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metronews.ca WEEKEND, DECEMBER 9-11, 2011
No link between abortion, anxiety Study finds unwanted pregnancies, not abortion, trigger mental-health issues in women Abortion does not increase a woman’s chance of developing mental-health problems, according to the largest study ever to investigate the issue.
Among women with unwanted pregnancies, those who had abortions were no more likely to suffer from problems including anxiety or depression than women
who gave birth, the research review by the U.K.’s National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health found. The research shows that
abortion does not cause mental-health problems, but raises a warning that officials must address the problem of unwanted pregnancy, said Dr. Tim Kendall,
the centre’s director. The study is likely to be met by skepticism by those who that terminating a pregnancy can trigger depression or other mental ill-
nesses. Kendall said mental health problems seemed to be linked specifically to unwanted pregnancies rather than abortion. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Liquor board pulls rape ad A spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board says the ad was pulled Wednesday after complaints that it blamed women for being victims.
Obama backs idea to keep Plan B off shelves Follow us on: @wagjaghalifax FOR EVERY VOUCHER GIFTED, WAGJAG WILL Donate $1 TO TOYS FOR TOTS VISIT THE WAGJAG.COM/HOLIDAY SHOPPE
President Barack Obama on Thursday defended his health secretary’s decision to stop the Plan B morningafter pill from moving onto drugstore shelves next to condoms. “As the father of two daughters,” he said, “I think it is important for us to make sure that we apply some common sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter medicine.” The president spoke the morning after his administration stunned
major doctors’ groups and women’s health advocates with the decision. Plan B is a pill that can prevent pregnancy if taken soon enough after unprotected sex. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled scientists at the Food and Drug Administration who were preparing to let Plan B sell without a prescription to people of any age. Sebelius decided that young girls shouldn’t be able to buy the pill on their own, saying she was worried about whether 11year-olds would know how to use it properly. Obama said Sebelius made that decision on her own. But he said he thought she was worried about young girls experiencing harmful sideeffects. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS