Women not misled on abortion trauma

SO Alison McCulloch (Letters, November 17) believes there is no connection between abortion and suicide risk.

A 1987 study by David Reardon, entitled ‘A Survey of Psychological Reactions’, found that of the women who suffered from post-abortion trauma, 60% had suicidal tendencies and 28% had attempted suicide.

According to a 13-year Finnish study published in the European Journal of Public Health in 2005, women who have an abortion have a 248% greater risk of suicide in the following year than those who do not.

They also have a suicide rate which is six times higher than for women who had given birth in the previous year.

Agencies which bring these facts to the attention of women in crisis pregnancy situations are neither “misleading” them nor forcing them to “bear children against their will”.

A woman in that situation should be aware of all the factors involved, including the likely effects on her psychological wellbeing should she choose to have an abortion.

As for Ms McCulloch’s disingenuous description of pro-choicers not necessarily being pro-abortion... of course nobody is pro-abortion per se, but she well knows that “pro-abortion” is shorthand for pro-abortion rights.

Ms McCulloch obviously favours abortion rights, and so by definition is pro-abortion.

Why hide it?

Finally, she states that pro-choicers “simply want women to have the choice as to when and whether they have children”.

It may come as something of a relief to Ms McCulloch, but I know of nobody who would argue with this.

James McGrath

Birchgrove

Hollyford

Co Tipperary