Abortion and Women Reproductive Health Care Rights

Abortion is a fact in the lives of many women. Approximately 20% of American women of childbearing age have already had an abortion, and it is estimated that one out of three American women will have had one by age 45.1 Robinson and colleagues authored a review article entitled “Is there an abortion trauma syndrome? Critiquing the evidence?” (2008)2 that exemplifies the American Psychiatric Association’s position on reproductive rights. Accordingly, the content of this Position Statement is largely based on that article and its cited references. There has been much debate on the issue of mental health sequelae after abortion. Some argue that “abortion trauma syndrome”,3 “post-abortion depression”,4 and “post-abortion psychosis”3 are significant risks for women undergoing abortion. These postulated conditions have been used as rationale for changes in U.S. public policy. For example, in some states physicians are required to inform patients that abortion will increase their risk of depression and suicidality.