title: Emotional responses to therapeutic abortion.
abstract: Healthy women who choose to terminate an unintended pregnancy in the first trimester have few serious or negative emotional consequences. Although a few women may have ambivalent feelings or feelings of guilt, most have a sense of relief and other positive reactions. However, the emotional response of a woman and her family to therapeutic abortion is complicated. A number of factors may help identify women at risk of emotional difficulty and depressive symptoms after abortion. Women who terminate their pregnancy during the second trimester, have a history of multiple abortions, have preexisting psychiatric problems or perceive a lack of support at home are more likely to have emotional difficulty. Women who have an abortion for medical or genetic reasons are at increased risk of developing depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D000032:Abortion, Therapeutic / Q000523:psychology*; D003376:Counseling; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn; D006801:Humans; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D010819:Physician's Role; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D037841:Pregnant People; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*