Can having an abortion impact my mental health?

Abortions are not related to mental health concerns. But any big life decision can bring up challenging emotions. This is often true when pregnancy decisions happen in tough situations.

However you feel after your abortion is valid. Many people feel relief, while others may struggle. Some may feel guilty about not feeling guilty. Some may wonder about the “what ifs.” Some may regret the situations that led to their abortions. Some may feel they didn’t have control or made decisions too fast. Restrictive legal settings, social stigma, and hormone changes can make these thoughts feel stronger.

There’s nothing wrong with having an abortion. Abortion is an essential form of health care. Each year, about 73 million people have abortions worldwide. You’re not alone in this experience.

Naming your feelings and processing them can make it easier to deal with. Doing some of the following may help:

• Write down what you feel to make sense of it.
• Talk to someone you trust about your experience.
• Get support from a mental health care provider.
• Contact an abortion support hotline; reach out to us and we may be able to provide you with information on local options.

Support resources for before, during, and after your abortion (available in some languages only):

• The Abortion Resolution Workbook
• Libro de trabajos sobre resolución después de un aborto
• Pomagaczki Aborcyjne
• Before & After Abortion
• The Abortion Project
• Ad’iyah
• The Reddit abortion forum
• Safe2Choose
• Self Guided Abortion