Is abortion good or bad for women's lives?

Besides important moral and legal considerations, we have the answer from numerous scientific studies. They show that women who have had an abortion have relatively difficult lives, while women who have given birth have relatively easier and happier lives. Conclusion? Getting an abortion is not good for a woman’s future health and well-being.

However, there's an important missing piece.

In “The Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having—or Being Denied—an Abortion”, author Diana Greene Foster points out:

1. Women who choose to give birth are generally in favorable life circumstances and are ready to do so. They are already relatively healthy and happy.
2. Women who think about abortion are not ready to bear another child (most already have children). Many are facing financial hardship, strained partner relationships, job insecurity, family responsibilities, school constraints or other challenges. Most of the time, its multiple challenges.

So “The Turnaway Study” researched women who wanted to get an abortion and compared those who got one to those who didn’t. They found that women who got an abortion ended up with better physical health, mental health, employment, financial security, partner relationships, ability to achieve aspirational plans, and ability to care for existing children and additional children from subsequent planned pregnancies.

On the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, shouldn’t this information appear more in the ongoing debate on abortion rights?

“Have you heard?” is our way of sharing another point of view on commonly held beliefs. Through this we hope to encourage curiosity, dialogue, and tolerance of diverse ideas.