How Abortion Affects Men

Men can experience the same feelings of grief and loss that a woman can after an abortion but are more likely to deny and suppress these feelings. Post-abortion grief can manifest in a variety of ways.

 

Symptoms:

  • Anger

  • Depression

  • Objectifying women

  • Guilt

  • Fear of failures in work, school, competition, as a father or partner, etc.

  • Feelings of hopelessness

  • Confusion

  • More…

 Behaviours:

  • Risk-taking

  • Promiscuity/ affairs

  • Isolation

  • Drive to succeed

  • Substance abuse

  • Lack of intimacy

  • Defensiveness on the topic of abortion

  • More…

 What role did I play?

Men may also experience complicated emotions depending on their stance and involvement with the abortion procedure. Read below for some possible scenarios.

 

1. Did he encourage his partner to consider abortion?

2. Did he pressure her to have an abortion?

3. Did he become distant, leaving her to make the decision alone?

4. Did he oppose the abortion, but was unsuccessful?

5. Did he only learn about the abortion after the fact?

6. Is he married to a woman who has had an abortion in her past?