New abortion review supports calls for counselling and informed consent. 

As parliamentarians ready themselves to debate the Dorries/Field amendment on the provision of independent counselling for women seeking abortion, the prestigious British Journal of Psychiatry publishes a landmark review into the mental health risks to women from abortion, with its author, Priscilla Coleman, stating that women should be informed of the risks to mental health following abortion when counselled prior to the abortion decision.

One of the largest of its kind, this review shows that nearly 10% of all mental health problems in women of childbearing age are attributable to abortion.  Overall, women with an abortion history have nearly double the risk of mental health than women who have not had an abortion (81% increased risk). Even when compared to women who deliver their baby as a result of an unintended pregnancy, women who abort still have a 55% higher risk.

‘This review offers the largest quantitative estimate of mental health risks associated with abortion available in the world literature. Calling into question the conclusions from traditional reviews, the results revealed a moderate to highly increased risk of mental health problems after abortion.'

The study, by Priscilla Coleman from Bowling Green State University, USA, is a meta-analysis of 22 of the most robust studies between the years 1995 and 2009. It analyses 36 effects with data from 877,181 women of whom 163, 831 had abortions.

More specific mental health outcomes were found to be a 34% increase in anxiety disorders, 37%increased risk of depression, 110% increase in alcohol use or abuse, 220% increased drug use/abuse, and suicidal behaviours increased by 55%.

Given that 99.96% of ground C abortions are done for mental health reasons, Coleman rightly and bravely tackles the long-standing assumption underpinning the legal wording of ground C abortions - that abortion is better for mental health than continuing with the pregnancy. Abortions on ground C account for 98% of all abortions performed in England and Wales.

The simple, yet uncomfortable findings of this study, show that abortions on ground C are no longer better for the mental health of the woman than carrying to term. As such, the vast majority of the decisions to abort in this country are no longer justified by the research evidence. As the conclusion to this study states: ‘Consistent with the tenets of evidence-based medicine, this information should inform the delivery of abortion services.'

And while it looks like the Government has done a u-turn on supporting the Dorries/Field amendment, LIFE hopes that the Department of Health will take on board the findings of this new study when it draws up proposals for the provision of independent counselling. Clearly, the time has come for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and abortion providers to update their information on the long-term effects to women's mental health following abortion. Women need to hear this information prior to having an abortion so that they can make a properly informed decision. Anything less is failing women.