--- title: Groundbreaking Study Follows Women Who Underwent Abortions and Those Who Were Turned Away date: 2013-06-19T19:58:31-04:00 author: OBOS Admin canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/study-follows-women-who-underwent-abortions-and-those-turned-away" section: Blog (Archive) --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# Groundbreaking Study Follows Women Who Underwent Abortions and Those Who Were Turned Away By Rachel Walden • June 19, 2013 Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above. Women in the United States are often subject to numerous restrictions when seeking abortions, including burdensome waiting periods and gestational age cutoffs that vary depending on state. Some abortions are delayed due to a lack of funds or no insurance coverage, or a shortage of available providers. All of these factors contribute to women not being able to obtain legal abortions once they choose to do so. Last week, The New York Times published [a great article](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/magazine/study-women-denied-abortions.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2& "What Happens to Women Who Are Denied Abortions?") about research into what happens when women are denied abortions. The ongoing project is called the “Turnaway” study, and it involves a [group of UCSF researchers](http://www.ansirh.org/research/turnaway.php "Turnaway study group website"), led by Dr. Diana Green Foster, a demographer and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco. The researchers are following three sets of women: those who had first trimester abortions; those who had abortions near the gestational age limit; and those who were denied an abortion because they were just over the gestational age limit. This research is important for a couple of reasons. First, studies looking at mental health effects after abortion often make inappropriate comparisons between women who had abortions and women who never sought them. (Anti-abortion advocates often try to cite mental health effects as a reason to deny women abortion, even though reliable evidence does not support the notion of a "post-abortion syndrome.") These studies ultimately end up ignoring the emotional effects on women who wanted but were denied abortions. Second, other research has not typically followed women forward in time (instead of asking them to remember) to see how they fare in terms of physical and mental health, education, employment, relationship status, and other factors. Foster is tracking the study participants via interviews conducted every six months for five years. As the researchers explain: > The Turnaway Study is an effort to capture women’s stories, understand the role of abortion and childbearing in their lives, and contribute to the ongoing public policy debate on the mental health and life-course consequences of abortion and unwanted childbearing for women and families. Foster’s research is increasingly relevant as states attempt to pass [more restrictions](http://www.aclu.org/maps/states-where-they-think-were-stupid-abortion-access-under-attack-2013 "ACLU: States Where They Think We’re Stupid: Abortion Access Under Attack in 2013") on abortion access that could lead to costly delays and denied procedures. Nationally, the [House just passed](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/us/politics/in-partisan-vote-house-acts-to-limit-abortions.html "In Partisan Vote, House Approves Ban on Abortions After 22 Weeks") a ban at [22 weeks of pregnancy](http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/06/13/trent-franks-abortion-bans-and-the-fetal-pain-lie/ "Trent Franks, Abortion Bans, and the Fetal Pain Lie") (20 weeks post-fertilization). It stands little chance of being enacted (assuming it could pass the Senate -- highly unlikely -- the president would [likely veto](http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saphr1797r_20130617.pdf "6/17/2013 statement from the Office of the President; PDF") it), but it does reflect the GOP's intent to shrink the amount of time women have to obtain an abortion -- which would lead to more turnaways. A few [publications](http://www.ansirh.org/library/publications.php) have already resulted from the Turnaway group, mostly focusing on issues such as [patient education](http://www.ansirh.org/_documents/library/gould_whi_epub2012.pdf "Patient Education and Emotional Support Practices in Abortion Care Facilities
in the United States"), the [effect of anti-abortion protestors](http://www.ansirh.org/_documents/library/foster_contraception2-2013.pdf "Effect of abortion protesters on women's emotional response to abortion"), and [commentary on how to reduce turnaways](http://www.ansirh.org/_documents/library/foster_contraception1-2013.pdf "Denial of abortion care due to gestational age limits"). It looks like some articles about denials in general and women’s emotional responses have been written and accepted by journals, but are not yet available to the public. We’ll keep an eye on those and provide an update when results are available. In the meantime, read the full [New York Times article](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/magazine/study-women-denied-abortions.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&), which describes the research in-depth and covers one woman's story of being denied an abortion. After being turned away by a Planned Parenthood clinic in one state and a detour through a crisis pregnancy center that further pushed her past the gestational age limit, she found herself out of time, gas money, food, and other resources. --- #### 2 Responses Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments. **LadyFlowersbySusan** on Jun 20, 2013 Thirty seven years ago, during my psychiatry training, I learned of the "anniversary reaction". Women and men "remember" important dates deep in the recesses of their minds. If those dates are not honored mysterious dysphorias (yucky feelings) come up on the anniversary dates. How ever a woman choses to handle her pregnancy, she will have an anniversary reaction to the date she learned of the pregnancy, the date the pregnancy ended (however it ended, miscarriage, abortion, live birth). This is NOT post-abortion syndrome, it is just an anniversary reaction. We all have these reactions to every significant life event. For thirty seven years I have had therapy patients come to me wondering why they are so "emotional" that day. There has ALWAYS been an anniversary issue, in my experience. It could be the date a woman gave up her baby for adoption; it could be the date she lost her premie in the NICU; it could be the date he lost his mother. Proper care of our patients, friends and others means honoring the body and mind's reactions to past events. We must be supportive and loving. We must listen, with lips zipped. We must receive whatever thoughts and emotions are stirred up. In loving kindness. **Aimee B** on Nov 04, 2014 Wow, REALLY great article and amazing comment. ^^^I myself am prolife for my body and my life choices, but I believe all women need to choose for themselves. It's their right. I'm prolife because I have an easy life... If my life were different then my decision would probably be different, too. Also, saying "give them up for adoption" is not fair for these children.... No one is adopting them....and they're left to be neglected, raped, not helped by anyone because there aren't enough resources. Peace and love to all women everywhere....regardless of their circumstances or decisions, I love and care for them and I believe in their freedoms and rights. A child should never be a "punishment" for having had sex or for having been raped. A woman shouldn't have to risk her life because of a medical condition she has hurting her survival chances and leaving behind four kids as orphans. A 12 year old little girl brutally raped by her father should never be forced to have that child. Their bodies, their spiritual journey, their choice. I love our women of this earth...I stand by my sisters unconditionally. ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics - [Abortion & Reproductive Rights](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/abortion-reproductive-rights) - [Research & Studies](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/research-studies) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** - We rigorously evaluate all content - We embrace a reproductive justice framework - We don’t accept ads or sell products - We reject funding from the pharmaceutical industry - We counter misinformation and disinformation - We address the social, political, and economic factors that affect health and sexuality [read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)