To date, no studies have specifically investigated the relationship
between medication abortion and adverse mental health outcomes. There
is no evidence that the use of medications to induce an early abortion
is associated with psychological morbidities, such as depression,
anxiety, or suicidality.
In recent years there have been increased attention to the
relationship between abortion, in general, and adverse mental
health outcomes. Several recent reviews of the scientific
literature have shown that among adult women who have an unplanned pregnancy
the relative risk of mental health problems is no greater
if they have a single elective first-trimester abortion than
if they deliver that pregnancy.
American Psychological Association, Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion.
Report of the Task Force on
Mental Health and Abortion. Washington, DC: Author, 2008. Available
here.
Charles V, Polis C, Sridhara S, Blum R. Abortion and long-term
mental health outcomes: a systematic review of the evidence.
Contraception
2008;78:436–50.
Steinberg J, Russo N. Abortion and anxiety: what's the relationship?
Soc Sci Med 2008;67:238–52.
