A new study added to a growing body of literature on the harms of abortion, not just to the innocent preborn baby, but to women.
A new survey of 114 women who have undergone a “medication abortion,” also called an RU-486 or chemical abortion, found that over 60 percent of them sought help or wanted help after the abortion.
“The research found that 63% of women either sought after abortion help or said they could have benefited from talking to someone,” the paper reported. “Yet only 18% of the women were aware of organizations that provide care after reproductive loss. 34% of women said their outlook of themselves or the decision they made had changed negatively since their abortions, often years later.”
Abortion regret is a real issue. Groups like Silent No More have filled pages with stories from women who regret their abortion, as well as men who were involved, such as boyfriends or husbands.
We know that women in our own neighborhoods and communities could be struggling with abortion regret. Every day in Washington, 48 women abort their babies, but this number could grow as our pro-abortion governor Jay Inslee encourages people to choose abortion instead of life.
There are actions we can take to support those suffering from abortion regret and places we can point them to for help in their journey.
First, we should pray every day for the innocent babies killed in abortion and pray for all those who have had an abortion or are otherwise affected by it.
Second, we should work with our churches to build up support networks for people grieving loss from abortion. This could include counseling, support groups or an annual prayer service or Mass in remembrance for the lives lost to abortion and the people who have been harmed by abortion.
Third, we can direct people in need to places like Rachel’s Vineyard, Silent No More or Passages of Hope.
It’s important to note that abortion trauma can take years to present itself. So we should extend grace and charity to those who may be suffering or may have had an abortion but not show regret yet.
Pro-life leader Abby Johnson, who had two abortions and used to work at Planned Parenthood, shared that “trauma doesn’t usually present until 10-15 years post-traumatic event.”
Pro-lifers rightly talk about “loving them both,” or the idea that we support the baby in the womb and the mom. We should always pray and ask for God’s help that we can love even women who have had abortions and support them in their healing.
