Does "Post Abortion Syndrome" exist, and does it matter?

[wonky]

The trauma that a woman experiences after undergoing an abortion appears to be a subject of some debate. I’ve seen it pop into threads here and on other sites. One current abortion thread has a few posts about the repercussions of abortion, for example.

Google searches show that there is some debate, with the American Psychological Association coming down firmly on the side of those who believe that there is generally no significant trauma:

@APA

Well-designed studies of psychological responses following abortion have consistently shown that risk of psychological harm is low. Some women experience psychological dysfunction following abortion, but post-abortion rates of distress and dysfunction are lower than pre-abortion rates. Moreover, the percentage of women who experience clinically relevant distress is small and appears to be no greater than in general samples of women of reproductive age. A recent study showed not only that rates of disorders, such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), were not elevated in a large sample of 442 women followed for two years post-abortion, but also that the incidence of PTSD was actually lower in women post-abortion than the rate in the general population (Adler et al., 2002).

Even C. Everett Koop, who was opposed to abortion, called the risks “miniscule.” (Though it appears that his bona fides were questioned by those opposed to abortion rights, so he might not count.)

Still, some groups that oppose abortion rights claim that Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS) is real, and that it’s significant. Symptoms include:

@Silent Voices

despair/helplessness/hopelessness
unhealthy/abusive relationships
sexual dysfunction
depression
low self-esteem
guilt and/or shame
drug and/or alcohol abuse
frequent bouts of crying
anorexia/bulimia
nightmares
suicidal thoughts, threats and attempts and/or a preoccupation with death

Many sites have similar lists, so I just grabbed on that was handy.

I’m not finding many claims about the frequency of the syndrome, just that “many women” suffer from it. Why would the APA deny it exists? According to Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Willke on www.abortionfacts.com:

@abortionfacts.com

But so many studies deny PAS.

True, and most are invalid for two reasons:

(1) Timing: Most studies have investigated feelings for only a few weeks or months post abortion when she is still feeling relief that her problem is gone. Since the delay before PAS symptoms intrude is often 5 years or more, these studies are invalid.

(2) Superficiality: Her repression and denial push this deep into her subconsciousness. If the survey is done by questionnaire or single interview, she routinely denies problems. These studies are invalid. Only by lengthy psychological testing and counseling can she often admit to some symptoms, much less tie them to the abortion she so desperately wants to forget.

Well, that’s the background. One side says major trauma strikes many women after abortion though they can’t prove it. The other side says, “Ain’t likely” but their proofs are discounted by the other side.

So, the first question is: Does it?

And the second question is: Would it matter? Does it change anything?

I don’t see how the purported existence of PAS changes the debate at all. I’m naive and willing to be schooled.

stares at Dopers, breathlessly

[even_sven]

Considering that there have been 40 million abortions since Roe v. Wade, you’d think they’d at least come up with some kind of documentation. Abortion is by no means a rare event and most people could come to a meaningful understanding of the mental ramifications of abortion just by talking to a few of the women around them.

In any case, the “symptoms” of this “syndrome” are so vague and universal that it reads like one of those lists of symptoms that quack doctors like to claim they can cure with crystal healing or whatever. Most women suffer some kind of mental trauma in their life, and many women have had abortions. Make of that what you will. Given that Mr. Koop is bandying about the old discredited claim that abortion increases risk of breast cancer (bearing children decreases the risk of breast cancer, but someone who has had an abortion is no worse off than someone who never had kids in the first place) I think we can pretty much discount him.

Of couse, some people may suffer deep regret. Some people also regret breaking up with their high school sweetheart. Some people are traumatized by watching “Chucky” movies as a kid. Some people think the trees are talking to them. What happens to some people isn’t really indicitive of much of anything.

[Guinastasia]

The only possible explanation I can come up with is some form of post-partum, considering the abrupt change in hormone levels. Is that possible?

[elfkin477]

@Guinastasia

The only possible explanation I can come up with is some form of post-partum, considering the abrupt change in hormone levels. Is that possible?

From the list of symptoms, it sounds a lot like depression dressed up as something than a genuine unrelated syndrome. Even if they believe it’s for the best, abortion sure as hell seems like a choice that could cause some women to become depressed, particularly if they feel guilt about doing it.

[Anaamika]

Particularly if they’re *made *to feel guilt about it, as often happens.

May I refer everyone to “I’m Not Sorry”. I think it’s www.imnotsorry.org but don’t have time to Google it. My story is on there under Elenia and I, indeed, was not sorry and am not now.

[liberty3701]

My WAG would be that many women who have abortions and have those “symptoms” afterwards would most likely have those “syptoms” even if they kept the kid or gave it up for adoption. We’re talking about people who landed in what could be a very unfortunate position, feel guilt and abandonment and probably all sorts of other stuff. But it’s clearly not universal and not crippling to society or to most women who have abortions.

[Annie]

@liberty3701

My WAG would be that many women who have abortions and have those “symptoms” afterwards would most likely have those “syptoms” even if they kept the kid or gave it up for adoption. We’re talking about people who landed in what could be a very unfortunate position, feel guilt and abandonment and probably all sorts of other stuff. But it’s clearly not universal and not crippling to society or to most women who have abortions.

A longitudinal study published last month (Link to PDF abstract) (news report) pretty much found that :

They said pre-existing mental health problems were a better predictor of depression, regardless of how the pregnancy was resolved.

P.S. : Imnotsorry.net

[Kalhoun]

@Guinastasia

The only possible explanation I can come up with is some form of post-partum, considering the abrupt change in hormone levels. Is that possible?

I not only think it’s possible…I think it’s probable. That and the fact that many women abort against their own wishes. I’m pro-choice, and against anyone aborting at the prodding of a husband or boyfriend. When a partner talks a woman into an abortion for financial or other reasons, that woman will naturally feel regret and sadness if she truly didn’t want to go that route.

[Moirai]

@Anaamika

Particularly if they’re *made *to feel guilt about it, as often happens.

That was my thought. The only people I personally hear discussing PAS are people who are anti-abortion because it is a sin or otherwise evil, not necessarily for any real health reason.

I, too, am not sorry, and didn’t suffer a moment of guilt or remorse. In fact, I felt a great sense of relief and am firmly convinced to this day that I did the right thing for myself at the time.

EJsGirl, mother of two

[irishgirl]

30% of pregnancies in the world end in abortion.
If it was such a prevalent phenomenon, it would be easily proven, by reproducible, unbiased methods.

It would be independent of social class, ethnicity, culture, religious beliefs and upbringing. Such is not the case.

It has been found that women with mental health issues have more problems after abortion, but that they also have more problems following delivery, so that’s not acceptable evidence.

It has been shown that women from religious backgrounds suffer more guilt, shame and depression following abortion than those with no religious beliefs, or those who do not feel abortion to be morally wrong.

It has been shown that women who feel that abortion was the right choice, continue to do so afterwards, but that those who were conflicted or co-erced, don’t.

Some studies which showed psychological damage had flawed methodologies. For example, women were asked about feelings of guilt, depression, shame, sadness and regret, but not about relief, optimism for the future, self-assurance or belief that they had made the right choice.

Some women are deeply damaged by abortion, I don’t doubt that. But I feel that those are the women who should not have had a termination and were either co-erced into it or did so knowingly going against their instincts.

Women who make a choice to terminate a pregnancy are usually satisfied that they have made the right choice, and are glad that they were able to make it. That’s what matters.

Everyone should have the right to choose, and that means sometimes people will make the wrong choices for themselves. That’s really sad, but it’s better than the alternative.

[Der_Trihs]

As a guy, I can only comment by observation, not experience, but…if abortion was all that traumatic, few would do it again. For that matter, I would expect the majority of women who had one to speak about against it. Since they don’t, and since women do have more than one abortion, I can’t help but think “POS” is a politically manufactured problem.