Abortion: Impacts on womens Health

Abortion happens when a fertilized egg or embryo is removed from the uterus, its either

by taking pills to expel the pregnancy by gentle suction, or with forceps. This review provides

data and other information to help enlighten the mind of every individual about the aspects of

abortion in the health of every women. Abortion has significant consequences to womens health

in terms of psychologically, physically and emotionally.

Eight weeks after their abortions, 44% complained of nervous disorders, 36% had

experienced sleep disturbances, 31% had regrets about their decision and 11% had been

prescribes sleep psychotropic medicine by their family doctor (Elliot Institute) . A major random

study found that a minimum of 19% of post- abortion women suffer from diagnosable post-

traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Clinical experience has demonstrated that the women least

likely to cooperate in post-abortion research are those for whom the abortion caused the most

psychological distress, demonstrating that the women who refuse to followup evaluation most

closely match the demographic characteristics of the women who suffer the most of post-

abortion distress. The extra ordinary high rate of refusal to participate in pso-abortion studies

may interpreted as evidence of constriction or avoidance behavior (not wanting to think about the

abortion) which is a major symptoms of PTSD.

The PTSD is a psychological dysfunction which results from a traumatic experience

which overwhelms a persons normal defense mechanisms resulting in intense fear, feelings of

helplessness or being trapped, or loss of control (Barnard). The major symptoms of PTSD are

generally classified under three categories; first is the hyperarousal which means the

characteristics of inappropriately and chronically aroused fight or flight defense mechanisms.

Second, intrusion is the re- experienced of the traumatic event at unwanted and unexpected

times. Lastly, constriction is the numbing of emotional resources, or the development of

behavioral patterns, so as to avoid stimuli associated with the trauma. For many women, the

accurate identification of PTSD symptoms may be delayed for several years which includes

sexual dysfunction, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, increased smoking with corresponding

negative health effects, alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, child abuse or neglect, divorced

and chronic relationship problems, and repeat abortions.

Furthermore, circumstances, conditions, behaviors, and other factors associated with

mental health problems are similar for womens risk of mental health problems after abortion.

And pressure from a partner to terminate a pregnancy, negative attitudes about abortion, and

negative attitudes about a womans risk of mental health problems after abortion. For further

study, it must be focus on the mental health repercussions of unwanted pregnancy rather than on

the repercussions of how a woman resolves it (AMRC, 2011).

Moreover the relative risk of mental health problems is no greater among adult women

who resolve unplanned pregnancy with a single, elective, first trimester abortion than it is among

those who give birth. And also in termination a wanted pregnancy can be associated with

negative psychological experiences comparable to those associated with stillbirth or death of a

newborn- but less severe than those experienced by women who deliver a child with a severe

abnormality (TFMHA 1989). In addition to Post- abortion physical complications at various

points are primarily the result of incomplete evacuation of the uterus, urine atony, infection, and

instrumental injury (Gaufberg).

 Abortion harms womens health such as physical, psychological and emotional

health. Emotions throughout abortion maybe change. Of some women abortion has a great

impact to emotional health , some abortions are emotionally difficult but not all abortion are

difficult, nor it is regret over the abortion decision they had nothing to do with their loss and

instead they had to do with social circumstances and expectations they experience. The way

women experience abortion depends on complex processes. Some women who experienced

abortion may suffer distress, trauma and otherwise they feel the pain, injury gaining after having

an abortion.
 Para kay Ama
By: Khimverly P. Baluarte
Ano kayang pakiramdam na masaya lang palagi?
Na kahit kailan di mo pa naranasan
Mga salitang binitawan na tumatak sa pusot isipan
walang bitawan kahit ano mang pagsubok ang mararanasan
kahit anong hagupit ng bagyo di ko kayo iiwan
Mga pangakoy napako lamang
Akala mo walang hangganang pagmamahalan
Yon pala walang humpay na ang iyong magigisnan
Ang pusong mammon ay sadyang hinamon
Sa di inaasahang pangyayari haligi ng tahanan ay nawalan ng silbi
Pundasyon ng tahanan ay unti-unting humina na
Parang lantang gulay na wala ng saysay
Ang naka ukit na inggit at galit sa pusong iyong winasak
Hinding-hindi makakalimutan dahil itoy tumatak
Sa bawat sakit na nadarama
Tuwing ikay nakikitang masaya sa piling ng iba,kamiy walang magagawa
Kaligayahan na na ukit sa iyong pagmumukha
Di maiwasana ang pagpatak ng mga luha
Ngayon ay wala kaman sa aming harapan o mapalikuran man
Sa iyong paglisan, kaligayahay pilit na inaasam-asam
Kung ikaw ay maglaho mang tuluyan
Ilagay mo sa iyong kukuti kamiy handa kang tulungan kahit ano man ang mangyari
Makita lang naming ang mala tsokolate mong ngiti
Pader na aming sinasandalan ay nawala na ng tuluyan
May makikilala mang iba,pero ikaw ay di matutumbasan kahit ano mang halaga