Abortion and the mental health of women

Authors

  • Justo Aznar Universidad Católica de Valencia
  • German Cerdá Universidad Católica de Valencia

Abstract

The existence or the lack of alterations of mental health of women as consequence of abortion currently arises a lively debate, since, while there are convinced professionals defending its existence, others are completely opposed to it. In order to examine this issue we have evaluated some of most recent reviews considering they have contrasted methodological value, as well as some of the latest published articles. We can conclude that there is no post abortion syndrome as such, but there are secondary psychological disorders after abortion. Finally, we reflect about in which extent the feeling of guilt that woman may experiment for having aborted may influence the presentation or not of psychological disorders after the abortion act.

Keywords:

abortion, abortion and mental health of women, post abortion syndrome, post abortion psychological disorders, abortion and feeling of guilt