Signal Hill is an advocate for human rights that provides information on life issues, women's health and family support.
"
Men affected by abortion often suffer in silence because they are confused about their feelings, trying to put up a strong front, and ignored by society. These men deserve to be recognized and to have their pain acknowledged. They need to be reassured that their reactions are normal and that there is hope for their healing.
"
C.T. Coyle, AbortionResearch.net
Related Links
Abortion in Canada
An excellent source of information on abortion.
abortionincanada.ca
Abortion Breast Cancer
abortionbreastcancer.ca
Abortion Risks
A clearing house for post abortion research and information.
abortionrisks.com
For Post Abortion Help
Optionline
OptionLine.org
Rachel's Vineyard Retreats
RachelsVineyard.org
Abortion Changes You
Stories of people who have experienced abortion
abortionchangesyou.com
Stand up Girl
A site for young women struggling with unplanned pregnancy & abortion
standupgirl.com
Abortion Recovery
A web-site for women and men dealing with abortion
abortionrecovery.org
The Silent No More Awareness Campaign
A Campaign to reach out to people hurt by abortion and to make the public aware that abortion is harmful.
silentnomoreawareness.org
Men and Abortion
Little research has been published concerning the effects of abortion on men but there are some common findings among those studies. These commonalities are as follows:
1) Men tend to suppress their own emotions when they learn that their partners are unexpectedly pregnant, when the abortion decision is being made, and after the abortion is performed.(1,2,3) Men have stated that they believe this is what they should do in order to support their partners. While this may seem to be the right thing to do at the time, negative feelings will eventually have to be dealt with one way or another.
2) Relationships are stressed by abortion. Reports of relationship failure following abortion have varied from 25% to 70%.(5) Some men will withdraw from relationships, particularly intimate relationships with women. Others may become promiscuous and still others may experience sexual problems such as impotence.(6) Many relationships will suffer from a decrease in healthy communication.(7) Sadly, many couples never discuss the abortion.
3) Another finding is that many men want counseling. (8,9,10) Post-abortion men do not perceive abortion as an easy experience and, in fact, 72 to75% of men disagreed that men involved with abortion have an easy time of it and that they have few "lingering or disturbing thoughts" about the abortion. (11,12)
4) Still another common finding among the studies referred to here is that, after abortion, men may experience intense and painful emotions including grief, anxiety, guilt, helplessness, and anger. Their psychological pain may be acted out in substance abuse or other risk-taking behaviors. Negative emotions may progress to clinical depression, angry outbursts, or severe anxiety that impairs concentration. Men may also experience delayed grief reactions and be at risk for unresolved or complicated grief. (13)
5) In an online study of post-abortion men (www.abortionresearch.net), it was found that men may be so traumatized by the abortion that they experience symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These symptoms include those of hyper arousal, re-experiencing the traumatic event, and avoidance of reminders of the abortion.
(The website, www.abortionresearch.net, noted here is a research project directed by the Alliance for Post-Abortion Research and Training.)
1 Gordon, R.A. & Kilpatrick, C. (1977). A program of group counseling for men who accompany women seeking legal abortion. Community Mental Health Journal, 13 (4), 291-295.
2 Coyle, C.T. & Enright, R.D. (1997). Forgiveness intervention with post-abortion men. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65 (6), 1042-1046.
3 Shostak, A. & McLouth, G. (1984). Men and abortion: Lessons, losses, and love. New York: Praeger.
4 Ibid
5 Milling, E. (1975, April). The men who wait. Women’s Life, 48-49, 69-71.
6 Rothstein, A. (1977a). Abortion: A dyadic perspective. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 47 (1), 111-118.
7 Rue,V.M. (1985). Abortion in relationship context. International Review of Natural Family Planning, 9 (2), 95-121.
8 Gordon, R.A. (1978). Efficacy of a group crisis-counseling program for men accompanying women seeking abortions. American Journal of Community Psychology, 6 (3), 239-246.
9 Lauzon, P., Roger-Achim, D., Achim, A. & Boyer, R. (2000). Emotional distress among couples involved in first-trimester induced abortions. Canadian Family Physician, October (46), 2033-2040.
10 Rothstein, A. (1977b). Men’s reactions to their partners’ elective abortions. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 128 (8), 831-837.
11 Shostak, A. (1979). Abortion as fatherhood lost: Problems and reforms. Family Coordinator, 28 (4), 569-574.
12 Shostak, A. (1983). Men and abortion: Three neglected ethical aspects. Humanity and Society, 7 (1), 66-85.
13 Rue, V.M. (1996). The effects of abortion on men. Ethics and Medics, 21 (4), 3-4.
