced, forced or persuaded to get an abortion; possessed of religious beliefs that conflict with abortion; without support from significant others or their partner.
On the other hand, a nationwide Finnish study posits that girls who have had an abortion, compared to teenage mothers, have no negative effects that carry into early adulthood.
According to a Reuters report, “girls who had underage abortions tended to have higher educational attainment and were less likely to be dependent on welfare at age 25 compared to the girls who gave birth.”
Speaking to Reuters Health, coauthor Oskari Heikinheimo of University of Helsinki and the Helsinki University Central Hospital said: “It becomes clear that really the only difference was, young women who went on to continue the pregnancy and deliver, their overall level of education was then lower than women who chose to have an abortion. And of course it certainly makes a lot of sense.”
Not only that. Teen girls who have had an abortion tended to receive higher grades in school and came from families with higher socioeconomic status.
“I’m very glad about these results because there is a lot of misinformation about abortion,” Oskakri Heikinheimo said.
Abortion will always be a controversial topic, but at the end of the day it will always be a personal decision for women, one that is done with the belief that they’re doing it for the best.
READ: Photos of miscarried child spark debate about abortion
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