Woman writes to online advice column over abortion regret: 'I have destroyed a life'

A woman recently wrote to an online advice column, expressing the regret she felt following an abortion. Her experience is a reminder that many women experience real abortion regret, despite the abortion industry's attempts to portray the killing of preborn children as routine healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

• A woman wrote into an online advice column and expressed regret for her abortion.

• The woman described aborting to please her boyfriend, but said, "I have destroyed a life."

• Her experience is not uncommon; many women have expressed abortion regret or trauma.

• There is hope and healing available for women experiencing abortion regret or trauma.

The Details:

In a letter published last week in The Jamaica Star, an 18-year-old woman writes in to a columnist described as "the pastor," depicting an all-too-common situation — after moving in with her 30-year-old boyfriend, the young woman discovered she was pregnant. Her boyfriend, who already had two children with another woman, urged her to have an abortion. She did so to keep him happy — and now regrets it.

"Now I see myself as a murderer because I have destroyed a life," she wrote. "Every day I think about what the child I lost would have become."

The woman also said, "Every day I cry over what I have done." Her experience — and her feelings — are not uncommon.

Why It Matters:

The abortion industry commonly portrays abortion as part of routine healthcare, but women seldom experience trauma and intense regret after everyday healthcare procedures. Women do experience complex emotions, sometimes including regret, after abortion, because it is the taking of an innocent human life. However, for a number of women, relief is the immediate emotion; regret may surface later — sometimes even years later.

Multiple studies have shown that abortion significantly increases mental health risks. Potential consequences include depression, anxiety (including anxiety experienced during subsequent pregnancies), and substance abuse. Abortion-related trauma can also interfere with interpersonal relationships.

Countless post-abortive women have shared their personal experiences of abortion regret and trauma. The website Silent No More Awareness contains over 3,000 personal testimonies. Live Action's campaign, Can't Stay Silent, also details numerous instances of abortion regret, trauma, and healing.

The Bottom Line:

There is hope and healing for post-abortive women who are experiencing abortion regret. Live Action has a webpage dedicated to helping women find such help, with resources pointing to Rachel's Vineyard, the VIS Center, and the National Helpline for Abortion Recovery. Other similar programs are available through local churches and pregnancy resource centers.

Abortion regret is real, but healing is possible.