After an abortion women and men can face a variety of emotional respoonses, some experience this soon after the abortion but most who have a negative emotional response from their abortion experience it  5-30 years after the abortion procedure.  There has been much debate over the validation of negative post abortion emotions.  After a recent study the American Psychological Association's Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion stated:

...abortion encompases a diversity of experiences...[which] may lead to variability in women's psychological reations following abortion...Nonetheless, it is clear that some women do experience saddness, grief, and feelings of loss following termination of a pregnancy... Even [if further rigerous research is conducted], there is unlikely to be a single definitive research study that will determine the mental health implication of abortion "once and for all" given the complexity of women and their circumstances.¹

This study finds that there is no one catch-all statement about women's abortion experiences.  This affirms each woman's emotional experience after an abortion can vary, is complex, and is valid.

We have a quick quiz to help people determine if you may be experiencing Post-Abortion Emotions

HOPE Program (Healing of Post-abortion Emotions)

Rachel's Vineyard Retreats

For Men Only: Post-abortion

Sources

1. APA Task Froce on Mental Health and Abortion. (2008). Report of the APA task Force on Menatal Health and Abortion. Washingron, DC: Author.