What Are the Mental Health Effects of Abortion?

While not in every case, abortion can lead to various mental health challenges, including anxiety, guilt, and depression for some women.

Coping with your emotions after an abortion can be extremely difficult, and many women seek healing and peace after their abortion experience.

If you’re considering an abortion, it's essential to understand the potential emotional risks and how they might impact your daily life. If you’ve already had an abortion and are struggling, know that you’re not alone. Seeking the support you need is crucial in overcoming these challenges and finding a path to recovery.

Knowing The Risks

The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons reported that nearly 75% of women who had an abortion felt at least subtly pressured into the decision. Feeling pressured is a significant risk factor for experiencing negative mental health issues.

Many of the women studied experienced psychological effects afterward, including:

Depression
Anxiety
Shame
Guilt
Feelings of worthlessness
Self-destructive behaviors

These are just some of the potential adverse mental health outcomes that can happen post-abortion. However, every woman’s experience and reaction is different.

Find Support

Collage offers after-abortion support designed to help you on your path to healing. By taking advantage of Collage's support programs, you can find the understanding and compassion needed to navigate this difficult time and work towards a place of peace and recovery.

Whether you’re dealing with the effects of an abortion experience or have just discovered you are unexpectedly pregnant, know that there’s hope. You don’t have to do this alone.

Collage offers free pregnancy testing, limited OB ultrasounds, STD testing and treatment, and after-abortion support. We’re here to help you understand your options and get the services you need when facing pregnancy.

Contact us today for confidential support in a safe and nonjudgmental environment.

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Will My Insurance Pay for My Girlfriend's Abortion Pill?

August 11, 2026

If your girlfriend is facing an unexpected pregnancy and considering the abortion pill, you're probably wondering about costs and whether insurance will cover it. Before considering the abortion pill, it’s vital that your girlfriend receives an ultrasound. We offer these at no cost with no insurance necessary. She can schedule a free, confidential appointment online at Collage. Can Your Insurance Cover Her? Health insurance covers the policyholder and enrolled dependents. A girlfriend typically isn't a covered dependent on your plan, which means your insurance generally won't pay for her medical care. The exception is if she's been added to your plan as a domestic partner and your employer allows that. Additionally, you may be able to extend insurance coverage to her after marriage if your policy allows this as a qualifying event. However, the chances of insurance covering an elective abortion are unlikely. What About Her Own Insurance in Nebraska? Under Nebraska law , standard health insurance plans in the state cannot cover elective abortion unless the insured purchases a separate abortion rider. Medicaid in Nebraska covers abortion only in limited circumstances. In most cases, the abortion pill in Nebraska will be an out-of-pocket cost. What She Should Know About the Drug The abortion pill uses two drugs. The first, mifepristone , blocks progesterone, a hormone required to sustain the pregnancy. The second, misoprostol , taken a day or two later, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue. The FDA approves this drug regimen through 10 weeks of gestation. Nebraska law also requires that the abortion pill be prescribed and administered in person by a physician. Complications can include heavy bleeding, infection , incomplete abortion, and digestive system discomfort. If the drug does not fully end the pregnancy, a follow-up procedure might be required. Getting the Facts First A free ultrasound at Collage confirms your girlfriend’s gestational age, whether the pregnancy is in the uterus, and whether the pregnancy is progressing. An ectopic pregnancy (when the pregnancy implants outside the uterus) requires different medical treatment than abortion, and could be life-threatening if left untreated. An ultrasound can rule out this complication. Schedule a free, confidential appointment at Collage today. Call: 308.234.9880 in Kearney or 308.675.2217 in Grand Island. *All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing. **Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.

Young woman thoughtfully learning about the abortion pill before making a pregnancy decision.

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If you're considering abortion, there's one medical step that protects your health before anything else. An ultrasound confirms your pregnancy and provides information that a positive test alone cannot.