Induced abortion and spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) both have emotional costs. But while the initial pain is higher for miscarriages, as who would not expect since these women want their children, the long term pain is higher for the women who had abortions.

The Oslo team found that, after 10 days, 47.5% of women who had miscarried suffered from some degree of mental distress compared with 30% of the abortion group. The proportion of women who had a miscarriage suffering distress decreased during the study period, to 22.5% at six months and to just 2.6% at two years and five years. But among the abortion group 25.7% were still experiencing distress after six months, and 20% at five years. The researchers also said that women who had an abortion had to make an effort to avoid thinking about the event.

2.6% of the women who miscarried still have mental distress five years later. And we don’t know but those might be the ones who were never able to carry to term. Or they might be women who hold on to the thoughts of their lost child because it was their child.

20% of the women who had abortions still have mental distress five years later. And the women have to make an effort to not think about it.

Ten times the percent of women who had abortions are experiencing mental distress five years later.

Since my college students are writing on controversial topics, and abortion has come up quite often, I’ve seen a lot of equating induced and spontaneous abortions. I’ve never understood that stance. One group wanted to get rid of their child; one group wanted to keep their child But this study finds a clear differentiation in the two groups in terms of mental distress.

I think that one of the reasons I am so offended by this rhetorical equalization is Montserrat. She was pregnant and lost her baby. When she had to go to get a DNC, they sent her to the abortion clinic. (Geneva, Switzerland) She sat in the room watching women who were planning to kill their babies talk about how good it was they could do that while she was grieving the loss of her own.

God, please bless Montserrat, Ignacio, and Rebecca. I think of them often. But I know they are in your care, wherever they are.

Found via Redstate.org