Abortion’s Toll on Women

Abortion hurts women. That’s been well-known — but it’s not just the pro-life movement arguing it this time.

A new study found that women who  had abortions in their teens or young adult years are more likely to have mental disorders.

“One-eleventh of the prevalence of mental disorders examined over the period were attributable to abortion.”

The research found that an astonishing one in 10 female mental health disorders are linked to abortion, Catholic News Agency reported.

The study was published on July 22, 2016, in Sage Open Medicine journal and conducted by professor Donald Paul Sullins at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

“Evidence from the United States confirms previous findings from Norway and New Zealand that, unlike other pregnancy outcomes, abortion is consistently associated with a moderate increase in risk of mental health disorders during late adolescence and early adulthood,” reported the new research.

“One-eleventh of the prevalence of mental disorders examined over the period were attributable to abortion,” the study’s abstract continued.

Many have been unsurprised by the findings — they’re familiar with the personal accounts of harrowing abortion experiences and the regret that often seems to follow.

Related: Glossing Over Abortion’s Realities

The Students for Life weighed in on the subject, commenting on the irresponsibility of the medical field in hiding these negative effects.

“Abortion activists have repeatedly denounced attempts to link abortion with any adverse events,” the group said in response to the release of the study. “In medical schools across the country, students are taught that there are no long-term consequences of abortion, and that abortion is a safe procedure. However, these statements are misleading at best.”

Abortion is a hot-button issue, particularly in a contentious election year. The first female presidential candidate on the ticket of a major party happens to be one of the most leftist politicians when it comes to the abortion issue.

“In medical schools across the country, students are taught that there are no long-term consequences of abortion, and that abortion is a safe procedure.”

Hillary Clinton even commented earlier in the election cycle about her support for late-term abortion, all in defense of women’s rights and what is “best” for women in our nation.

Arguments about how good abortion is for women have been part of the Left’s narrative for years — but perhaps studies like this one can give fresh perspective.

Abortion is a complex issue in today’s culture, but the harrowing truth of its side effects are just beginning to be realized.

The Catholic News Agency also reported, “After adjusting for demographic differences and other factors, the study found that abortion during these years elevated a woman’s risk of mental health disorder by 45 percent.”

There’s no doubt the statistics show a substantial effect on women who have abortions. This research might just be the tip of the iceberg, and could spur other studies to show the real toll abortion has on women.