When the so-called experts say there is no proof that abortion harms women, I think of this famous scene from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off":
Does abortion harm women? The answer is a resounding YES! But instead of the figurative classroom being unresponsive as in the clip above, a growing number of studies clamor for attention, yet they are unrecognized by the establishment. Why? Because they show a link between abortion and depression (h/t: Alliance Alert). And of course, the link between abortion and breast cancer is already well-documented (here, here, here, here, here). But in both instances, the "experts" maintain that there is no evidence challenging their established (and politically driven) positions. It sort of reminds me of this scene from "The Emperor's New Groove":
I just had to embed the ENG clip into today's blog post about abortion deaths in 1984. It fit perfectly.
Interesting, are you saying that you agree with African Patriarchy; that women should spread their legs and allow every single man who wants to fornicate and spread his seed, like most black women do; and we should aim for a world population of say 40 billion (or would you prefer more??) [In Afrika such 'fucking anything that moves, to breed unwanted, hated, unloved, destitute children is called 'love']
Such 'Christianity' appears to say: "Thanks God for making us slave and cannon fodder moron imbeciles, who think that your plan for is to be slave and cannon fodder breeding cattle"
It appears that individuals who refuse to participate in slave and cannon fodder breeding of unwanted, hated, unloved, destitute children; are a very, very, very, very small minority.
The review failed to include three new studies all showing abortion leads to significant mental health problems for women.
Last week, Dr. Priscilla Coleman, a professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Bowling Green State University, and her colleagues published a study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research showing the link exists. See http://www.lifenews.com/nat4617.html
The research team found induced abortions result in increased risks for a myriad of mental health problems ranging from anxiety to depression to substance abuse disorders.
The number of cases of mental health issues rose by as much as 17 percent in women having abortions compared to those who didn't have one and the risks of each particular mental health problem rose as much as 145% for post-abortive women.
For 12 out of 15 of the mental health outcomes examined, a decision to have an abortion resulted in an elevated risk for women.
"What is most notable in this study is that abortion contributed significant independent effects to numerous mental health problems above and beyond a variety of other traumatizing and stressful life experiences," they concluded.
Earlier this week, researchers at Otago University in New Zealand reported their findings in the British Journal of Psychiatry and found that women who have abortions have an increased risk of developing mental health problems. See http://www.lifenews.com/int1008.html
The study found that women who had abortions had rates of mental health problems about 30% higher than other women. The conditions most associated with abortion included anxiety disorders and substance abuse disorders.
Abortions increased the risk of severe depression and anxiety by one-third and as many as 5.5 percent of all mental health disorders seen in New Zealand result from women having abortions.
A third study, from a team at the University of Queensland and published in the December issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, found women who have an abortion are three times more likely to experience a drug or alcohol problem during their lifetime. See http://www.lifenews.com/int1012.html
The study showed that women who had experienced an abortion were at increased risk of illicit drug and alcohol use compared with women who had never been pregnant or who gave birth.
Lara, it's the Pill-pushers who are telling women that they belong on their backs with their knees in the air. If women got off their backs, abortion sales would go WAAAY down.
I agree with Christina. Women are being trained that sex is no big deal and condom prevent most of the problem. There appears to be no moral dilemma for men and women having random sex when in fact many of them suffer the consequences of poor self-esteem. When pregnancy does happen many women still wants to uphold that it's no big deal therefore have an abortion to "fix the problem." Many of these women later suffer the depression of giving up a child and never forgets the incident of the abortion.
it sure does...
Lara,
Your post is racist and sexist and also seethes with hostility towards children. So these children are hated? Hated by who? You maybe? Most of your post is raving nonsense.
I agree with Ceecee. You have a lot of hatred in you, Lara. What's going on?
Steven says: "The research team found induced abortions result in increased risks for a myriad of mental health problems ranging from anxiety to depression to substance abuse disorders."
Steven, I really wonder if the mental health problems these women are experiencing are related to abortion or to the disappointment in themselves that they are just not able to conform to their churches' high expectations?
I would really like to see those statistics separated out to show the numbers of fundamentalist Christians and Catholics who experience depression versus the numbers of other religions or no religion who experience depression. I suspect that the correlations would be very clear. The religions that oppose abortion are in fact creating the problem, not the fact of having had an abortion.
My experience has been that those who have abortions and are not burdened with religious scrulpes report only feelings of great relief after their abortion is over.
Mary-Lee,
Where you see people "burdened with religious scruples" I see people convicted by the Holy Spirit (or by their consciences, if you prefer).
We sincerely believe that abortion is murder. This conclusion can be arrived at without any religious underpinning. How else would you characterize the dismemberment, scraping, and vacuuming of unborn life?
It follows, then, that any woman who knows (before or after the fact) what she has done will experience a great deal of pain over her decision.
Women aren't the only ones affected by abortions. My wife and I were party to two events back about 33 years ago before we were married. We were told that "it" was just tissue and we weren't doing anything wrong. Both of us knew we were doing something terrible but still went ahead with it because we used the lie for an excuse. Through lies and abortion we killed two of our children because we had not the heart to have them and raise them. A few years later we married and had two boys. One is now 26 and the other is 23. I look at those boys and I can not tell you how much joy they have brought to our lives and wonder what it would have been like if we hadn't gone ahead and had all four. We could have done it. It would have been difficult but there really never was a reason why we shouldn't have.
Once the pregnancy is started there are only two ways it can end in the death of the baby. One is by natural circumstances [or the will of God if you are a believer] the other is by the intervention of humans. The deliberate intervention to end a pregnancy in this way results in the unjust denial of life. This is murder. There is no other logical explanation.
I am thankful that God has shown me His grace and forgiveness through the shed blood of His only Son. Good thing Mary was Pro Life in spite of the calls to end her life because she was suspected of adultery. Thanks
Bruce,
Thank you for your courage in sharing your story. And thank you for reminding us of God's unconditional grace poured out in abundance to any willing recipient.
I'm sure what Satan intended for evil (the deaths of those two babies) God has used for good (your love for your two sons).
Yes, as a post-abortion woman living with this trauma since 1986 now. There is not a day that does not go by that I do not remember the extreme pain of those 30 seconds of my life. And this is the annoying part of my history. In 2000 I had a specific surgery done to check out as to why I was not getting pregnant after I had been married for serveral years at that time. I was not using any birth control at all and still no pregnancy. I learned that what I had was severe Asherman syndrome. Look it up. It is in the computer.
Before you judge me and say, "Well, she deserved it. It was her choise to have the abortion." I will need to tell you that It was NOT my so called Choice! My mother made me have one because I was not married at the time.
Asherman syndrome basically means that I have severe scarring in my uterus. And this is after one abortion. The Asherman syndrome report says that it is after several abortions but as you have just learned, it can happen after one.
Not only do I have Asherman's Syndrome now but I also have to look forward to Breast Cancer! Swell! This information can be found at www.heartlink.org/directors/abortion/a000000068.cfm
In this specific report Planned Parenthood has confessed that abortion does cause breast cancer. And a pro-choice advocate, Dr. Janet Daling has also been sighted that abortion does cause breast cancer.
Why do I know so much about this situation? After my aboriton I was relieved for only a little while. But in the months and years ahead I heard baby's cry in my own house. I felt depressed. Especially every anniversary of my child's death. And I really hate Mother's day!
I did finally seek help for these symptoms of loss through a group called PACE. Post Abortion Counseling and Education. You can also find this on the computer. This Healing can be found on other names out there.
Of course, the abortion community had denounced that there is any psychological side-effect to having an abortion at all. I have personally heard too many stories from women to know better that this is not true.
The other side of abortion are hurting women. Whether you are pro-choice or for pro-life. It doesn't matter. Abortion hurts much more than just the womb. It hurts the soul of the woman.
I know, I know, I know, that this might not mean women who have been in incest, or raped or whatever. And I have the sincerest heartfelt hug for you because the situation you were in was not fair. And the choice that was made for you or even by was was not even fair. I am so sorry. However, I have this one question - That abortion hurt.....didn't it?
To all my sisters out there who understand what I am talking about.....put your story in. And then go to Silentnomore.com. There will be information there for you to set you on your journey of healing.
Sent with much love and respect and without judgement.
Sheryl
As usual that esteemed medical journal,the BMJ, couldn't wait to weigh in with its usual proabortion propaganda. Take a look at this...
http://blogs.bmj.com/ebmh-talk/2008/12/17/a-tale-of-two-studies-abortion-and-mental-health/
Hardly a partial view!
Thank you for all your post. I just found this site and will be reading more often now.
I just read an article in the NRTL newsletter on how abortion hurts men as well. Thank you for sharing your story Bruce. I think this is something that is often overlooked. I have never had an abortion, but have lost two babies due to late miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy. Many people showered me with love during these losses, but my husband was forgotten - many forgot that this was a loss and painful for him too. After an abortion, men often remain silent, but are hurting inside too. This article was very insightful as I had overlooked this fact too. Here is the link to the article http://www.nrlc.org/news/2008/NRL11/ReclaimingFatherhood.html