Jeremy Laurance: The truth is that abortion isn't as traumatic as people make out

[lynn82md.livejournal.com]

There are not many cheery stories about abortion. One of the best can be found in Chapter 15 of Caitlin Moran's new bestseller, How to be a Woman. It is a fearless account of how she terminated a pregnancy (she already had two children), unpicking in forensic detail the emotions she went through – and none of them was as she, or we, might have expected. In place of angst, trauma, and regret, she experienced certainty, relief and confidence she had done the right thing.

Her story highlights an important truth: abortion ain't as bad as people make out, especially anti-abortion organisations.

Now there is research to back her up. The most comprehensive and systematic review of the impact of abortion on mental health conducted anywhere in the world, published last week, found it had no effect. The mental health of women with unwanted pregnancies was no different whether they had an abortion or proceeded to the birth.

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