How Will Abortion Affect Me Mentally?

March 27, 2026

When you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, it is normal to feel pulled in multiple directions at once. If you are considering abortion, pausing to think through how that decision might affect your emotional and mental health is one of the most important steps you can take. Being fully informed means looking beyond the physical and considering your whole well-being.

At Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center, we are here to give you the accurate, compassionate information you need before making any decision. Our services, including pregnancy testing, ultrasounds following a positive in-clinic pregnancy test, STD testing and treatment, medical screening before an abortion, and after-abortion care, are all available at no cost to you.

Book an appointment today.

There Is No Single Emotional Response

Every woman’s experience is different. Some feel a sense of relief after an abortion, while others find themselves processing grief, regret, or emotional numbness. For many, feelings do not arrive all at once but surface gradually over time, sometimes resurfacing years later during significant life moments.

Because your response will be shaped by your personal history, values, and relationships, it is worth taking time to reflect honestly on how you might feel, not just in the days following a decision, but much further down the road.

What the Research Tells Us

The relationship between abortion and mental health has been studied extensively, and the findings are worth understanding before making any decision.

A peer-reviewed analysis of state Medicaid data found that women who had an abortion in their first pregnancy were 3.4 times more likely to experience an increase in outpatient mental health visits and 5.7 times more likely to experience an increase in inpatient admissions compared to women who gave birth.

Research has also found notable links between abortion and specific mental health outcomes, including a significantly greater likelihood of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Studies from multiple countries, including the United States, Finland, and Italy, have found that women who have had abortions face suicide rates approximately two to six times higher than women who have given birth.

While not every woman will experience these challenges, understanding the full range of possible outcomes is an essential part of making a truly informed decision.

Circumstances That May Increase Emotional Risk

A 2023 study found that nearly 67% of women described their abortions as either inconsistent with their values and preferences, unwanted, or the result of feeling pressured.

A separate 2023 study found that feeling pressured into an abortion was directly linked to negative emotions, disruption to daily life, and a measurable decline in mental health.

You Deserve to Feel Informed and Supported

Making a pregnancy decision is personal, and you deserve a safe space to ask questions, process your emotions, and get accurate information without pressure.

At Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center, our medical professionals are here to walk alongside you every step of the way. If you have already had an abortion and are navigating difficult emotions, our after-abortion care program offers confidential support in a compassionate, judgment-free environment.

All of our services are available at no cost to you. Book an appointment today and take your next step with clarity and confidence.

Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center does not perform or refer for abortions.

All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.