AFTER AN ABORTION
It is wise to offer a post-abortion appointment to check physical and emotional wellbeing and confirm the contraceptive method. Most women will have adjusted well, but about 3% may have emotional problems sufficient to interfere with their lives (Dagg, 1991). These may manifest themselves as depression, anxiety, lack of sleep or psychosexual difficulties: they can be immediate or harboured for years (Conway, Bolt, Cooper et al., 1989). Sometimes the emotional pain can manifest itself as physical pain, resulting in numerous investigations. The fact that some women experience post-abortion difficulties is sometimes used by anti-abortionists as fuel against a liberal abortion law, but the possible emotional trauma of having an unwanted child must be borne in mind (Kaltreider et al., 1979). Sometimes the patient may find it difficult to discuss her feelings after an abortion. She may feel that as she was responsible for this course of action, she should expect no better. Friends and relatives may feel it is something over and done with and therefore not to be discussed. The patient may find her postabortion check-up a valuable time to discuss her grief and sense of loss.
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