Abortion can have physical and emotional effects that vary for each woman. Complications may arise, including heavy bleeding, fever, and severe pain. Postpartum depression is a risk, and having a strong support system is important. Understanding the effects of abortion is crucial for making informed choices.
The effects of the abortion could be physical or emotional and will vary with each woman who has experienced this procedure. It can be difficult to tell in advance who is at greater or lesser risk for such effects, and the fact that abortion is legal in most places certainly reduces the risk of physical complications. That said, there can be complications to this procedure of a physical and emotional nature, and it’s wise to understand all possible risk factors.
Immediately following a miscarriage, women may experience pain and cramping. This, and possibly bleeding from the procedure, which is generally no heavier than menstrual bleeding, can last for several weeks. Some women also experience stomach upset which can take the form of vomiting or just plain nausea. These tend to be normal after the effects of the abortion, but if women feel concerned they should contact their doctor or the clinic where the procedure was performed.
Complications sometimes arise after an abortion, even if the risk is low. Women should observe signs or very heavy bleeding, fever, severe pain in the pelvis or severe stomach pain in the first few weeks. These signs could suggest a dangerous infection or bleeding and require immediate medical attention. In extremely rare cases, death occurs during or after an abortion, but the risk is nearly equal to the risk of dying during childbirth.
There are also emotional effects of abortion, which exist and need to be noted and looked for. Of these, the most significant is the development of postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a risk whenever a pregnancy ends, at any time, and no matter how. The body can react by becoming deeply depressed as pregnancy hormones rapidly decline.
What this would suggest for most women seeking an abortion is that they have a strong support system; this could be help from friends, group support, working with a supportive counselor or family. Isolation after an abortion tends to increase the risk of major depression, and the circumstances in which a woman miscarries can also make depression more or less likely. Those who feel conflicted about the decision or have to keep it a secret may suffer the most.
There are other emotional effects of abortion. Some people feel guilty, while others feel relieved. Without full-blown postpartum depression, some women may still feel tearful, moody, or simply enduring a difficult emotional ride during the first few weeks or several months following a miscarriage. Again, not all women have this experience, but some do.
Understanding the effects of abortion enables women to make informed choices. There are strong arguments for and against this procedure, and people on both sides of this issue can often argue for one or two of the effects as a reason for or against abortion. Most importantly, the effects are neither magnified nor minimized. It is important that anyone facing this decision understand the unblemished effects of a political stance.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
