9th December 2011: The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has published the world's largest, most comprehensive and systematic review of induced abortion and women’s mental health. The review studied the findings of the highest quality research available on this subject over the last 21 years.
Tracey McNeill, Vice President and Director UK and Europe at Marie Stopes International says, "we welcome the findings of this review. It reinforces our belief – based on all previous evidence and our experience treating 66,000 women a year – that having an abortion has no greater effect on a woman’s mental health than continuing with the pregnancy.
In our experience, for every extra week a woman carries an unwanted pregnancy, it can represent an extra week of distress. This is reinforced by the review’s finding that while abortion does not have a disproportionate impact on mental health, having an unwanted pregnancy does. This coincides with our strong belief that all women should be able to access non-directive counselling, and be able to exercise their right to be referred for an abortion without delay, if this is the option they have chosen.
Marie Stopes International endorses the Steering Group’s recommendation that future practice and research on abortion should focus on supporting all women who have an unwanted pregnancy."
For media enquiries, spokesperson interviews, and images please contact:
Email: press@mariestopes.org.uk
Telephone: 020 3219 8005 / 020 3219 8006 / 020 3219 8010
07769 166 516 out of hours