[Is it possible to obtain reliable information about the long-term effects of induced abortion?]

The psychological long-term effects of an induced abortion are the subject of constant debate, but the scientific basis of experience is limited and by no means unambiguous. We wanted to study how a random selection of women felt about pre-agreed follow-up studies after an induced abortion.

All abortion patients who attended the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Haukeland University Hospital during a three-month period received a questionnaire. They were asked if they would be willing to be contacted in writing with questions about long-term effects 1-2 years and 5-10 years after the intervention, and to give reasons for their decisions by setting crosses in the multiple choice responses that were listed.

During the period of the study, 300 abortions were carried out at the department. Questionnaires were distributed to 227 of these patients, and 181 (80 %) of them were included. 43 % of the women in the study agreed to take part in a questionnaire survey concerning the long-term effects, if any, of induced abortion 1-2 years after the intervention, and 35 % 5-10 years afterwards.

It appears that it may be difficult to study the psychological long-term effects of induced abortion by means of questionnaire surveys. Our results indicate that the percentage of participants in long-term studies would be too low, and hence not representative of the group as a whole.