Myths about abortion and women's mental health are widespread, experts say

kAmQ%96C6VD D@ >F49 >:D:?7@C>2E:@?[ D@ >2?J >JE9D 23@FE 23@CE:@?] p3@CE:@? H:== =625 E@ DF3DE2?46 23FD6[ 56AC6DD:@?[ DF:4:52= E9@F89EDj 23@CE:@? :D 325 7@C J@FC 962=E9j 6G6CJ H@>2? :D 8@:?8 E@ C68C6E :E[Q D2:5 D@4:2= ADJ49@=@8:DE qC6?52 |2;@C[ 2 5:DE:?8F:D965 AC@76DD@C 6>6C:EFD :? E96 56A2CE>6?E @7 ADJ49@=@8:42= 2?5 3C2:? D4:6?46D 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r2=:7@C?:2[ $2?E2 q2C32C2]k^Am

kAmx? C62=:EJ[ 564256D @7 C6D62C49 92D D9@H? QE96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @7 H@>6? 766= E96J >256 E96 C:89E 49@:46[ 2?5 E96J 5@?VE 6IA6C:6?46 C68C6E[Q D2:5 |2;@C[ H9@ =65 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A2]@C8^A:^H@>6?^AC@8C2>D^23@CE:@?^>6?E2=\962=E9]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qma__g p>6C:42? !DJ49@=@8:42= pDD@4:2E:@? E2D< 7@C46k^2m 6IA=@C:?8 E96 D4:6?46 @? 23@CE:@? 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9]k^Am

kAm(@>6? H9@ 925 2? 23@CE:@? :? E96 7:CDE EC:>6DE6C H6C6 ?@ >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 92G6 >6?E2= 962=E9 AC@3=6>D E92? H@>6? H9@ 4@?E:?F65 H:E9 2? F?A=2??65 AC68?2?4J[ E96 p!p C6G:6H 4@?4=F565]k^Am

kAmp =2C86[ =@?8\E6C> DEF5J[ 42==65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2?D:C9]@C8^C6D62C49^@?8@:?8^EFC?2H2J\DEF5JQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%96 %FC?2H2J $EF5Jk^2m[ 7@==@H65 E96 >6?E2= 962=E9 @7 ?62C=J `[___ H@>6? :? a` DE2E6D H9@ H2?E65 2?5 C646:G65 2? 23@CE:@? 2?5 H@>6? H9@ H2?E65 3FE H6C6 56?:65 2? 23@CE:@? 36EH66? a__g 2?5 a_`_]k^Am

kAm%96 H@>6? H6C6 :?E6CG:6H65 6G6CJ D:I >@?E9D @G6C E96 ?6IE 7:G6 J62CD] pE E96 6?5 @7 E92E E:>6[ hhT @7 E96 H@>6? H9@ 925 2? 23@CE:@? 36=:6G65 E96J 925 >256 E96 C:89E 564:D:@? \\ :? 724E C6=:67 H2D E96 AC@>:?6?E 6>@E:@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D4:6?465:C64E]4@>^D4:6?46^2CE:4=6^A::^$_affhdbe`hb_ehhhnG:2Tbs:9F3Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@?6 2?2=JD:D ?@E65k^2m]k^Am

kAm(@>6? H9@ C646:G65 2? 23@CE:@? 925 D:>:=2C @C =@H6C =6G6=D @7 56AC6DD:@? 2?5 2?I:6EJ E92? H@>6? 56?:65 2? 23@CE:@? 2?5 H6C6 ?@ >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 6IA6C:6?46 A@DE\EC2F>2E:4 DEC6DD E92? H@>6? H9@ 42CC:65 E96:C 323J E@ E6C>[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2?D:C9]@C8^D:E6D^5672F=E^7:=6D^AF3=:42E:@?D^7:=6D^>6?E2=0962=E90:DDF603C:670f\ac\a_`g]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm244@C5:?8 E@ DEF5J C6DF=EDk^2m]k^Am

kAm%96 C6D62C49 2=D@ 7@F?5 ?@ 5:776C6?46 :? >6?E2= 962=E9 @FE4@>6D 36EH66? 2 7:CDE EC:>6DE6C 23@CE:@? 2?5 92G:?8 2? 23@CE:@? =2E6C :? E96 AC68?2?4J]k^Am

k9bm$@FC46D @7 >:D:?7@C>2E:@?k^9bm

kAmp3@CE:@? >:D:?7@C>2E:@? >:89E 4@>6 7C@> 7C:6?5D @C 72>:=J[ 2? 2CE:4=6 @C DEF5J C625 @?=:?6[ @C 5FC:?8 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8FEE>2496C]@C8^DE2E6\A@=:4J^6IA=@C6^4@F?D6=:?8\2?5\H2:E:?8\A6C:@5D\23@CE:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm>2?52E65 AC6\23@CE:@? 4@F?D6=:?8 D6DD:@?k^2m D@>6 DE2E6D AFE :?E@ A=246 5FC:?8 E96 #@6 G] (256 6C2[ 6IA6CED E@=5 r}}]k^Am

kAm~7 E96 bb DE2E6D E92E 92G6 C6BF:C65 A2E:6?ED C646:G6 4@F?D6=:?8 367@C6 2? 23@CE:@?[ 6:89E C@FE:?6=J :?4=F565 E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C ?682E:G6 ADJ49@=@8:42= C6DA@?D6D 2D A2CE @7 E96 4@?G6CD2E:@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8FEE>2496C]@C8^DE2E6\A@=:4J^6IA=@C6^4@F?D6=:?8\2?5\H2:E:?8\A6C:@5D\23@CE:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm244@C5:?8 E@ E96 vFEE>2496C x?DE:EFE6k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E C6D62C49 2?5 A@=:4J @C82?:K2E:@? E92E 7@4FD6D @? D6IF2= 2?5 C6AC@5F4E:G6 C:89ED H@C=5H:56]k^Am

kAmQ%96C6 H6C6 DE2E6D :? H9:49 H@>6? H6C6 E@=5 E92E 3642FD6 E96JVC6 92G:?8 2? 23@CE:@?[ E96JVC6 2E :?4C62D65 C:D< 7@C 56AC6DD:@?[ DF:4:52= :562E:@?[ A@DE EC2F>2E:4 DEC6DD 5:D@C56C 2?5 >@C6[Q D2:5 yF=:2 $E6:?36C8[ 2? 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C @7 72>:=J D4:6?46 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |2CJ=2?5VD $49@@= @7 !F3=:4 w62=E9]k^Am

kAmQp3@CE:@? 5@6D ?@E 42FD6 56AC6DD:@?[ :E 5@6D ?@E 42FD6 DF:4:56 W@CX DF:4:52= :562E:@?] xE 5@6D ?@E 42FD6 DF3DE2?46 FD6] xE 5@6D ?@E 42FD6 2?I:6EJ 5:D@C56CD[Q D2:5 $E6:?36C8[ H9@ 92D DEF5:65 E96 >6?E2= 962=E9 :>A24E @7 23@CE:@? 7@C J62CD]k^Am

kAmx? 724E[ E96 36DE AC65:4E@C @7 ?@E 72C:?8 H6== 27E6C 2? 23@CE:@? H2D 2 QAC:@C 9:DE@CJ @7 >6?E2= 962=E9 :DDF6D[Q |2;@C D2:5] Q%96 36DE AC65:4E@C @7 DF3DE2?46 FD6 27E6C 2? 23@CE:@? H2D :7 J@F H6C6 2=C625J 2 DF3DE2?46 23FD6C[ 2?5 E96 36DE AC65:4E@C @7 56AC6DD:@? 27E6C 23@CE:@? H2D :7 J@FVG6 366? 56AC6DD65 367@C6 J@F 925 @?6]Qk^Am

kAmp3@CE:@? >:D:?7@C>2E:@? 2=D@ 4@>6D 7C@> AF3=:D965 DEF5:6D :? 24256>:4 ;@FC?2=D E92E 4@?4=F56 23@CE:@? 5@6D 42FD6 >6?E2= 962=E9 AC@3=6>D[ 6IA6CED D2J]k^Am

kAmQ%96 DEF5:6D >2<6 :E =@@< =:<6 E96C6 :D 2 5632E6[ 3FE H92EVD C62==J 8@:?8 @? :D E9@D6 DEF5:6D 2C6 G6CJ A@@C=J 4@?5F4E65[Q $E6:?36C8 D2:5] Q%96J 2C6 ?@E >6E9@5@=@8:42==J C:8@C@FD[ 2?5 E96J 5@?VE 2596C6 E@ D4:6?E:7:4 AC:?4:A=6D]Qk^Am

kAm%96 a__g p!p E2D< 7@C46 AF3=:D965 2 D42E9:?8 C63F<6 @7 E96 C6D62C49 BF2=:EJ @7 >2?J DEF5:6D H9:49 7@F?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@?46C?D 27E6C 23@CE:@?] $EF5:6D @7E6? 72:=65 E@ 4@?EC@= 7@C 724E@CD DF49 2D C2A6[ D6IF2= @C A2CE?6C G:@=6?46[ @C 2 H@>2?VD 9:DE@CJ @7 AC:@C >6?E2= 5:D@C56CD @C DF3DE2?46 23FD6]k^Am

kAmQ(6 C6G:6H65 6G6CJ =68:E:>2E6 DEF5J E92E 925 6G6C 366? 5@?6 @? E9:D E@A:4[Q |2;@C D2:5] Q%96 >6E9@5@=@8:42= 7=2HD :? D@ >2?J @7 E96 DEF5:6D E92E 2C6 36:?8 4:E65 2D D9@H:?8 92C> E@ H@>6?VD >6?E2= 962=E9 2D 2 C6DF=E @7 92G:?8 2? 23@CE:@? H6C6 ;FDE 68C68:@FD]Qk^Am

kAmp =2E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^3@@<D^}qzd_fabf^RD640___`cbQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qma_`g }2E:@?2= p4256>:6D @7 $4:6?46D[ t?8:?66C:?8 2?5 |65:4:?6 C6G:6Hk^2m 2?2=JK65 DEF5:6D @? 23@CE:@?VD :>A24E @? 7FEFC6 76CE:=:EJ 2?5 AC68?2?4J @FE4@>6D[ C:D< @7 3C62DE 42?46C[ >6?E2= 962=E9 5:D@C56CD[ 2?5 AC6>2EFC6 562E9]k^Am

kAmQ|F49 @7 E96 AF3=:D965 =:E6C2EFC6 @? E96D6 E@A:4D 72:=D E@ >66E D4:6?E:7:4 DE2?52C5D 7@C C:8@C@FD[ F?3:2D65 C6D62C49[Q k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^3@@<D^}qzd_fabf^RD640___`cbQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE96 C6A@CE DE2E65k^2m[ 4@?4=F5:?8 E92E Q92G:?8 2? 23@CE:@? 5@6D ?@E :?4C62D6 2 H@>2?VD C:D< @7 D64@?52CJ :?76CE:=:EJ[ AC68?2?4J\C6=2E65 9JA6CE6?D:G6 5:D@C56CD[ 23?@C>2= A=246?E2E:@? W27E6C 2 sU2>Ajt 23@CE:@?X[ AC6E6C> 3:CE9[ 3C62DE 42?46C[ @C >6?E2= 962=E9 5:D@C56CD W56AC6DD:@?[ 2?I:6EJ[ 2?5 !%$sX]Qk^Am

kAm*6E E9:D 36=:67 E92E 23@CE:@? 92C>D H@>6?VD >6?E2= 2?5 A9JD:42= 962=E9 92D 366? FD65 E@ ;FDE:7J QH2:E:?8 A6C:@5 =2HD[ EH@\EC:A C6BF:C6>6?ED W:? H9:49 H@>6? 92G6 E@ 4@>6 324< EH:46X 2?5 E6==:?8 H@>6? :?244FC2E6 :?7@C>2E:@? 2C@F?5 >65:42E:@? 23@CE:@?[Q $E6:?36C8 D2:5]k^Am

k9bmq6:?8 56?:65 2? 23@CE:@?k^9bm

kAm%96 %FC?2H2J $EF5J 2=D@ =@@<65 2E E96 D9@CE\ 2?5 =@?8\E6C> :>A24E @7 36:?8 56?:65 2? 23@CE:@?] #6DF=ED D9@H65 H@>6? H9@ H6C6 EFC?65 2H2J H6C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 6IA6C:6?46 D:8?:7:42?E 2?I:6EJ 2?5 DEC6DD]k^Am

kAmQx? >J C6D62C49 H92E H6 7@F?5 :D E92E E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D4:6?465:C64E]4@>^D4:6?46^2CE:4=6^23D^A::^$__`_fgaca_b_``b)RPQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm492==6?86D @7 86EE:?8 2? 23@CE:@?k^2m \\ 7:?5:?8 2 A=246[ EC2G6=:?8[ 92G:?8 E@ 5:D4=@D6 J@FC 23@CE:@? E@ D@>6@?6 J@F H@F=5 92G6 AC676CC65 ?@E E@ \\ :?4C62D65 DJ>AE@>D @7 56AC6DD:@?[ 2?I:6EJ 2?5 DEC6DD[Q D2:5 D@4:2= ADJ49@=@8:DE p?E@?:2 qC:88D[ @?6 @7 E96 %FC?2H2J C6D62C496CD 7C@> E96 p5G2?4:?8 }6H $E2?52C5D :? #6AC@5F4E:G6 w62=E9 Wp}$x#wX AC@;64E 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r2=:7@C?:2[ $2? uC2?4:D4@]k^Am

kAmQp?5 E96? 2E E96 E:>6 @7 36:?8 56?:65 2? 23@CE:@?[ E9@D6 DJ>AE@>D 8@ 6G6? 9:896C] p?5 E96? @G6C E:>6[ E96J 5@ 5:DD:A2E6[Q D2:5 qC:88D[ 2? 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C 2E &r$u]k^Am

kAm(@>6? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]24A;@FC?2=D]@C8^5@:^`_]fbae^|`g\`eeeQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm56?:65 2? 23@CE:@?k^2m H9@ 42CC:65 E96:C 323:6D E@ E6C> H6C6 Q>F49 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 6IA6C:6?46 A9JD:42= 962=E9 :DDF6D 2E E96 E:>6 @7 49:=53:CE9[ 2D 49:=53:CE9 :D >F49 >@C6 C:D<J E92? 92G:?8 2? 23@CE:@?[Q qC:88D D2:5] %H@ @7 E96 H@>6? :? E96 DEF5J 5:65 5FC:?8 49:=53:CE9]k^Am

kAmp k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^AF3>65]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^aaaf_af`^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qma_`a DEF5Jk^2m 7@F?5 E96 C:D< @7 562E9 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 49:=53:CE9 :D 2AAC@I:>2E6=J `c E:>6D 9:896C E92? E96 C:D< 7C@> 23@CE:@?]k^Am

kAmp7E6C 7:G6 J62CD[ E96 DEF5J 7@F?5 H@>6? 56?:65 2? 23@CE:@? H6C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ Q=:G6 :? A@G6CEJ 2?5 >F49 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ DF776C 64@?@>:4 92C5D9:A[ :?4=F5:?8 >@C6 32?<CFAE4:6D[ 563E 2?5 492==6?86D >66E:?8 32D:4 =:G:?8 ?665D[Q qC:88D D2:5]k^Am

kAm(@>6? H9@ H6C6 EFC?65 2H2J H6C6 2=D@ >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 36 E6E96C65 E@ 2 G:@=6?E 2?5 23FD:G6 A2CE?6C[ 2?5 E@ 92G6 49C@?:4 962=E9 4@?5:E:@?D[ qC:88D D2:5] Q%96J 2=D@ =@H6C65 E96:C 2DA:C2E:@?D W7@C E96 7FEFC6X[ 2?5 E96J H6C6 =6DD =:<6=J E@ 249:6G6 E96>[Q D96 25565]k^Am

kAmx7 2 H@>2? 56?:65 2? 23@CE:@? 925 6I:DE:?8 49:=5C6? F?56C d[ E9@D6 49:=5C6? H6C6 =6DD =:<6=J E@ >66E E96:C 56G6=@A>6?E2= >:=6DE@?6D[ >@C6 =:<6=J E@ =:G6 :? A@G6CEJ[ 2?5 =6DD =:<6=J E@ 92G6 3@?565 H:E9 E96:C >@E96C[ E96 DEF5J 7@F?5]k^Am

kAm(:== E96D6 @FE4@>6D 27764E >@C6 H@>6? ?@H E92E #@6 G] (256 92D 366? @G6CEFC?65nk^Am

kAmQxV> 4@>A=6E6=J @G6CH96=>65 H:E9 H@CCJ[Q qC:88D D2:5] Qx H@CCJ 23@FE A6@A=6 36:?8 23=6 E@ 86E H2?E65 42C6] $@>6 H:== 92G6 E@ @G6C4@>6 9F86 2>@F?ED @7 @3DE24=6D :? @C56C E@ 2446DD 42C6]k^Am

kAmQ~E96CD H:== 9@A67F==J D276=J D6=7\>2?286 E96:C 23@CE:@?D 3J 2446DD:?8 >65:42E:@? 23@CE:@? A:==D @?=:?6[ H9:49 H6 <?@H :D BF:E6 D276[Q qC:88D D2:5] q67@C6 E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE C6G6CD2=[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8FEE>2496C]@C8^2CE:4=6^a_aa^_a^>65:42E:@?\23@CE:@?\?@H\244@F?ED\>@C6\92=7\2==\FD\23@CE:@?DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@G6C 92=7 @7 2== 23@CE:@?D :? E96 &$k^2m H6C6 5@?6 G:2 2 EH@\5CF8 AC6D4C:AE:@? >65:42E:@? >6E9@5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 vFEE>2496C x?DE:EFE6]k^Am

kAmQ%96? E96C6 2C6 D@>6 H@>6? H9@> x H@CCJ H:== FD6 @E96C =6DD D276 >6E9@5D E@ D6=7\>2?286 E96 AC68?2?4:6D @C 42CCJ E@ E6C> :? 2 D:EF2E:@? E92E E96J E96J 566> :D ?@E :562= 7@C E96>[Q qC:88D D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96\r}}\(:C6k^Am

kAm™ U2>Aj © a_aa r23=6 }6HD }6EH@C<[ x?4][ 2 (2C?6C|65:2 r@>A2?J] p== C:89ED C6D6CG65]k^Am