Not Just a Woman's Issue

The Impact of Abortion on Men

The effects of abortion on men have not been studied as much in part due to the lack of male legal authority in the decision to terminate a pregnancy. In the United States, the father may not prevent or be notified of the mother’s intent to abort their child, even if the mother is his wife. The inability for a man to comprehend this lack of fatherhood, and the natural desire to protect his child can create profound feelings of helplessness, anger, and emasculation.  

In the case of an unwanted pregnancy, the father’s initial desire to offer support to his partner in the decision to abort most often involves repression of his true feelings in favor of maintaining strength and stability within an intimidating situation. Such suppressed emotions give rise to “prolonged and unresolved grief in 58% of men who did not discuss their feelings with anyone” according to the Dutch researcher, M. Van Mourik, MD, Ph.D. The inability to grieve and experience loss are usually physically and emotionally consuming. In  Fatherhood Lost, Warren L. Williams claims a man may experience serious emotional and behavioral trauma in response to post-abortion guilt, sadness, and anxiety.

Drs. Catherine Coyle and Vincent Rue, in the  Journal of Pastoral Counseling, presented additional hardships that include relationship stress, distrust in women, sexual dysfunction, loss of intimacy, and homosexual involvement. The researchers further noted frequent clinical and self-destructive behavior including depression, addiction, and even suicide. In some studies, male grief has even surpassed that of the female.The profound loss experienced by these fathers indicates that abortion is not just a “woman’s issue.”