Help, Healing, Research, Education and Advocacy
Washington, DC (May 11, 2023) — The assumption that abortions only occur when women freely want them has been overturned by a new study interviewing a national sample of 1000 women 41 to 45 years of age. Of women with a history of abortion, only 33% described their abortions as a “wanted and consistent with my values […]
by Rachel M. MacNair, Ph.D, August 15, 2008 Rachel MaNcair is the President of Division 48, Peace Psychology, of the American Psychological Association, and Director of Institute for Integrated Social Analysis, research arm of Consistent Life. Reprinted with permission. We have known for a long time that the word “choice” in the abortion debate doesn’t mean […]
The decision to have an abortion can be difficult. The potential risks and benefits of abortion should be carefully evaluated. These risks will vary widely between different people and in different circumstances. Unfortunately, as many as 62% of women thinking about abortion feel pressured by other people to undergo an abortion regardless of its risks. […]
1/22/18 Pressure to Abort, Attachment to Pregnancy and Difficulty Making the Decision Widespread Among Women Who Suffer After Abortion A newly-published survey of women who sought help from a crisis pregnancy center after abortion sheds light on the experiences of women who suffer after abortion. Published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons (JP&S), […]
This video provides an overview of a new systematic review of the medical literature that reveals that each induced abortion a woman undergoes increases her risk of premature death by 50 percent or more. The elevated risk of death is evident within the first 180 days, the risk of death from any cause is […]
Abortion and miscarriage are linked to an increased risk of premature death in women, while live birth is associated with improved longevity. The negative effects are greater for abortion than miscarriage, Each abortion exposure increases the risk of early death by about fifty percent. The elevated risk of death has been identified within the first 180 days following an abortion or miscarriage and may persists for over ten years.
4/17/17 By Chuck Donovan In recent years, advocates of legal abortion have turned their attention to limiting or interfering with the work of pregnancy help centers (PHCs), typically nonprofit groups that offer a range of free or heavily discounted services to women and girls who think they may be pregnant. These centers have sprung up […]
4/4/2017 Researchers studying the breast cancer epidemic in the UK have called for a recognition of the risks caused by induced abortion and hormonal contraception, saying that “acknowledgment of the importance of these risk factors is needed to open the way for breast cancer prevention.” In a paper published in the Journal of American Physicians and […]
3/3/2017 As the debate over whether to allow abortion in Ireland continues, an Irish professor has stated that the claim that abortion is bad for women’s mental health is a “fringe view” that is not supported in science or medicine. Veronica O’Keane, professor of psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, told the The Irish Times […]
11/4/16 David C. Reardon In the most recent presidential debate, Hillary Clinton claimed late-term abortions are sometimes necessary to save women’s lives. That’s great rhetoric, but it is not supported by even a single medical study. Before examining the “abortion to save women’s lives” question, it is first important to note that only about 1.2 […]
9/16/16 Women who have abortions face a higher risk of mental health disorders according to recent study of young women in the United States. The study, published by Dr. D Paul Sullins of Catholic University of America, used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. The study followed more than 8,000 […]
Ad Hominem Attacks, Guilt by Association, Shifting Standards, Avoiding Simple Truths A Commentary by David C. Reardon, Ph.D. The abortion and mental health controversy shifted into high gear following the recent publication in The British Journal of Psychiatry of a meta-analysis review that combined results of 22 studies and reported that women who have abortions are 81 […]
7/11/2005 Findings Show Women With “Unwanted” Pregnancies Aren’t More Likely to Use Drugs or Alcohol Springfield, IL (July 11, 2005)– A new study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology has found that women with a history of induced abortion are three times more likely to use illegal drugs during a subsequent pregnancy. The […]
1/20/2005 Springfield, IL (January 20, 2005) — A new research review published in Current Women’s Health Reviews highlights the growing body of evidence that abortion is linked with increased rates of substance abuse among women. Substance abuse has increased in the past three decades in the United States, but author Priscilla Coleman, a researcher and […]
6/21/2004 Springfield, IL (June 21, 2004) — A new study published in this month’s American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse strengthens the case for a causal connection between abortion and substance abuse. The study found that among women who had unintended first pregnancies, those who had abortions were more likely to report, an average […]
12/15/2002 New Study Shows Substance Abuse Among Pregnant Women Linked to Prior Abortion, Puts Later Children At Risk Springfield, IL (December 15, 2002)– Women with a prior history of abortion are twice as likely to use alcohol, five times more likely to use illicit drugs, and ten times more likely to use marijuana during the […]
Study Results Show Half a Million Women Affected by Post-Abortion Syndrome Springfield, IL (August 24, 2000) — Pro-choice researchers writing in the August issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry have acknowledged that some women experience post-abortion syndrome (PAS). The research team, led by Dr. Brenda Major, diagnosed PAS among 1.4 percent of a sample […]
7/26/2000 Women’s Mental Health Declines After Abortion While Childbirth Helps Springfield, IL (July 26 2000 )– Women who undergo abortions are at greater risk for mental health problems in subsequent years, according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Society (APS) held this June in Miami Beach, Florida. The […]
3/3/2000 Women who have an abortion are five times more likely to report subsequent substance abuse compared to women who carry to term, according to a study published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. The study was authored by Elliot Institute director Dr. David Reardon and Dr. Philip […]
11/23/1999 David C. Reardon, Ph.D. A recent Elliot Institute study has established a strong statistical correlation between abortion and subsequent drug or alcohol abuse. This finding is based on a national, random sample of 700 women participating in a reproductive history survey. After excluding women who engaged in substance abuse prior to their first pregnancy, […]
Summaries of the most recent studies published
