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Emotional side effects after having an abortion

You may experience a range of emotions after an abortion.

How you react will depend on:

  • the circumstances of your abortion
  • the reasons for having it
  • how comfortable you feel about your decision

You may feel relieved or sad, or a mixture of both.

Most women will experience a range of emotions around the time of the decision and the abortion procedure.

Post-abortion counselling

Post-abortion counselling and support is available for free.

If you decide at any time you would like to talk to someone, call My Options on freephone 1800 828 010.

My Options is a HSE support service that provides free and confidential counselling. Experienced counsellors can provide counselling over the phone or they can refer you for face-to-face counselling.

The counselling service is open:

  • Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm
  • Saturday, 10am to 2pm

Your GP, family planning clinic or Well Woman clinic can also refer you to free face-to-face counselling services.

Confidentiality

All counselling sessions are confidential. But there are special circumstances when a counsellor may have to share information.

This may be if they believe:

  • you’re at risk of harm
  • there is a child protection issue
  • other people are at risk of harm

Counselling and confidentiality

Page last reviewed: 28 October 2022
Next review due: 28 October 2025