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Post Abortion Counseling is vital and often overlooked

Posted: Aug 12, 2021
Post Abortion Counseling is a vital component of abortion care, however it is often overlooked in the process. It includes reproductive health, mental health and counselling to discuss contraceptive options. Despite popular opinion most women do not feel negative emotions after an abortion, however it is still important for them to seek counselling to fully unpack their emotions and plan for their future according to their own needs and desires.
Mental and Emotional wellbeing
The most important aspect of post abortion care is mental and emotional wellbeing. It is often assumed that women will face negative emotions such as guilt and grief after an abortion. While this is true in some cases, the majority of people who have had an abortion experience positive emotions and feel that the decision is good for their life. It’s important to note that most people face a myriad of emotions at one time, these might be both negative and positive. Managing and understanding these multiple feelings can be complex and overwhelming for some folks. Moreover the absence of expected negative feelings can be confusing for some people and lead to further guilt. There is no ‘reason’ or justification on why a person requires counselling.
A person’s post abortion reaction is often tied to other factors, the most significant one being the person’s agency in making the decision. There are times when people feel pressured into the decision of getting an abortion due to the people around them, restrictive legislation etc. There are also cases in which a termination takes place under circumstances that can cause trauma such as sexual assault, stigma or an unintended pregnancy. In the aforementioned situations there is a higher chance that a person might be feeling negative emotions and require post abortion counseling from a trained professional.
It is important to reiterate that anyone can need post abortion counseling on their mental health and wellbeing regardless of their unique situation; and that is okay. If they require counselling they should be able to access affordable, high quality and non judgmental services. Usually counsellors are trained to approach these sessions with high levels of empathy and sensitivity.
Reproductive Health
Sexual and reproductive health is the other facet of post abortion counseling. It includes ensuring that the person who has gone through the termination does not face any complications. A safe abortion (whether surgical or with pills) has little to no bearing on a person’s future fertility and should not lead to any long term consequences on health. However there are rare cases where there is a complication. Signs of a complication include excessive bleeding beyond 2 days, long durations or pain, fever, backache, nausea and dizziness. If any of these symptoms persist and the termination was not completed, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible.
In order to address and plan for the person’s future needs they should speak with a doctor, a trained counsellor or a health worker about their preferred contraceptive options. This is vital as it can allow the person to make decisions about if and whether they want to have children in the future, how many and when. If the person who has terminated wants to get pregnant soon, a medical professional can also guide them on the recommended time frame (taking into account medical history). Choosing the right contraceptive option will depend on a myriad of factors including long term or short term contraceptives, local availability, cost etc. For more information on contraception you can visit findmymethod.org
Post abortion counseling is extremely poignant and can play a significant role in supporting someone who has had an abortion. The first component is on the mental health of the person and supporting them in the post abortion period with their feelings, emotions and emotional wellbeing. The second component focused on reproductive health ensures that the abortion has no complications and supports people in making decisions about their future fertility in planning and finding the right contraception method for them.
About the Author
Michell Mor is a Communicologist dedicated to digital marketing, who from time to time likes to reflect on feminism, society, culture and more.
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