The Facts About Unwanted Abortions

The Unwanted Abortion Studies are a groundbreaking series of peer-reviewed papers investigating how having an unwanted abortion can shape the rest of a woman’s life. Based on surveys of U.S. women ages 41-45, the studies invite women to reflect on their reproductive histories and how their pregnancies continue to affect them, even decades later. The studies found that having an unwanted abortion can have a profoundly negative impact that is still felt years later.

Why It Matters

Previous research indicated that many abortions are unwanted. However, every choice to have an abortion is complex, and prior to the Unwanted Abortion Studies, there was little to no research exploring the nuances of women’s abortion decisions and their ramifications.

Key Findings

Unwanted abortions are associated with negative emotional and mental outcomes, including feelings of guilt, grief, depression, and regret.

70% of women described their abortions as inconsistent with or counter to their own values and preferences (“unwanted”), including at least 10% who felt coerced.

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61% of women felt high levels of pressure to choose abortion from circumstances, finances, or other people in their lives – including over a quarter who felt substantial or high levels of pressure from their partner.

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60% of women indicated that they would have preferred to carry to term if they had received more emotional support or financial security.

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More About the Studies

Effects of Pressure to Abort on Women's Emotional Responses and Mental Health

Key finding: Over 60% of women felt high levels of pressure to abort from finances, life circumstances, or other people in their lives.

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The Effects of Abortion Decision Rightness and Decision Type on Women's Satisfaction and Mental Health

Key finding: Nearly 70% of women did not want their abortions, and 60% would have preferred to give birth if they had received more emotional support or had more financial security.

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Welcomed Pregnancies: Characteristics and Patterns of Adjusting to Unwanted, Unplanned, Untimely or Otherwise Difficult Pregnancies

Key finding: Women at high risk for abortion were twice as likely to visit a pregnancy center as women who were at lower risk.

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Suicide risks associated with pregnancy outcomes: a national cross-sectional survey of American females 41-45 years of age

Key finding: Of women who had abortions and then later attempted suicide, over half said that the abortion played a role.

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Is relief the most common reaction to abortion? Self-assessed intensity of emotions attributed to abortion in a national sample of women aged 41 to 45

Key finding: Women with unwanted abortions experienced higher levels of guilt and depression than they did relief.

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Degrees of grief and complicated grief self-attributed to natural and induced pregnancy losses in a national population of 41-45-year-old females

Key finding: Women whose abortions were unwanted were more likely to have high risk scores for complicated or prolonged grief.

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Identifying underlying factors in risk factors and emotional sequelae self-attributed to abortion: development and validation of a brief assessment tool

Key finding: Attachment to the pregnancy, feelings of pressure, and lack of support are risk factors for negative emotional outcomes after abortion.

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Study Design

Two surveys of two random samples of American women ages 41-45:

The first survey, conducted in October 2022, surveyed 1,039 eligible women, of whom 1,000 completed the survey (96%). Of women who had abortions, 33% described their abortions as wanted, 43% as inconsistent with their values and preferences, 14% as counter to their values and preferences, and 10% as coerced.
The second survey, conducted in July 2024, surveyed 2,361 eligible women, of whom 1,925 completed the survey (82%). Of women who had abortions, 30% described them as wanted, 35% as inconsistent with their values and preferences, 22% as counter to their values and preferences, and 13% coerced.

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Mental Health and Suicide

Charlotte Lozier Institute. “Fact Sheet: Problems and Limits of the Turnaway Study.” November 2025
Charlotte Lozier Institute. “Fact Sheet: Abortion and Mental Health.” September 2025
Skop I. “Handbook of Maternal Mortality: Addressing the U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis, Looking Beyond Ideology.” January 2023
Reardon DC, Craver C. “Effects of Pregnancy Loss on Subsequent Postpartum Mental Health: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study.” J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021;18:2179. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042179
Studnicki J, Longbons T, Fisher J, et al. “A Cohort Study of Mental Health Services Utilization Following a First Pregnancy Abortion or Birth.” Int J Womens Health. 2023;15:955-963. Published 2023 Jun 15. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S410798 and Press Release
Studnicki J, Cox TL, Fisher JW, Cirucci CA, Reardon DC, Skop I, Craver C, Tsulukidze M, Ras Z. “First Pregnancy Abortion or Natural Pregnancy Loss: A Cohort Study of Mental Health Services Utilization.” Issues Law Med. 2024 Fall;39(2):100-116. doi: 10.70257/LZXP7816. PMID: 39446259.

Retirement Accounts

Recent law changes allow you to make a once-in-a-lifetime transfer of up to $55,000 directly from your IRA to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity– turning your assets into guaranteed income for you and a lasting gift for life. Consult with one of our charitable gift annuity partners or your IRA account custodian for details.

As always, we encourage you to seek the counsel of your attorney, tax advisor, or financial planner regarding all gift and estate planning matters for your unique circumstances. Their guidance, combined with your charitable intentions, will ensure that your legacy provides meaningful benefits for both your loved ones and the causes closest to your heart.

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The Facts About Unwanted Abortions

Why It Matters

Key Findings

More About the Studies

Effects of Pressure to Abort on Women's Emotional Responses and Mental Health

The Effects of Abortion Decision Rightness and Decision Type on Women's Satisfaction and Mental Health

Welcomed Pregnancies: Characteristics and Patterns of Adjusting to Unwanted, Unplanned, Untimely or Otherwise Difficult Pregnancies

Suicide risks associated with pregnancy outcomes: a national cross-sectional survey of American females 41-45 years of age

Is relief the most common reaction to abortion? Self-assessed intensity of emotions attributed to abortion in a national sample of women aged 41 to 45

Degrees of grief and complicated grief self-attributed to natural and induced pregnancy losses in a national population of 41-45-year-old females

Identifying underlying factors in risk factors and emotional sequelae self-attributed to abortion: development and validation of a brief assessment tool

Study Design

Learn More

Mental Health and Suicide

Emotions and Complicated Decisions

Forced Abortions

Pregnancy Centers and Other Resources

Become A Defender of Life

Charlotte Lozier Institute

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The Facts About Unwanted Abortions

Why It Matters

Key Findings

More About the Studies

Effects of Pressure to Abort on Women's Emotional Responses and Mental Health

The Effects of Abortion Decision Rightness and Decision Type on Women's Satisfaction and Mental Health

Welcomed Pregnancies: Characteristics and Patterns of Adjusting to Unwanted, Unplanned, Untimely or Otherwise Difficult Pregnancies

Suicide risks associated with pregnancy outcomes: a national cross-sectional survey of American females 41-45 years of age

Is relief the most common reaction to abortion? Self-assessed intensity of emotions attributed to abortion in a national sample of women aged 41 to 45

Degrees of grief and complicated grief self-attributed to natural and induced pregnancy losses in a national population of 41-45-year-old females

Identifying underlying factors in risk factors and emotional sequelae self-attributed to abortion: development and validation of a brief assessment tool

Study Design

Learn More

Mental Health and Suicide

Emotions and Complicated Decisions

Forced Abortions

Pregnancy Centers and Other Resources

Become A Defender of Life