New Info on Abortion & Women's Brains

In a September 20th issue of Public Discourse, Professors Evelyn Birge Vitz and Paul Vitz wrote an article titled Women, Abortion and the Brain. This article is a result of teaching a course where considerable time was spent in discussing women's stories about there abortions, mostly found on a pro-abortion website. Their comments are heartbreaking. Many of these women are in deep pain, even years after their abortions. They are unable to to cope and continue grieving.

Most of the women who have strong reactions were not opposed to abortion and many were actively pro-abortion. They were "blind-sided" by their own strong reaction. "One woman lamented - and thousands of others echo her anguish - "If this was the right decision, why do I feel so terrible?"

After viewing the website and listening to women discussing their abortions, the authors began to think, "It seems likely that the brain itself - in particular, the nature of women's brains - may shed some particularly useful light on this unexpected negative emotional reaction." The authors continue looking at research into women's and men's brains, especially the differences related to emotion, stress and memory. "Women experience emotions largely in relation to other people: what moves women most is relationships. Females are more personal and interpersonal than men."

The authors conclude that "though a woman can decide rationally to have an abortion...a terrible and shocking reaction sets in after their abortion. Often what lasts is not the relief or the power of the logical arguments: these may prove very short-lived. It is, rather, the failed, betrayed relationship between the woman and her fetus - now, in her mind, her dead baby - that has staying power."

The authors call for a greater honesty from the medical profession toward women contemplating abortion to "prevent at least some women from having to experience this painful surprise. Women need to be told the truth. They need to be prepared for what may be the consequences of this major life decision. This is what informed choice means."

It's about time that society realizes that abortion hurts women in ways we are only now realizing. Even adamant pro-abortion women, after their abortions, find themselves dealing with emotions they cannot explain. Perhaps much of the dysfunction in our families and society revolve around a refusal of the medical profession to acknowledge that abortion has emotional and biological consequences that impact women and prevents their healing.