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'...and still they weep'

Psychiatrist Professor Philip Ney says:
'From clinical and research observations, I have concluded that abortion is the most deeply damaging trauma that can happen to any human.'

Read the following articles:
- Who is at Risk
- Manifestations of Post Abortion Trauma
- Post Abortion Syndrome
- The Effect of Abortion on the Mental Health of Women (external link)

Who is at Risk?

PDF version of this article

"At risk" means that a woman is coming from or is in the midst of a situation which raises her chances for developing post-abortion stress. Research shows in varying degrees the following conditions which may put a woman at a higher risk for having problems after an abortion.

• Women who feel they were pressured/coerced to have the abortion.
• Women who felt ambivalent about the abortion decision.
• Women who were raised in a religious home environment.
• Women who have experienced more than one abortion.
• Women who had abortions for foetal anomalies or other medical problems.
• Women who have had an illegal abortion.
• Women who had second or third trimester abortions.
• Women who are returning to an environment where the abortion must be keep a "deep, dark secret."
• Women who were awake during the procedure.
• Women who have recently become pregnant with a "wanted" child; also women who had existing children at the time of the abortion.
• Women who have recently been in contact with prenatal development information/pictures for the first time. Women who have just had a spiritual experience whereby her personal morality has been changed and implemented.
• Women with a significant amount of past trauma – particularly loss history.
• Women who are experiencing multiple current stresses and who cannot keep the defence mechanisms in place.
• Younger, unmarried women (from Dr John Lyons' metanalysis done for Family Research Council).

Men at Risk:

• Men who are excluded from the abortion decision.
• Men who are against abortion or what you would term pro-life.
• Married men whose spouses abort against their will.
• Men who are ambivalent about the abortion decision.