What I’m Reading: The Turnaway Study
In “The Turnaway Study: Ten Years, A Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having - or Being Denied - an Abortion” Diana Greene Foster shares the findings of a ten-year research study about abortion. Questions the study sought to answer included, “Why do people seek out abortions?” and “What are the impacts (positive or negative) of receiving or being denied a wanted abortion?”
Common reasons people seek out an abortion:
I don’t want to be a parent - yet
I don’t want to be a parent - ever
I don’t want to be a parent with this partner (who’s abusive)
I want to be able to focus on my current child/children
I can’t afford a(nother) child right now
This pregnancy is medically dangerous
Main findings regarding outcomes of receiving or being denied a wanted abortion:
Receiving an abortion that you want does not inherently harm the pregnant person. (Societal stigma and the circumstances which prompted the person to seek an abortion might, though.)
Being denied a wanted abortion statistically results in worse financial, health and family outcomes.
Abortions are a very safe medical procedure, far safer than childbirth or than having your wisdom teeth removed
Most people don’t regret their abortions. In fact, the most common feeling after an abortion is relief.
I appreciated Foster’s straightforward and readable writing style, and her blend of quantitative data and fleshed-out stories of individuals. The book is very readable and informative.
How abortion shows up in therapy
Abortion is a very common experience. An estimated 1 in 4 people who can get pregnant will have one or more abortions in their life, and many of the people I work with have had or will have abortions.
People who’ve had or will have abortions come to therapy for many reasons:
Processing complicated feelings about the abortion(s)
Deciding what to do about an unplanned pregnancy
Processing lingering internalized stigma or shame about the abortion(s)
All the other non-abortion reasons that people seek therapy.
Some of my values related to abortion in therapy include:
Autonomy and self-agency - I respect that you (the client) will know what’s best for you. I can help you clarify your values and desires, but I won’t push you to make any particular decision as it relates to family planning.
Privacy - I don’t report past or planned abortions. I’m not mandated to, nor would I want to.
If you’ve had an abortion, are considering one, please know that you’re not alone, you’re not a bad person and you have not ruined your life.
Whether you’re looking to process your abortion experiences or just need a space where you don’t have to dance around the topic, you’re welcome here. If you’re looking for a therapist who supports your autonomy and holds space for all the nuances without judgement, I’d be honored to work with you. Reach out to schedule a free consultation.
If you’re not looking for therapy right now but want support, here are a few free resources:
(Please use a VPN or encrypted browser when accessing abortion resources.)
All-Options Talkline – Compassionate, judgment-free support for people in all parts of their reproductive journeys: https://www.all-options.org/find-support/talkline/
Exhale Pro-Voice Textline – Emotional support after abortion, via text: https://exhaleprovoice.org/
INeedAnA.com – A helpful tool for finding abortion providers by zip code: https://www.ineedana.com/
You deserve support that respects your choices—whatever they are.
Source: https://www.ansirh.org/research/ongoing/turnaway-study
