Suicide risks associated with pregnancy outcomes: a national cross-sectional survey of American females 41–45 years of age
CLI Summary
Research has found that women who have abortions are more likely to commit suicide, but it is unclear the degree to which their abortions played a role. In this study, women were asked directly. Of women who attempted suicide, over half of those who had abortions said their abortion contributed to their suicide attempt to a moderate or high degree (25% of those with coerced abortions said the abortion contributed to a high degree). Women with coerced abortions had the highest rate of attempted suicide. Women who had abortions were significantly more likely to have ever attempted suicide than women with live births that were not unplanned, unwanted, or otherwise difficult, and women with no prior pregnancies.
Abstract
Objective
Numerous studies have linked abortion to an elevated risk of suicide. One hypothesis is that this association is entirely incidental and most likely fully explained by preexisting mental illness. This hypothesis can be tested by examining women’s own self-assessments of the degree, if any, that abortion and other pregnancy outcomes contributed to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Methods
A topic blind survey was distributed to 2829 American females 41–45 years of age. Respondents were asked about any history of attempted suicide(s) and reproductive histories. Grouped by reproductive history, respondents were then asked to rank on visual analog scales the degree, if any, to which their pregnancy outcome contributed to suicidal thoughts, self-destructive behaviors, and any attempted suicides.
Results
Aborting women were twice as likely to have attempted suicide compared to other women. Aborting women, especially those who underwent coerced or unwanted abortions, were significantly more likely to say their pregnancy outcomes directly contributed to suicidal thoughts and behaviors compared to women in all other groups.
Conclusions
The hypothesis that higher rates of suicide following abortion can be entirely explained by preexisting mental health problems is inconsistent with women’s own self-assessments of the degree their abortions directly contributed to suicidal and self-destructive behaviors.
