False information about abortion still circulates

The Coalition for Abortion Rights in Canada (CDAC) is concerned about the presence of crisis pregnancy centers in the country. She accuses them of deceiving and manipulating women who wish to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

For the general director of the Coalition for Abortion Rights in Canada (CDAC), Joyce Arthur, the biggest myth would be to believe that abortion is not common in Canada. However, it is very commonshe said.

According to the CDACone in three Canadian women capable of childbearing will choose to abort during their lifetime.

The gynecologist Robyn MacQuarrie points out that many patients are unaware that medical and surgical abortion is free in Nova Scotia. Some of her patients were convinced that they might never be able to get pregnant again after having an abortion.

The general director of the Outaouais Women’s Clinic, Patricia LaRue, is concerned about the amount of false information circulating around the issue of abortion in Canada.

We mostly hear that abortion leads to breast cancer or post-abortion depression syndrome. We also hear that abortion causes alcoholism in all people who suffer from addiction problems. said Patricia LaRue.

According to the three women, these myths are conveyed by crisis pregnancy centers (CPC). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists designates these centers as facilities that present themselves as legitimate reproductive health care clinics providing care to pregnant women, but in reality aim to deter people from accessing certain types of reproductive health care, including abortion care , and even contraceptive options.

For Patricia LaRue, these centers seek to provoke a feeling of fear in women during an unwanted pregnancy to dissuade them from aborting.

We also hear: you are going to be visited by the ghost of your pregnancy who will haunt you for years to come.

A right under threat

According to Patricia LaRue, abortion is a right currently under threat in Canada. We see what is happening in the United States and it is very scary to see that there is a new rise of the conservative right she confides.

She deplores the return of very traditional values ​​and anti-choice movements that are increasingly present in our society.

It is often white men of a certain age who will decide that they can control women’s bodies and who will elect deputies whose mission is to make abortion illegal and inaccessible for women.

Post-abortion depression syndrome does not exist

In his study published in 2023, the CDAC evaluated 110 websites from CPC and determined that 75.5% of them mentioned negative psychological consequences, mainly in the context of post-abortion distress.

But according to experts, this is not a valid argument. “What we feel among women is often the feeling of being at peace with their decision if they had access to the necessary information before their abortion and that it is a free and informed choice,” said indicated Patricia LaRue.

Robyn MacQuarrie added that abortion is experienced differently from person to person, but agreed that it is most often a feeling of peace and relief.

To find accurate information, the gynecologist recommends that women who wish to have an abortion consult the Nova Scotia Health website or go to the Rose clinic in Halifax.