January 13, 2020
The overwhelming majority of Women who have an abortion do not regret their decision, new research has found – counteracting the rhetoric of regret often pushed by anti-abortion campaigners. 
Majority Of Women Who Have An Abortion Do Not Regret It
Five years after having an abortion, more than 95% of women in a landmark study by University of California San Francisco said it was the right decision for them. 
The researchers spoke to 667 women who had abortions at the start of the study. They were then spoken to every six months over the next five years.  
Over time, the participants reported that both their positive and negative feelings about the abortion diminished. And at five years, the overwhelming majority (84%) had either positive feelings, or none at all. READ MORE: What Actually Happens When You Have An Abortion? While women did not report regretting their decision, many struggled initially to make it. Almost a third said the decision to terminate their pregnancy was very difficult (27%) or somewhat difficult (27%), while the rest (46%) said it was not difficult.
About 70% said they felt they’d be stigmatised by their communities if people knew they had sought an abortion, with 29% reporting low levels and 31% reporting high levels of community stigma.
These findings echo a 2019 study by Marie Stopes International, which found women in the UK feel unable to tell their Friends and families if they’re considering an abortion, due to fears of stigma and repercussions. 
In the UK, more than half (56%) of those who have abortions already have children. Last year, HuffPost UK spoke to four women in this position about why the decision was right for them.
Sally had her first abortion at 40 when her son was 10, and a second abortion six years later. She said she wasn’t in a financial position to have another child at the time of her first abortion. For her second abortion, she was “in the best position [she’d] ever been in to have a baby”, but decided it wasn’t what she wanted. 
“My son was 16 and it felt like the timing was completely out,” she said. “I felt like I was just getting my life back. We’re really happy, we have lots of freedom. It was the right decision.”
Jennifer, 35, had an abortion in 2015 after experiencing postnatal depression with her first child. “I didn’t believe my marriage, nor I, would survive if I had to relive that experience again,” she said. 
“There are so many misconceptions. I wanted more children, I really did, but I chose not to because of my mental health. That’s still one of my most unselfish decisions I’ve made to date, in my mind.”For support and information about abortion, visit The British Pregnancy Advisory Service website, or call its advice line on 0345 730 4030. Alternatively visit the Marie Stopes website, or call their advice line on 0345 300 8090. READ MORE: 'I Didn't Want To Start Over': Mothers Who Had Abortions Share Their Stories 'Dirty Little Secret': Women Feel Unable To Tell Friends And Family They're Considering An Abortion 'I Couldn't Imagine Carrying On My Pregnancy Knowing My Baby Was Going To Die'
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Millie Bobby Brown & Jake Bongiovi Celebrate “Three Years of Bliss” Ahead of Wedding
March 24, 2024
C4Ehegcq1-A
Kate Middleton & Prince William "Enormously Touched" by Public Support
March 24, 2024
s8fig-RCjFc
Gisele Bündchen Denies Cheating on Ex-Husband Tom Brady
March 23, 2024
_SpRMagA8BM
Eminem, 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg Present Dr. Dre with a Star on the Walk of Fame
March 19, 2024
4bNLs1hxVp8
Opening Remarks for the Variety Summit October 20th, 2023 Jay Penske
March 18, 2024
c6Z707iLq8E
'Everybody Was S----ing Their Pants': Nick Thune Jokes About Being Born in the '70s and Fatherhood
March 16, 2024
mm7Baf6o2d8
Gunna Says Tour Will Up Creativity in Rap, Endorses Flo Milli | TMZ
March 22, 2024
QfMU24fw-Qo
Reporter Taylor Lorenz Says Palace Botched Kate Cancer News Rollout | TMZ Live
March 22, 2024
o43ZucdiyEo
Riley Strain's Body Found After Going Missing in Nashville 2 Weeks Ago | TMZ NOW
March 22, 2024
1m1zM-4_Cs8
Kyle Richards hasn’t spoken to co-star Dorit Kemsley, denies sending her a ‘manipulative’ text
March 24, 2024
LqLZzDP1hm4
Jordan Emanuel on her connection to 'RHOSLC' star Meredith Marks, advice from Amanda Batula
March 24, 2024
5NPAwlOov1Y
Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary apologizes after slamming ‘fickle’ Meghan Markle in scathing interview
March 24, 2024
JWG9kitALZk
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SK Brann W - Barcelona W
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Hacken W - PSG W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SL Benfica W - Lyon W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Ajax W - Chelsea W
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Brighton - Manchester City
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
11
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Newcastle United
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Manchester City
10
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Celta Vigo
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Atalanta
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Fiorentina - Roma
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Empoli
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.