"The more information a woman has, the more likely she is to make a moral decision that she can live with not only in the short term but in the future as well." Susan N. Terkel, 1988

Once "the fertilized egg has a complete set of genetic material, this cell, which is now called a zygote is a unique individual that has some traits of each parent." Middle School Science book (public school), Scienceaurus - A Student Handbook Pregnancies beyond the first trimester, 20 to 27 weeks, are considered late-term, in terms of abortion.

Abortion Facts

Why some abort

Millions of women in nearly every country in the world abort yearly. In most countries abortion is legal, in some countries abortion is still illegal. Legalizing abortion makes it safer than that of illegal abortions, which can be more risky, but even legalized abortion carries with it certain medical risks.
 
Women have abortion for different reasons. An unwanted pregnancy is one. Another is the prenatal testing of the fetus, which might indicate that there is some type of congenital defect in the fetus. Sometimes that defect is major, such as in the case of Down Syndrome, other times it is minor or there is only a slight possibility that there might be a birth defect. At times the risks of a deformed fetus or birth defects are erroneous or exaggerated by medical personnel.
 
In the U.S. perhaps 30% of pregnant teenage girls abort the fetus of their baby. In one large high school in Newark, the SAC coordinator and counselor stated that, "it seems like every girl that walks through these doors, (her office), is pregnant. (Other sources put the number at  approximately 40%. See: Statistics in Adolescent Pregnancy. Teen Shelter Org). 

Psychological Effects of Abortion for Females
Education for Females and Males

Education provides one solution towards preventing abortion. Girls need to be taught by their parents and through their public education, to respect themselves, their bodies, and learn the value of monogamy, of long term relationships, and of emotional commitment before engaging in sexual relations. This is beneficial both emotionally, psychologically and physically. How avoid what might lead to an unwanted pregnancy is also of necessity in a girl's education.

Young men need to learn not to use the procreative powers as a sport, as a means of proving one's manhood, and to be responsible. They need to realize that they are responsible for a life that they bring into the world through sexual relations and that governments, in general, hold the male responsible for providing for that child.

Promiscuity carries with it a heavy emotional and psychological price tag. Abortion, also, carries with it emotional and psychological burdens which sometimes are long-lasting. The mother needs to think seriously before having an abortion, and not make a decision under the pressure of others, because she is the one that is going to have to live with that decision for the rest of her life.

It is said, surprisingly, that even the fathers of the baby that has been aborted is often times in need of therapy because of guilt or grief over the lost life. (Kalish, S., May/June 2004. Psychology Today) Depression can result when a girl or woman has an abortion or series of abortions and this is not uncommon.

Abortion story:

"Being a woman who experienced an abortion, I can tell you that withholding information from women that may affect them for the rest of their lives is both dangerous and demeaning. Doctors may explain more about tonsillectomies or appendectomies, than they do about abortions. I really believe that if I had been fully informed, both medically and as to my options, I would have chosen not to abort my baby." Susan Neiburg Terkel, author of Abortion - Facing the Issues (1988). Franklin Watts. p.123

Parents - Keep the Communication Lines Open

In many states, (New Jersey being one) abortion is permitted for minors without parental consent or even parental notification.  A 13 or 14-year-old can go to a neighborhood Planned Parenthood center, and have an abortion without her parents being informed. (ACLU). If a teenage girl becomes suddenly  withdrawn or depressed, or behaves erratically, an abortion that parents are unaware of can be one possible reason. Parents need to keep lines of communication open with their children and teens, and not to overreact to their errors. Parents need to express approval of their children. If they do this, should a girl or young man, get into trouble seriously, then they won't be afraid to come to the parent, and the child or teen will be much more likely to consult with the parents before making any major decisions.

The grief or guilt that comes with having an abortion can last, for some women,  for decades, and some never fully heal emotionally. Some women have expressed the thought that they always wonder who or what that baby would have been. So having an abortion is not something to be taken lightly, even in the case of a baby with congenital defects. About 20% of woman who have an abortion have severe mental distress 5 years after the abortion, compared to around 2% who had miscarriages. (Health, BBC News. December 12, 2005).

Abortion Story:

"I went through, and still go through, sever mental problems -- visualizing the procedure in my mind, hating myself, grieving and wanting to escape from the whole situation. No one ever told me about the emotional side effects after having an abortion.

Th abortion precipitated years of drug and alcohol abuse, an eating disorder and eventually a serious clinical depression. That supposedly safe procedure has had fourteen years of serious repercussions. "Depression can surface immediately after an abortion or years and even decades later. A woman may be depressed, guilty, or angry. From Abortion: Facing the Issues, p. 55

Down Syndrome and Abortion

The majority of Down Syndrome babies are aborted in the United States. Not all children with Down Syndrome are equal in the severity of the disorder. Some are quite functional, and from working with a number of Down Syndrome children in special education, I can say honestly, very lovable and gentle, lovely. The alarming statistic of close to 90% of fetuses detected with Down Syndrome being aborted in the U.S. is of note.
 
Many Down Syndrome children attend school and learn, are well adjusted, and "make it," when they are raised in a loving family. "I am so lucky I get to do so many things," she concluded. I just want you to know, even though I have Down syndrome, it is O.K.," said Sarah, 11 1/2 years old. (Harmon, A., May 9, 2007. New York Times).

Coping With Guilt and Religious Issues involved with abortion

For those who have had an abortion and feel that they are depressed as a result, or who are having difficulty coming to terms with it, one's faith and the spiritual or religious aspect of life does come into play. The grief of abortion goes beyond the borders of psychology and into the realm of religion.
 
Please see here for spiritual and religious considerations of abortion.

"For some women, their decision to have an abortion is made in such haste or with so little knowledge, that later, when they have had more time to think about the morality of it, they become convinced that their abortions were immoral. This leaves them feeling guilty, angry, and remorseful....The more information a woman has, the more likely she is to make a moral decision that she can live with not only in the short term but in the future as well." (Susan Terkel, 1988)

References for abortion and effects of abortion

About abortion, psychological effects of abortion

1. Abortion 'leaves mental legacy', (December 12, 2005). BBC News.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4520576.stml Off-site link

2. Harmon, A., May 9, 2007. Prenatal Test Puts Down Syndrome in Hard Focus. New York Times.  http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/us/09down.html Off-site link

3. Kalish, S., May/June 2004. After Abortion: Hidden Male Grief. Psychology Today. http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20040625-000001.htmlOff-site link

4. Terkel, Susan N., (1988). Abortion - Facing the Issues. New York: Franklin Watts. Abortion and teens

NJ Supreme Court Strikes Down Parental Notification for Abortion Act, (August 15, 2000). ACLU.
http://www.aclu-nj.org/news/njsupremecourtstrikesdownp.htm Off-site link

Statistics in Adolescent Pregnancy. (Retrieved October 5, 2008). Teen Shelter Org.
http://www.teenshelter.org/data.htm Off-site link

Other Pages on Abortion

Abortion Stories

Abortion Help - Moral, psychological and spiritual aspects of abortion

Late Term Abortion - Information and Procedures