You are investigating this web page because you want to make an informed decision.  Right on!  Abortion is not just a simple medical procedure.  For many women, it is a life changing event with many consequences.  Many women who have had abortions say they wish they had been told all of the facts before they consented to the procedure.  To be better informed on how abortions are performed, please go to this site:  www.optionline.org

How abortion affects your body physically

• Abortions carry physical risks, as all medical procedures do, and these are outlined in detail on the optionline website cited above. 
• After an abortion, you may experience cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• There are significant studies that link a higher incidence of breast cancer in women who have experienced an induced abortion as opposed to those who carry their babies full term.
• Scarring or other injury during an abortion procedure may place future wanted pregnancies in jeopardy. 
• The risk of future miscarriages is greater for women who abort their first pregnancy.

The emotional effects of abortion

Abortion also has emotional after effects.  One of the most common emotions is guilt.  Whether she admits it to herself at the time of the abortion or at a later time, each woman who has had her baby aborted faces the fact that she has denied her child life. 

Some women have strong negative emotions after abortion.  Sometimes these feelings happen within days and sometimes it is experienced after many years.  A severe emotional response to the death of her baby is called Post-Abortion Stress (PAS) and is very similar to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Details of this disorder and help for people experiencing these symptoms can be found on www.optionline.org.

The father’s rights regarding an abortion plan

The father has no rights.  In all states, adoption requires the knowledge and consent of the birth father (or a court order if the identify or whereabouts of the birth father are unknown), but the knowledge or consent of the birth father is not required in any state for an abortion to be performed.

The birth father of an aborted baby can also experience emotional after effects.  Because men have no say in an abortion decision, they feel powerless and many times  experience remorse and guilt that he was unable to prevent the abortion. If the father pressured the women into having the abortion, he may later regret denying his child life.  Men are often forgotten in the abortion scenario, but there are support groups and/or counseling for men who have been touched by abortion, and more and more men are coming forward and acknowledging their need for help.

To receive help for the emotional difficulties arising from an abortion experience, please call 1-800-395-HELP and a pregnancy center nearby will have the necessary resources or referrals to help either a man or a woman heal from the trauma of abortion.  Also, you may refer to www.afterabortion.org, an organization that specializes in post-abortion counseling.