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Facts Are Important: Identifying and Combating Abortion Myths and Misinformation

Facts are important, especially concerning myths and misinformation that can cloud the truth about abortion care. Misinformation is often intentionally and deliberately used to confuse or stigmatize people seeking abortion care or wanting to learn more about abortion—and even dissuade people from considering abortion when making plans for their reproductive health care.

The evidence-based information below will answer questions you may have about abortion and help you recognize and refute misinformation you may encounter in the media or in conversations with family and friends. To learn more about addressing false claims and answering tough questions, visit our Abortion Is Essential resource page for more information on how to talk about abortion.

Question Answer

How does abortion affect mental health?

Being denied a wanted abortion leads to more anxiety than receiving an abortion. A study of women who sought an abortion found that short-term stress levels were highest for those who were refused treatment and proceeded to parent.

Do people who have an abortion regret their decision later?

Over 95% of women surveyed five years after having an abortion reported that it was the right decision for them. Only you and your chosen health care professional can make the decision that’s right for you, your health, and your life.

What are the risks of having an abortion?

Abortion is a safe medical intervention. The majority of abortions are performed in outpatient nonhospital settings, and complications from abortions are extremely rare: only about 2% of women who undergo abortion experience a complication associated with the abortion. On the rare occasion that a complication does occur, most complications are minor and easily treatable with follow-up procedures or antibiotics.

Is it possible to reverse medication abortion?

There is no scientific evidence or data to prove that medication abortion “reversal” is effective. Medication abortion “reversal” procedures could be dangerous.

Does emergency contraception cause abortion?

No. Emergency contraception is used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected or inadequately protected sex. Because it does not end a pregnancy, emergency contraception is unrelated to abortion care.

Is it possible to get pregnant after having an abortion?

Yes. Evidence has shown that abortion is not associated with a higher risk of infertility, and people can get pregnant immediately after having an abortion.

Are people who have gotten an abortion more likely to get breast cancer?

No. Abortion does not cause breast cancer. Evidence has shown that there is no causal link between breast cancer and abortion.

 

References

  1. Kurtzman, Laura. “Five Years After Abortion, Nearly All Women Say It Was the Right Decision, Study Finds.” University of California San Francisco. January 13, 2020. Available at https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/01/416421/five-years-after-abortion-nearly-all-women-say-it-was-right-decision-study
  2. “Abortion Risks.” National Health Service (UK). Last reviewed April 24, 2020. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/abortion/risks/
  3. “Induced Abortion and Breast Cancer Risk.” Committee Opinion No. 434 (June 2009, reaffirmed 2021), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Available at https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2009/06/induced-abortion-and-breast-cancer-risk
  4. “Facts Are Important: Medication Abortion ‘Reversal’ Is Not Supported by Science.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Available at https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important/medication-abortion-reversal-is-not-supported-by-science
  5. “Emergency Contraception.” Practice Bulletin No. 152 (September 2015, reaffirmed 2022), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Available at https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2015/09/emergency-contraception
  6. Vayssièrre, C., Adrien Gaudineau, Luisa Attali, Karima Bettahar, Sophie Eyraud, Philippe Faucher, Patrick Fournet, et al. “Elective abortion: Clinical practice guidelines from the French College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF).” European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology no. 222 (March 2018): 95–101. Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.01.017
  7. “Turnaway Study: Mental health outcomes.” Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health. July 2018. Available at: https://www.ansirh.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/mental_health_issue_brief_7-24-2018.pdf
  8. Sajadi-Ernazarova, Karima R., and Christopher L. Martinez. “Abortion Complications.” StatPearls. Last updated May 23, 2022. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430793/
  9. Creinin, Mitchell D. “Mifepristone Antagonization With Progesterone to Prevent Medical Abortion,” Obstetrics & Gynecology vol. 135, 158-165 (Jan. 2020). Available at https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2020&issue=01000&article=00021&type=Fulltext
  10. Beral, Valerie; Diana Bull; Richard Doll; Richard Peto; Gillian Reeves; Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. “Breast Cancer and Abortion: Collaborative Reanalysis of Data from 53 Epidemiological Studies, Including 83,000 Women with Breast Cancer from 16 Countries.” Lancet. 2004 Mar 27;363(9414):1007-16. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15051280/