Eastern J Med. 2020; 25(3): 477-483 | DOI: 10.5505/ejm.2020.82246

Psychological effects of abortion. An updated narrative review

Kornelia Zareba¹, Valentina Lucia La Rosa², Michal Ciebiera³, Marta MAKARA-STUDZI&323;SKA⁴, Elena Commodari², Jacek Gierus^1
1I Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
²Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
³II Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
⁴Faculty of Clinical Health Psychology Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland

The results of studies on the psychological consequences experienced by women after termination are inconclusive. Some of the studies do not confirm an increased prevalence of psychological complications. However, the experience of abortion can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and problems with interpersonal relations. The main factors which influence psychological effects include the reason for abortion, the type of medical procedure, the term of pregnancy as well as personal, social, economic, religious and cultural factors that shape the woman's attitude towards abortion. Often women while terminating pregnancy are not aware that they will require psychological support later due to subsequent psychological effects they experience. Usually, the first symptoms appear within four months up to a year from the procedure. Therefore, it is important to identify the high-risk women susceptible to subsequent psychological complications.

Keywords: pregnancy termination, abortion, psychology, mental health, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, post-abortion syndrome.

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