Teen Vogue has gift guide for post-abortive teens, but here’s what they really need

Teen Vogue is no stranger to promoting abortion to its young audience, and they’re doing it again. This time, it’s a disturbing feature on gifts to give a friend who has just had an abortion. Written by Whitney Bell, the post says that post-abortive teenagers will need a friend to be there for them — not because abortion is bad, but because the rest of the world is.

“So your friend is about to have an abortion,” Bell wrote. “Of course you want to be there for her, but you don’t know how. Look, making this decision is never simple, and having to make it as a teenager is more than a little terrifying. But it shouldn’t have to be so scary. The worst part of all this isn’t the procedure itself (which by the way is completely safe as long as you have access to a good clinic). The worst part is how you’re treated afterwards.”

Right off the bat, this contains a falsehood. Most women may not be victims of botched abortions, but the reality is that abortion carries with it substantial risks. This includes increased risks of breast, ovarian, liver, and cervical cancers; endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease; and mental health disorders. But as is usual with pro-abortion advocates, all of that is swept underneath the rug.

“Abortion is something that many women feel like they can’t talk about, even amongst themselves, which creates a false stigma. The more we hide something, the more confusing it becomes,” Bell continued. “But she shouldn’t have to feel ashamed, because she made the right choice for her situation. She is not ready to carry a pregnancy to term — and that’s OK.

“She will need a ride, she will need a hug, and she will need you — not because the act itself is so terrible, but because sometimes the world can be.”

And with that, Bell went into her list of gifts to help a friend who has had an abortion. The list included suggestions like a chick flick, poetry, an “angry uterus” heating pad, an “F-Uterus” pin, a sign-up sheet to be an abortion clinic escort, “We Won’t Go Back” needlepoint, and chocolate.

While a heating pad and a chick flick may help in the immediate aftermath of the abortion, the reality is, most post-abortive women need much more than saucy pins and chocolate to heal. The pro-abortion lobby is not likely to ever acknowledge it, but psychological trauma after an abortion is real. And yet Bell doesn’t even take a sentence to tell her readers that their post-abortive friends might be grappling with some serious psychological issues that will need professional help.

29 out of 30 studies have found that women are at higher risk of mental health disorders after an abortion, including depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, and drug and alcohol abuse. Yet the abortion industry denies that what these women experience is real, instead citing a debunked study that says 95% of women don’t regret their abortions. It’s true that women who undergo an abortion need our help and compassion, but they need things that will actually help them heal — like proper follow-up care, counseling, and group support. Telling a post-abortive woman that all she needs is an “F-Uterus” pin and to go be an abortion clinic escort is hardly helping her.

Moreover, the teens in our lives need people willing to not just help them heal from an abortion they already chose, but people who are willing to have the hard discussions and help teens make a choice for life so they don’t have to suffer from the lifelong effects of abortion. As Barka shares on Teen Breaks, “Before you make a decision, think about whether it is worth the pain of only 9 month or the pain of a lifetime.” Embrace Grace and Teen Mother Choices International are two groups who demonstrate how to come alongside teens who are pregnant.

This is not the first time — nor will it likely be the last — that Teen Vogue promotes abortion. Last year, the magazine promoted Planned Parenthood President and CEO Cecile Richards as a feminist role model. The magazine portrayed abortion clinic escorts as heroes, while acting like pro-lifers are hysterical, violent bullies. Teen Vogue has also promoted late-term abortion, and one of their writers has been a recipient of Planned Parenthood’s “Maggie” award.

Perhaps the worst part of all of this is that Teen Vogue is a magazine that targets young girls. Their demographic is, as the title indicates, teenagers. And yet they are pushing this pro-abortion extremism, despite their young readers. The insane thing is that there hasn’t been more of a backlash.

How many parents are OK with their daughters being subjected to this kind of indoctrination?

Editor’s Note: For more real-life stories on how teens are affected by abortion, visit Teen Breaks. If you are in a position to help a teenage girl who is pregnant, see Clinic Quotes, 10 Reasons Not to Have an Abortion, Abortion Procedures, and What to Do if Your Boyfriend (or Anyone) is Pressuring You to Have an Abortion. Teen girls can also check out Stand Up Girl and Option Line or Pregnancy Line to find local resources, help, and trained people to talk to in their area. If you’ve begun an abortion and are regretting your decision, the 24-hour, nurse-staffed hotline at Abortion Pill Reversal may be able to give you information on reversing your abortion. Teen guys involved in a pregnancy situation can check out Abortion and Men and Abortion Exploits Women.