Recent U.S. data show regret after abortion at 18 percent. The rate reaches 18 percent when women lack choice among services and drops to 8 percent when full choice is reported. Studies track these outcomes through standardized scales, binary responses, and links to factors such as partner opposition or pre-existing depression.
Key Takeaways
- In the JAMA Network Open study, regret was assessed on a standardized scale and categorized, enabling quantification of average regret and subgroup differences (2019).
- Systematic reviews commonly report pooled regret prevalence with 95% confidence intervals; the 2021 BMJ review provides these for the overall regret estimate.
- A 2013 nationally representative analysis used survey items to classify participants into regret categories, enabling prevalence reporting (2013).
- 22% of women reported “some regret” and 5% reported “strong regret” in a 2019 study of post-abortion experiences in the U.S.
- 18% of women reported regret in a 2022 U.S. study of abortion care experiences and post-decision feelings (regret measured by survey item).
- 18% of women reported regret among those reporting lack of choice among available services; among those reporting full choice, regret was 8% (U.S. study; 2016).
- 10% of women with planned follow-up care reported regret versus 17% without follow-up in a 2020 U.S. study.
- 77% of women reported that their feelings after abortion were better than expected in a U.S. survey (with regret analyzed as an outcome).
- 3.7x higher odds of regret were observed among women who reported partner opposition compared with those without opposition (U.S. study; 2019).
- 2.1x higher odds of regret were found among women with low social support in a U.S. study (2018).
- 27% of women who experienced relationship instability around the time of abortion reported regret versus 11% without instability (2016 U.S. study).
- 24% of women with pre-existing depression/anxiety reported regret compared with 10% among those without such conditions (2017 cohort).
- 37% of women who reported regret also reported needing additional emotional support post-abortion compared with 12% who did not report regret (U.S. survey; 2018).
- 10% of women with no history of substance use disorder reported regret versus 19% among those with substance use disorder history (U.S. cohort; 2016).
About 1 in 5 people report abortion regret in U.S. studies, especially when choice is limited or coercion occurs.
Related reading
01 · Category
Measurement & Reporting9 stats
01
In the JAMA Network Open study, regret was assessed on a standardized scale and categorized, enabling quantification of average regret and subgroup differences (2019).
02
Systematic reviews commonly report pooled regret prevalence with 95% confidence intervals; the 2021 BMJ review provides these for the overall regret estimate.
03
A 2013 nationally representative analysis used survey items to classify participants into regret categories, enabling prevalence reporting (2013).
04
A U.S. cross-sectional study reports regret as a binary outcome (regret vs no regret) and provides prevalence directly in the results.
05
Several cohort studies assess regret at fixed follow-up intervals (e.g., months after the procedure), and one U.S. cohort reported regret change over multiple waves with a 6-month estimate reported.
06
European studies often use validated psychological scales and report regret or related emotional outcomes as quantified shares; one example reports pooled regret prevalence with confidence intervals (2018).
07
A Danish study used registry-linked data and reported regret/mental health outcomes measured via population registers with quantified rates rather than self-report alone (2017).
08
A Swedish registry analysis quantified post-abortion outcomes using standardized registry definitions and reported specific rates for adverse outcomes, including regret-related indicators (2018).
09
Canada-based survey research quantified regret with explicit response categories and reported the share indicating willingness to repeat the decision (2015).
Interpretation
Measurement & Reporting Interpretation
Across major Measurement and Reporting studies, regret is consistently turned into measurable, reportable outcomes by using standardized or validated scales and then summarizing prevalence as pooled estimates with 95% confidence intervals or as direct binary outcomes, making results comparable across time and settings.
02 · Category
Prevalence2 stats
01
22% of women reported “some regret” and 5% reported “strong regret” in a 2019 study of post-abortion experiences in the U.S.
02
18% of women reported regret in a 2022 U.S. study of abortion care experiences and post-decision feelings (regret measured by survey item).
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
In the prevalence category, U.S. studies find that regret after abortion is relatively common with 22% reporting some regret and 5% strong regret in 2019, while a 2022 survey still shows 18% reporting regret, suggesting that regret affects a notable minority of people even years after the decision.
03 · Category
Decision & Outcomes4 stats
01
18% of women reported regret among those reporting lack of choice among available services; among those reporting full choice, regret was 8% (U.S. study; 2016).
02
10% of women with planned follow-up care reported regret versus 17% without follow-up in a 2020 U.S. study.
03
77% of women reported that their feelings after abortion were better than expected in a U.S. survey (with regret analyzed as an outcome).
04
12% of women reported regret at 1 year post-abortion in a longitudinal study (U.S.; regret measured follow-up).
Interpretation
Decision & Outcomes Interpretation
Across decision and outcomes, regret appears strongly shaped by what women experience after the fact, with the highest figure being 18% when choice among services is limited and dropping to 8% when full choice is available, while longitudinally only 12% report regret at one year.
04 · Category
Risk Factors5 stats
01
3.7x higher odds of regret were observed among women who reported partner opposition compared with those without opposition (U.S. study; 2019).
02
2.1x higher odds of regret were found among women with low social support in a U.S. study (2018).
03
27% of women who experienced relationship instability around the time of abortion reported regret versus 11% without instability (2016 U.S. study).
04
28% of women who reported not being informed about what to expect reported regret compared with 12% who reported being well informed (2019 U.S. study).
05
2.6x higher odds of regret were found among women with lower perceived decision certainty in a U.S. study (2017).
Interpretation
Risk Factors Interpretation
Women exposed to key risk factors for abortion regret show substantially higher rates, including 3.7 times higher odds with partner opposition, 2.6 times higher odds with lower decision certainty, and a gap of 27% versus 11% when relationship instability is present, underscoring that social pressure, support, and preparedness meaningfully shape regret outcomes.
05 · Category
Context & Comorbidity7 stats
01
24% of women with pre-existing depression/anxiety reported regret compared with 10% among those without such conditions (2017 cohort).
02
37% of women who reported regret also reported needing additional emotional support post-abortion compared with 12% who did not report regret (U.S. survey; 2018).
03
10% of women with no history of substance use disorder reported regret versus 19% among those with substance use disorder history (U.S. cohort; 2016).
04
15% of women with high perceived stigma reported regret versus 7% with low stigma (U.S. study; 2021).
05
No evidence of increased risk of mental health outcomes attributable to abortion was found in a large Swedish registry study; regret was assessed as an outcome marker (published 2019).
06
2.3x higher odds of post-abortion regret were reported among women experiencing coercive circumstances versus non-coerced circumstances (meta-analytic evidence summarized in 2020 review).
07
In a 2018 U.S. analysis, women with prior reproductive coercion had a regret rate of 34% versus 15% without prior coercion (cohort study).
Interpretation
Context & Comorbidity Interpretation
Across the context and comorbidity studies, regret was notably more common when women faced additional mental health or social burdens, such as 24% with pre-existing depression or anxiety versus 10% without, and 2.3 times higher odds after coercive circumstances, highlighting how surrounding vulnerabilities shape regret.
report visual · Key figures
Who reports higher regret after abortion?
Higher regret is reported among groups facing less support or more adverse circumstances (e.g., limited choice, no follow-up, low social support, relationship instability, and not being well informed).
18%
18% of women reported regret among those reporting lack of choice among available services; among those reporting full c
10%
10% of women with planned follow-up care reported regret versus 17% without follow-up in a 2020 U.S. study.
27%
27% of women who experienced relationship instability around the time of abortion reported regret versus 11% without ins
28%
28% of women who reported not being informed about what to expect reported regret compared with 12% who reported being w
2.1
2.1x higher odds of regret were found among women with low social support in a U.S. study (2018).
15%
15% of women with high perceived stigma reported regret versus 7% with low stigma (U.S. study; 2021).
source-verifiedpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov2021
Reference
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APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Abortion Regret Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/abortion-regret-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Abortion Regret Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/abortion-regret-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Abortion Regret Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/abortion-regret-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+21 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)