Shahid Beheshti University Journal of Family Research 1735-8442 22 1 2026 03 21 The consequences of intentional abortion in women's lives: A phenomenological study The consequences of intentional abortion in women's lives: A phenomenological study 136 166 106307 10.48308/jfr.2025.240197.1990 FA Nayereh Ahmadi PhD student in Women Studies, Humanities Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0003-4209-4378 Touba Shakeri Golpaygani Associate Professor, Department of Women Studies, Humanities Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0001-6908-6074 Shohre Rowshani Assistant Professor of Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-1293-5781 Maryam Jamali Assistant Professor, Department of Women Studies, Humanities Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0003-0836-6173 Journal Article 2025 05 30 Intentional abortion is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that affects various dimensions of women's lives. The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying the lived experience of women with intentional abortion and its consequences in their lives. Consequently, adopting a qualitative approach and a descriptive phenomenological strategy, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 women with a history of intentional abortion in Alborz Province, and the data were analyzed based on Colaizzi's seven-stage method. The findings indicate that the experience of intentional abortion leads to consequences in the emotional, cognitive, physical, psychological, spiritual, familial, and social dimensions of women's lives. The identified consequences are classifiable into two categories: "Objective and traceable consequences of the abortion experience," comprising three levels—individual, familial, and social consequences—and "Subjective consequences attributed to the abortion experience," comprising two levels—individual and familial consequences. The results of the study suggest that women, throughout their lives and over time, and depending on their circumstances and lived experiences before and after the abortion experience, encounter a combination of the identified consequences. It is recommended that the findings of this research be considered in policies adopted to reduce the incidence of intentional abortion. Intentional abortion is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that affects various dimensions of women's lives. The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying the lived experience of women with intentional abortion and its consequences in their lives. Consequently, adopting a qualitative approach and a descriptive phenomenological strategy, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 women with a history of intentional abortion in Alborz Province, and the data were analyzed based on Colaizzi's seven-stage method. The findings indicate that the experience of intentional abortion leads to consequences in the emotional, cognitive, physical, psychological, spiritual, familial, and social dimensions of women's lives. The identified consequences are classifiable into two categories: "Objective and traceable consequences of the abortion experience," comprising three levels—individual, familial, and social consequences—and "Subjective consequences attributed to the abortion experience," comprising two levels—individual and familial consequences. The results of the study suggest that women, throughout their lives and over time, and depending on their circumstances and lived experiences before and after the abortion experience, encounter a combination of the identified consequences. It is recommended that the findings of this research be considered in policies adopted to reduce the incidence of intentional abortion.

https://jfr.sbu.ac.ir/article_106307_7bd8ca1999a443c91b86997b8db8da14.pdf