Abortion and Access
- Rachel K. Jones, Jacqueline E. Darroch and Stanley K. Henshaw. Contraceptive Use Among U.S. Women Having Abortions in 2000-2001. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2002, 34(6):294-303, November/December 2002.
- Allott, Daniel. Obama’s contraception plan won’t cut pregnancies. Washington Times. 14 February 2012.
Abortion, Bioethics, and Conscience
- McCurdy SA. Assault on Conscience. Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine. January/February 2011. pp. 27-28.
- ACOG Committee Opinion #385 Limits to Conscientious Refusal in Reproductive Medicine, November 2007.
- Alberto Giubilini and Francesca Minerva , “After Birth Abortion: Why Should the Baby Live?”; J Med Ethics doi:10.1136/medethics-2011-100411, 23 February 2012.
Abortion and Maternal Mortality
Abortion/Brand Decrease
- Kissling, Frances. Abortion rights are under attack, and pro-choice advocates are caught in a time warp. Washington Post, 18 February 2011.
- Barnes, Fred. Hidden Persuaders. WeeklyStandard.com 17(8): 7 November 2011.
- Gibbs, Nancy. The Grass Roots Abortion War. Time. 15 February 2007.
- New, Michael J. The Prolife Movement is Effective. National Review Online, 23 February 2011.
- Abortion’s Battle of Messages. Los Angeles Times. 22 January 2008.
- Gerson, Michael. Obama’s Abortion Extremism. Washington Post Editorial, Wednesday, April 2, 2008.
- Lanfranchi, Angela. The Abortion and Breast Cancer Link: Advances in Human Biology and Continued Epidemiologic Studies Increasingly Point to a Link. 2012 (in press).
- Age at First Birth and Breast Cancer Risk. MacMahon, et al, (1970) Bull WHO 43:209-221
- Howe et al (1989) Early Abortion and Breast Cancer Risk Among Women Under Age 40; Int J Epidemiol 18:300-4.
- Tang (Mei-Tzu C. Tang, Noel S. Weiss, Janet R. Daling, and Kathleen E. Malone; Case-Control Differences in the Reliability of Reporting a History of Induced Abortion; A J Epidemiology, vol 151, #12, June l5, 2000) conducted a study to specifically demonstrate recall bias.
- Melbye M, Wohlfahrt J, Olsen JH, Frisch M, Westergaard T, Helweg-Larsen K and Andersen PK (1997) Induced abortion and the risk of breast cancer. N Engl J Med336: 81–85
- Beral V; (2004) Lancet “A Collaborative Reanalysis of data from 53 studies, including 83,000 women from 16 countries.” , 363:1007-16
- Brind, J. Induced Abortion and Breast Cancer Risk: A Critical Analysis of the Report of the Harvard Nurses Study II, Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, vol. 12 number 2, Summer 2007, pp. 38-39.
- Brind, J. et. al. Induced Abortion as an Independent Risk Factor for Breast Cancer: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 1996;50:481-96.
- Meisol, Patricia. A Hard Choice. Washington Post Magazine, November 23, 2008.
- Stulberg, Debra B. et. al. Abortion Provision Among Practicing Obstetricians-Gynecologists, Obstet&Gynecol. 118(3): 609-614, September 2011.
- Steinauer, J. et. al. Predictors of abortion provision among practicing obstetrician-gynecologists: A national survey, Am J ObGyn 198(1): 39, January 2008.
- Harris, Lisa H., et. al. Obstetrician-Gynecologists’ Objections to and Willingness to Help Patients Obtain an Abortion, Obstet&Gynecol, 118(4): 905-912, October 2011.
- Creinin, Mitchell D. Abortion, Pregnancy and Public Health, Obstet&Gynecol. 119(2), Part 1, 212-214, February 2012.
Abortion/Breast Cancer
- Normal breast physiology: The reasons hormonal contraceptives and induced abortion increase breast-cancer risk. Lanfranchi, A. The Linacre Quarterly 76(3) 236-249. August 2009.
- Epidemiologic Studies: Induced Abortion and Breast Cancer Risk Updated November 2011
- Click here for additional papers on the link between induced abortion and breast cancer by Dr. Angela Lanfranchi.
Abortion and Mental Health
- Review by Dr. Priscilla K. Coleman (found in The British Journal of Psychiatry (2011)199, 180–186. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.110.077230) offers the largest quantitative estimate of mental health risks associated with abortion available in the world literature. Calling into question the conclusions from traditional reviews, the results revealed a moderate to highly increased risk of mental health problems after abortion.
- Fergusson, D.M., Horwood, L.J. & Boden, J. M. (2008). Abortion and mental health disorders: Evidence from a30- year longitudinal study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 193, 444-451.
- Mota, N.P., Burnett, M. & Sareen, J. (2010). Associations between abortion, mental disorders, and suicidal behaviour in a nationally representative sample. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 55 (4), 239-247.
- Rue, V.M., Coleman, P.K., Rue, J.R. & Reardon, D.C. (2004). Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and Russian women. Medical Science Monitor, 10 (10), SR 5-16.
- Coyle, C.T. Coleman, P.K. & Rue, V.M. (2010). Inadequate preabortion counseling and decision conflict aspredictors of subsequent relationship difficulties and psychological stress in men and women. Traumatology, 16 (1), 16-30.
- Bradshaw, Z. & Slade, P. (2003). The effects of induced abortion on emotional experiences and relationships: Acritical review of the literature. Clinical Psychology Review, 23, (7), 929-958.
- Broen, A.N., Moum, T., Bodtker, A.S. & Ekeberg, O. (2006). Predictors of anxiety and depression following pregnancy termination: A longitudinal five-year follow-up study. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 85 (3), 317-323.
- Coleman, P.K. (2005). Induced abortion and increased risk of substance abuse: A review of the evidence. Current Women’s Health Reviews, 1 (1), 21-34.
- Reardon, D.C., Coleman, P.K. & Cougle, J.(2004). Substance use associated with prior history of abortion and unintended birth: A national cross-sectional cohort study. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 26, 369-383.
- Pedersen, W. (2007). Childbirth, abortion and subsequent substance use in young women: A population-based longitudinal study. Addiction 102 (12), 1971-1978.
- Coleman, P.K., Coyle, C.T., Shuping, M. & Rue, V.M. (2009). Induced abortion and anxiety, mood, and substance abuse disorders: Isolating the effects of abortion in the national comorbidity study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 43 (8), 770-776.
- Bradshaw, Z. & Slade, P. (2003). The effects of induced abortion on emotional experiences and relationships: A critical review of the literature. Clinical Psychology Review, 23, (7), 929-958.
- Broen, A.N., Moum, T., Bodtker, A.S. & Ekeberg, O. (2006). Predictors of anxiety and depression following pregnancy termination: A longitudinal five-year follow-up study. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 85 (3), 317-323.
- Pedersen, W. (2008). Abortion and depression: A population-based longitudinal study of young women. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 36 (4), 424-428.
- Kimport, K., Foster, K., & Weitz, T.A. (2011). Social sources of women’s emotional difficulty after Abortion: Lessons from women’s abortion narratives. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 43 (2), 103-109.
- Major, B. & Gramzow, R. H. (1999). Abortion as stigma: Cognitive and emotional implications of concealment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77 (4), 735-745.
- Rue, V., Coleman, P., Rue, J. & Reardon, D. (2004). Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and Russian women. Medical Science Monitor 10(10): SR5-16.
- Makenzius, M., Tyden,T., Darj, E. & Larsson, M. (2012). Risk factors among men who have repeated experience of being the partner of a woman who requests an induced abortion. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 40, 211-216
- Huang, Z., Hao, J., Su, P., Huang, K., Xing, X., Cheng, D., Xiao, L., Xu, Y., Zhu, X. & Tao, F. (2012). The impact of prior abortion on anxiety and depression symptoms during a subsequent pregnancy: Data from a population-based cohort study in China. Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 22 (1), 51-58.
- Callahan, S. (2011). Post-traumatic stress disorder related to birth: A prospective longitudinal study in a French population. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 29 (2), 125-135).
- C. Rousset, C. Brulfert, N. Séjourné, N. Goutaudier & H. Chabrol (2011): Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and psychological distress following medical and surgical abortion. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 29 (5), 506-517.
- Z. Bradshaw and P. Slade, “The effects of induced abortion on emotional experiences and relationships: a critical review of the literature,” Clinical Psychology Review, vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 929–958, 2003.
- P. K. Coleman, “Induced abortion and increased risk of substance use: a review of the evidence,” Current Women’s Health Reviews, vol. 1, pp. 21–34, 2005.
- P. K. Coleman, D. C. Reardon, T. Strahan, and J. R. Cougle, “The psychology of abortion: a review and suggestions for future research,” Psychology and Health, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 237–271, 2005.
- J. Cougle, D. C. Reardon, P. K. Coleman, and V. M. Rue, “Generalized anxiety associated with unintended pregnancy: a cohort study of the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth,” Journal of Anxiety Disorders, vol. 19, pp. 137–142, 2005.
- .J. M. Thorp Jr., K. E. Hartmann, and E. Shadigian, “Long-term physical and psychological health consequences of induced abortion: review of the evidence,” Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 67–79, 2003.
- R. K. Jones, M. R. S. Zolna, S. K. Henshaw, and L. B. Finer, “Abortion in the United States: incidence and access to services, 2005,” Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 6–16, 2008.
- S. B. Gamble, L. T. Strauss, W. Y. Parker, D. A. Cook, S. B. Zane, and S. Hamdan, “Abortion surveillance—United States, 2005,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 57, no. 13, pp. 1–32, 2008.
- L. T. Strauss, J. Herndon, J. Chang, W. Y. Parker, S. V. Bowens, and C. J. Berg, “Abortion surveillance—United States, 2002,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 54, no. 7, pp. 1–31, 2005.
- S. V. Gaufberg, “Abortion complications,”2008,http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/795001-overview, http://www.webcitation.org/5iLo2bOzc.
- L. A. Bartlett, C. J. Berg, H. B. Shulman, S. B. Zane, C. A. Green, S. Whitehead, and H. K. Atrash, “Risk factors for legal induced abortion-related mortality in the United States,” Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 103, no. 4, pp. 729–737, 2004.
- A. Torres and J. D. Forrest, “Why do women have abortions?” Family Planning Perspectives, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 169–176, 1988.
- J. D. Osofsky, H. J. R. Osofsky Rajan, and D. Spitz, “Psychosocial aspects of abortion in the United States,” Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, vol. 42, no. 5, pp. 456–467, 1975.
- N. B. Kaltreider, S. Goldsmith, and A. J. Margolis, “The impact of midtrimester abortion techniques on patients and staff,” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 135, no. 2, pp. 235–238, 1979.
- M. B. Bracken and S. V. Kasl, “Delay in seeking induced abortion: a review and theoretical analysis,” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 121, no. 7, pp. 1008–1019, 1975.
- N. B. Kaltreider, “Emotional patterns related to delay in decision to seek legal abortion,” California Medicine, vol. 118, no. 5, pp. 23–27, 1973.
- W. A. Burr and K. F. Schulz, “Delayed abortion in an area of easy accessibility,” Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 244, no. 1, pp. 44–48, 1980.
- J. R. Ashton, “The psychosocial outcome of induced abortion,” British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 87, no. 12, pp. 1115–1122, 1980.
- E. C. Payne, A. R. Kravitz, M. T. Notman, and J. V. Anderson, “Outcome following therapeutic abortion,” Archives of General Psychiatry, vol. 33, no. 6, pp. 725–733, 1976.
- L. R. Shusterman, “Predicting the psychological consequences of abortion,” Social Science and Medicine, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 683–689, 1979.
- C. M. Friedman, R. Greenspan, and F. Mittleman, “The decision making process and the outcome of therapeutic abortion,” American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 131, no. 12, pp. 1332–1337, 1974.
- G. K. Congleton and L. G. Calhoun, “Post-abortion perceptions: a comparison of self-identified distressed and nondistressed populations,” International Journal of Social Psychiatry, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 255–265, 1993.
- M. P. Conklin and B. P. O’Connor, “Beliefs about the fetus as a moderator of postabortion psychological well-being,” Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, vol. 14, pp. 76–95, 1995.
- C. Brewer, “Induced abortion after feeling fetal movements: its causes and emotional consequences,” Journal of Biosocial Science, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 203–208, 1978.
- H. Söderberg, L. Janzon, and N.-O. Sjöberg, “Emotional distress following induced abortion a study of its incidence and determinants among abortees in Malmo, Sweden,” European Journal of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, vol. 79, no. 2, pp. 173–178, 1998.
- M. I. Butterfield, M. Becker, and C. E. Marx, “Post-traumatic stress disorder in women: current concepts and treatments,” Current Psychiatry Reports, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 474–486, 2002.
- Z. Bradshaw and P. Slade, “The effects of induced abortion on emotional experiences and relationships: a critical review of the literature,” Clinical Psychology Review, vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 929–958, 2003.
- N. Mufel, A. Speckhard, and S. Sivuha, “Predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder following abortion in a former Soviet Union country,” Journal of Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology & Health, vol. 17, pp. 41–61, 2002.
- V. M. Rue, P. K. Coleman, J. J. Rue, and D. C. Reardon, “Induced abortion and traumatic stress: a preliminary comparison of American and Russian women,” Medical Science Monitor, vol. 10, no. 10, pp. SR5–SR16, 2004.
- S. Suliman, T. Ericksen, P. Labuschgne, R. de Wit, D. J. Stein, and S. Seedat, “Comparison of pain, cortisol levels, and psychological distress in women undergoing surgical termination of pregnancy under local anaesthesia versus intravenous sedation,” BMC Psychiatry, vol. 7, article 24, pp. 1–9, 2007.
- P. K. Coleman, C. T. Coyle, M. Shuping, and V. M. Rue, “Induced abortion and anxiety, mood, and substance abuse disorders: isolating the effects of abortion in the national comorbidity survey,” Journal of Psychiatric Research, vol. 43, no. 8, pp. 770–776, 2009.
- R. D. Marshall, M. Olfson, F. Hellman, C. Blanco, M. Guardino, and E. L. Struening, “Comorbidity, impairment, and suicidality in subthreshold PTSD,” American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 158, no. 9, pp. 1467–1473, 2001.
- F. W. Weathers, J. A. Huska, and T. M. Keane, PCL-C for DSM-IV, National Center for PTSD—Behavioral Science Division, Boston, Mass, USA, 1991.
- E. W. Freeman, K. Rickels, and G. R. Huggins, “Emotional distress patterns among women having first or repeat abortions,” Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 55, no. 5, pp. 630–636, 1980.
- P. Niemela, P. Lehtinen, and L. Rauramo, “The first abortion—and the last? A study of the personality factors underlying repeated failure of contraception,” International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 193–200, 1981.
- B. A. van der Kolk and A. C. McFarlane, “The black hole of trauma,” in Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society, B. A. van der Kolk, A. C. McFarlane, and L. Weisaeth, Eds., pp. 5–23, Guilford Press, New York, NY, USA, 1995.
- A. N. Broen, T. Moum, A. S. Bödtker, and Ö. Ekeberg, “Psychological impact on women of miscarriage versus induced abortion: a 2-year follow-up study,” Psychosomatic Medicine, vol. 66, no. 2, pp. 265–271, 2004.
- Priscilla K. Coleman,1 Catherine T. Coyle,2 and Vincent M. Rue3, “Late-Term Elective Abortion and Susceptibility to Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms”, Journal of Pregnancy, vol. 2010 (2010), Article ID 130519, 10 pagesdoi:10.1155/2010/130519Research Article (1Human Development and Family Studies, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA, 2Alliance for Post-Abortion Research Training, Madison, WI 53711, USA, 3Institute for Pregnancy Loss, 3030 Hartley Road, Suite 220, Jacksonville, FL 32257, USA)
Abortion and Premature Births
- Watson LF, Rayner J, King J, Jolley D, Forster D, Lumley J. Modelling prior reproductive history to improve prediction of risk for very perterm birth. Paediatric and Perinat Epidem 2010;24: 402-415.
- Watson LF, Rayner J, King J, Jolley D, Forster D, Lumley J. Modelling sequence of prior pregnancies on subsequent risk of very preterm birth. Paediatric and Perinat Epidem 2010;24: 416-23.
- Bhattacharya S, Raja EA, Mirazo ER, Campbell DM, Lee AJ, Norman JE, Bhattacharya S. Inherited predisposition to spontaneous preterm delivery. Obstet & Gynecol 2010;115(6): 1124-133.
- Voigt M, Henrick W, Zygmunt M, Friese K, Straube S, Briese V. Is induced abortion a risk factor in subsequent pregnancy? J Perinat Med 2009;37: 144-149.
- Yuan W, Duffner AM, Chen L, Hunt LP, Sellers SM, Bernal AL. Analysis of preterm deliveries below 35 weeks’ gestation in a tertiary referral hospital in the UK: A case-control study. BioMed Central 2010;3:119-28.
- Grote NK, Bridge JA, Gavin AR, Melville JL, Iyengar S, Katon WJ. A meta-analysis of depression during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010;67(10): 1012-1024
- Anum EA, Brown HL, Strauss JF. Health disparities in risk for cervical insufficiency. Human Repro 2010 open access. Oxford University Press. Doi:10.1093. vol.0, no. 0 pp 1-7, 2010.
- Reime B, Schuecking BA, Wenzlaff P. Reproductive Outcomes in Adolescents Who Had a Previous Birth or an Induced Abortion Compared to Adolescents’ First Pregnancies. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2008;8:4.
- Freak-Poli R, Chan A, Gaeme J, Street J. Previous abortion and risk of preterm birth: a population study. J Maternal-Fetal Med Jan. 2009;22(1):1-7
- Shah PS, Zao J. Induced termination of pregnancy and low birthweight and preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG 2009;116:1425-1442.
Statistically Significant VPB (Very Preterm Birth) and/or AVLBW (Very Low Birth Weight)
- +Voigt M, Olbertz D, Fusch C, Krafczyk D. Briese V, Schneider KT. The influence of previous pregnancy terminations, miscarriages, and still-birth on the incidence of babies with low birth weight and premature births as well as somatic classification of newborns. Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2008;212:5-12
- Smith GCS, Shah I, White IR, Pell JP, Crossley JA, Dobbie R. Maternal and biochemical predictors of spontaneous preterm birth among nulliparous women: a systematic analysis in relation to degree of prematurity. International J Epidemiology 2006;35(5): 1169-1177
- Stang P, Hammond AO, Bauman P. Induced Abortion Increases the Risk of Very Preterm Delivery; Results from a Large Perinatal Database. Fertility Sterility. Sept 2005;S159 [Study only published as an abstract]
- +Moreau C, Kaminski M, Ancel PY, Bouyer J, et al. Previous induced abortions and the risk of very preterm delivery: results of the EPIPAGE study. British J Obstetrics Gynaecology 2005;112(4): 430-437 [abstract online: www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00478.x/abs/ ]
- Ancel PY, Lelong N, Papiernik E, Saurel-Cubizolles MJ, Kaminski M. History of induced abortion as a risk factor for preterm birth in European countries: results of EUROPOP survey. Human Reprod 2004;19(3):734-740.
- +Ancel PY, Saurel-Cubizolles M-J, Renzo GCD, Papiernik E, Breart G. Very and moderate preterm births: are the risk factors different? British J Obstetrics Gynaecology 1999;106:1162-1170.
- + Zhou W, Sorenson HT, Olsen J. Induced Abortion and Subsequent Pregnancy Duration. Obstetrics & Gynecology 1999;94:948-953.
- +Martius JA, Steck T, Oehler MK, Wulf K-H. Risk factors associated with preterm (<37+0 weeks) and early preterm (<32+0 weeks): univariate and multi-variate analysis of 106 345 singleton births from 1994 statewide perinatal survey of Bavaria. European J Obstetrics Gynecology Reproductive Biology 1998;80:183-189.
- + Lumley J. The association between prior spontaneous abortion, prior induced abortion and preterm birth in first singleton births. Prenat Neonat Med 1998;3:21-24.
- +Algert C, Roberts C, Adelson P, Frammer M. Low birth weight in New South Wales, 1987: a Population-Based Study. Aust New Zealand J Obstet Gynaecol 1993;33:243-248
- +*Zhang J, Savitz DA. Preterm Birth Subtypes among Blacks and Whites. Epidemiology 1992;3:428-433.
- +Mueller-Heubach E, Guzick DS. Evaluation of risk scoring in a preterm birth prevention study of indigent patients. Amer J Obstetrics & Gynecol 1989;160:829-837.
- +Lumley J. Very low birth-weight (less than 1500g) and previous induced abortion: Victoria 1982-1983. Aust NZ J Obstet Gynecol 1986;26:268-272.
- +Levin A, Schoenbaum S, Monson R, Stubblefield P, Ryan K. Association of Abortion With Subsequent Pregnancy Loss. JAMA 1980;243(24):2495-2499
- Van Der Slikke JW, Treffers PE. Influence of induced abortion on gestational duration in subsequent pregnancies. BMJ 1978; 1:270-272 [>95% confident of preterm risk for gestation less than 32.0 weeks].
* studies that included spontaneous and induced abortions but did not report PTB/LBW risk separately for each
+ studies that found dose/response (the more SIAs, the higher the risk)
!! Significant VPB (Very Preterm Birth) and/or AVLBW (Very Low Birth Weight)
For further information: Brent Rooney (MSc), Research Director, Reduce Preterm Risk Coalition 3456 Dunbar St. (Suite 146) Vancouver, Canada V6S 2C2. Email: fullterm40@gmail.com or web: http://www.jpands.org/vol13no4/rooney.pdf
Click here for 122 Studies from 1960s to Present: Relationship Between Abortion and Premature Births
Internet Sites For Additional Data and Research
- American Association of Pro Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (www.AAPLOG.org)
- The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer (www.abortionbreastcancer.com/The_Link.htm)
- The Alliance for Post-Abortion Research and Training (www.Standapart.org)
Sex and Public Health
- McCurdy SA. Willingness to provide behavioral health recommendations: A cross-sectional study of entering medical students. BMC Medical Education; 12(1):28