Will I Regret Having An Abortion?

Women facing unexpected pregnancy often worry they’ll regret the way they handled this difficult situation. It can seem like there are no good options, and any choice could destroy your future, ruin your relationships, or both. Students experiencing unexpected pregnancy frequently worry about how their choice will impact their college plans and career path. There is an enormous amount of pressure to make the right choice, but it can feel impossible to know what that is.

Evaluating all your options - keeping the baby, having an abortion, or going through with adoption - can be overwhelming. Today, we’re going to discuss abortion, and one of the most common questions about it - “Will I regret having an abortion?” It’s a reasonable question to ask before any life-changing procedure, including this one. The good news is that there are more and more studies on the long-term impact of abortion. The bad news is that they’re somewhat conflicting.

One study found that 84% of women mostly had positive feelings about their abortion several years afterward. Another study found that 53-63% of women experienced guilt, 41-66% experienced regret, 64-74% sadness, and 31-43% anger. Yet another study found that, five years post-abortion, more than 95% of respondents said that abortion was the right decision for them. But then another study reported that 60% of women who had abortions would have preferred not to. Some people have questioned whether these studies were designed correctly and whether there could have been biases at play, but regardless, the conflicting results can be confusing.

So, for women who do regret having an abortion - why do they regret it? What factors can increase your chances of experiencing regret? Some women have an abortion, want children, but then experience infertility later in life and are unable to have kids. Some women were pressured or coerced into having an abortion that they didn’t want, or felt obligated to have an abortion for their partner or their family. Some women discover that the medical procedure is not what they expected. They regret having an abortion because if they had known what the medical procedure was like, they wouldn’t have wanted it. Some women regret their abortion because they wonder who their child would have been, and what life would be like now with them in it. Some women wanted to keep their baby, but felt like external factors made caring for a child impossible. There are a range of other feelings that can accompany regret, including loss, guilt, shame, and even depression, creating a complicated emotional landscape. 

While an unclear percentage of women regret their abortion, those who do regret it often report that it’s the thing they regret most in life and it’s continued to bother them for decades after the procedure. Abortion regret, when it does happen, is very personal and multi-faceted. Hopefully in the future, we will develop a better understanding of how abortion impacts women and their mental health in the long-term.

Abortion Regret FAQs

How long does abortion grief last?
This varies widely. Some women do not report experiencing grief after their abortions. Some women find that abortion grief lasts a few months, and fades with time. Some women don’t experience grief about their abortion until years after it happened. And other women regret their abortions almost immediately, and grieve for decades afterward.

What percentage of people regret having an abortion?
Studies report highly variable rates of abortion regret and mental health struggles following abortion.

Is it normal to regret an abortion?
Any life event where you experience loss or make a difficult and life-changing decision has the potential to trigger regret. 

Is having an abortion traumatic?
There are several different ways to have an abortion, and some women find the procedures more traumatic than others. It’s important to learn about what abortion involves to best judge whether it would be a traumatic experience for you.

If you’re a pregnant student facing unplanned pregnancy, and you’re not sure how to move forward, the Avi Project specializes in supporting unexpectedly pregnant college students. We want every student to feel truly free to make the best choice for them, without worrying that they’re sacrificing their education or career. By providing resources like tuition assistance, housing, medical care, access to licensed counselors, career counseling, and more, we empower students to chase their dreams, and ensure they have the support they need to pursue their education.

Contact us any time, any day, at 720-386-6009. If you don’t like talking on the phone, texting is just fine. It’s 100% confidential and commitment-free.