Neither medication nor procedural abortions increases risk of mental health disorders in short or long term: Study

Since the introduction of mifepristone, a progesterone blocker, the rate of medication-based abortions has consistently increased in both the United States and worldwide. In 2020, 53% of abortions in the United States were medication-based, and in most Western European countries, more than half of the abortions were also medication-based according to the most recent data.

Recent study examined whether mental health disorders increased in the shorter and longer-term after a medication or procedural abortion using Danish population data.

The researchers followed 72,424 females who had a first-trimester abortion between 2000 and 2018, analyzing the risk of any first psychiatric diagnosis, mood disorder diagnosis, and anxiety/stress disorder diagnosis. They compared the risk in the year after the abortion to the year before, as well as over longer time periods.

The key findings were: 1. Females having medication (n=37,155) and procedural abortions (n=35,269) had the same risk of any first psychiatric diagnosis in the year after their abortion relative to the year before (medication abortion adjusted incidence rate ratio=1.02; procedural abortion adjusted incidence rate ratio=0.94). 2. As more time passed after the abortion, the risk of psychiatric diagnoses actually decreased relative to the year before the abortion for each method. For example, 5+ years after the abortion, the adjusted incidence rate ratios were 0.58 for medication abortions and 0.54 for procedural abortions. 3. These findings were consistent when examining specific diagnoses like mood disorders and anxiety/stress disorders, as well as in sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

The researchers conclude that neither medication nor procedural abortions increase the risk of mental health disorders in the shorter or longer-term. These findings provide evidence that abortions do not negatively impact mental health. The results suggest policies or practices based on the idea that abortion methods increase psychological problems are not supported by the data.

Key Points

1. The study examined whether mental health disorders increased in the shorter and longer-term after a medication or procedural abortion using Danish population data.

2. The researchers followed 72,424 females who had a first-trimester abortion between 2000 and 2018, analyzing the risk of any first psychiatric diagnosis, mood disorder diagnosis, and anxiety/stress disorder diagnosis.

3. Females having medication (n=37,155) and procedural abortions (n=35,269) had the same risk of any first psychiatric diagnosis in the year after their abortion relative to the year before.

4. As more time passed after the abortion, the risk of psychiatric diagnoses actually decreased relative to the year before the abortion for both medication and procedural abortions. For example, 5+ years after the abortion, the adjusted incidence rate ratios were 0.58 for medication abortions and 0.54 for procedural abortions.

5. The findings were consistent when examining specific diagnoses like mood disorders and anxiety/stress disorders, as well as in sensitivity analyses.

6. The researchers conclude that neither medication nor procedural abortions increase the risk of mental health disorders in the shorter or longer-term, and that policies or practices based on the idea that abortion methods increase psychological problems are not supported by the data.

Reference –

Steinberg JR, Laursen TM, Lidegaard Ø, Munk-Olsen T. Medication and procedural abortions before 13 weeks gestation and risk of psychiatric disorders. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024;231:437.e1-18