Numerous studies have concluded that there is no impaired fertility after elective pregnancy termination. Furthermore, women who have undergone abortions are no more prone to have miscarriages in subsequent pregnancies than are women who have never had abortions. There are a wide range of responses, and they vary considerably from woman to woman. Grief is a very common experience. For many women the grief over a pregnancy termination is worse because of the relative secrecy surrounding the issue.
Guilt is also a common emotion following an abortion.
They may feel that they won't be able to have children when they are ready to. This guilt is a normal process that many women have reported. Each woman experiences the grief process differently, so it's difficult to set a time limit as to when these feelings should begin to subside. In general, if her grief or guilt begin to interfere with her normal daily functions, she should consider asking for help. For example, if she finds herself repeatedly waking up early in the morning, if she finds it difficult to sleep, or if she has a moderate to severe loss of appetite, she should call me to discuss whether or not she should be seen for initial counseling.