Artificial abortus from the male partner's perspective

Abstract

Induced abortion is an intervention that scientific research primarily addresses from the concerned women's point of view in terms of either the causes or the consequences of the abortion decision. Nevertheless, each case of abortion involves a man as much as a woman (in the same vein as conception), which calls for the better knowledge of male partners' needs, expectations and experiences related to induced abortion. The present summary addresses male partners' status and importance in abortion care in a practical approach based on professional considerations. Available empirical findings suggest that male partners' involvement in abortion care has importance both in protecting men's emotional balance and in providing support for women in adapting to the abortion process. Male partners' deeper involvement possibly includes roles such as seeing the female partner to the intervention, participation in preabortion counselling, presence during the intervention, and participation in post-abortion care. Related findings show that all of these forms of support are related to women's positive abortion-related experiences and thus to their better recovery (provided that the female partner expresses a need for her male partner's personal support). Furthermore, male partners' involvement in abortion care enables health care providers to tailor counselling (information on the intervention, on possible consequences, on contraceptive methods etc.) to men's specific needs. These practices facilitate partners' joint and informed decision making, joint responsibility for conception or contraception, and eventually contribute to reducing the incidence of induced abortion.