What Does It Take for Healing After Abortion?

Abortions frequently have an emotional impact on women. Physical complications are also possible and may require proper treatment.

There are a host of different physical complications following abortion. Symptoms like vaginal bleeding, cramps, pains, fatigue, or fever after anshould be immediately reported to medical professionals. Medical service providers should immediately respond to facilitating aftercare.

For complete healing after abortion, women should seek help not only for any physical complications but also for abortion’s mental health risks, too.  Feelings of sadness, loss, grief, guilt or isolation from others are just a few of the issues that women may need help to address.

An abortion can be an emotionally traumatic experience in and of itself. In addition, the strains it can place on the relationship with the partner, especially if it is accompanied by a breakup, can add to the heartbreak.

Recovering from the emotional pain of an abortion takes more than a day or two.  It is more likely to last months or even years.

The mental health risks of abortion can differ from woman to woman. In many cases, women will have difficulty sharing their feelings with others.  They are afraid of being judged for having an abortion, and also judged for struggling with having an abortion.  It is important for people close to them, be it in family or friends, to embrace them with tenderness in their hearts.

In some cases, relationships are severely damaged byan abortions.  These cases may contribute to the six-fold increase in suicide rates in the year following an abortion.

There are many national helpline numbers that can help with physical health and mental health healing after an abortion.  The earlier that one seeks support, the faster one can make progress on the road to recovery.

What Are the Long-term Side Effects Of Having An Abortion?

The United States alone records nearly a million abortions per year (CDC 2015), which doesn’t include unreported cases since it is not mandatory to report abortion cases. Abortions can cause a variety of short-term and long-term complications that require immediate attention.

Some of the most common complications include cramps & pain, vaginal bleeding, nausea, fever, etc. However, some women may experience serious abortion side effects like a punctured uterus, unresolved grief, suicidal behavior, substance abuse, and other mental health disorders, and in the longer term an increased risk of breast cancer, ectopic pregnancy, secondary infertility, premature deliveries, and premature death.

Another startling WHO data informs that nearly 70,000 women die in a year due to the abortion complications, and that doesn’t even include the higher rate of abortion linked deaths that can only be detected in record linkage studies.

Secondary infertility is a widely analyzed issue, especially when women who had abortions wanted future pregnancy and saw childbearing as an important part of their lives. Considering different demographics & conditions, researchers discovered that there is clearly an association between abortion and complications in later pregnancies, especially premature and low birth weight deliveries.

Teenagers face high-risks from abortions, both from physical complications and psychological problems. One major concern is that teenagers are more vulnerable to feeling pressured to have an abortion by their partner or parents, even if the abortion is contrary to their moral beliefs or maternal desires. The negative impact on a teenager’s self-perception and ability to bond with future children are just a few of the many psychological risks associated with abortion.  Among others are elevated rates of substance abuse, suicidal behavior, and rapid replacement pregnancies.

These are just a few of the risks and complications associated with abortion.Some women may cope well at first, but may experience delayed traumatic reactions. Others may feel devastated immediately afterward.  Both reactions require support from experienced post-abortion counselors.