Nearly all women (95 per cent) who get an abortion do not regret the decision, with the most common emotion experienced after the procedure being relief and not regret, says a new study.

The authors of the study, published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, say their findings should help dismiss the belief that women will suffer “emotional harm”, or be “emotionally scarred”, as a result of an abortion.

Professor Corrine Rocca, lead author, from the University of California said: “There was no evidence ever to say that [myth] was actually true”, but that it had still been used as a reason to justify restricting access to abortion.

Currently in the USA multiple states require women to undertake mandatory abortion counselling and endure a 48-hour waiting period, during which they are given information about the negative impact of the medical procedure.

The landmark study is based on almost 1,000 women who sought abortions in 21 states around the USA – of whom 667 had the procedure.

It tracked their emotions around the decision, a week afterwards and for five years thereafter at six-month intervals, The women were surveyed a total of 11 times.

Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Show all 11 1 /11 Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Pro-choice campaigners stood outside the Stormont Estate on Monday 21 October with the word "decriminalised" spelt out in front of them as some of Stormont’s assembly members returned to the chamber for the first time in nearly three years. A group of Northern Irish lawmakers returned to parliament in a failed last-minute protest at the decriminalisation of abortion in the region. AFP via Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Attendees at a pro-choice press conference embraced one another ahead of the meeting of the Stormont Assembly on abortion rights and same-sex marriage in Belfast. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland A member of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice smiled as she and others marched in support of abortion rights in Belfast, Northern Ireland, following a pro-choice press conference. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of pro-choice groups Alliance for Choice and Pro Life held demonstrations outside Stormont on Monday 21 October as a last-minute attempt to stop the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland was made by the Democratic Unionist party. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland A rally was held in Dublin City centre on Monday 21 October in celebration of the eminent decriminalisation of abortion and same-sex marriage. PA Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Equal marriage campaigners Martha Brown and Louise McCullough celebrated at Maverick Bar in Belfast as same-sex marriage and abortion were legalised in Northern Ireland. PA Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice made their way to Stormont carrying abortion rights signs. Getty Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Kellie Turtle and Emma Campbell embraced as members of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice held a press conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Activist Ashleigh Topley wiped away her tears during the Alliance for Choice press conference on Monday 21 October. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of Alliance for Group embraced one another after their pro-choice press conference. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Abortion rights campaigners marched through the streets of Belfast ahead of the meeting of the Stormont Assembly on abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Getty

They asked participants if they had any emotions of sadness, guilt, relief, regret, anger or happiness, with relief being the most frequently experienced.

They found there were both “positive and negative” emotions over the first two years, but these declined and plateaued thereafter.

Even those who struggled to make the decision finished up supporting it, say gynaecologists.

Just over half (54 per cent) said the decision to terminate their pregnancy was very or somewhat difficult. The other 46 per cent said it was not.

Professor Rocca said: “This debunks the idea that most women suffer emotionally from having an abortion.”

The authors say in future research should focus on the small percentage of women who do experience negative emotions or regret, and the specific factors that impact this situation.

Data published by the Department of Health and Social Care shows there were 200,608 abortions for women resident in England and Wales in 2018 – up four per cent on the 192,900 the previous year.

Last year a YouGov poll of more than 1,600 people in Great Britain suggested public attitudes to abortion are becoming more relaxed.

Less than three in 10 (28 per cent) wanted to reduce the limit or ban abortions altogether, compared with more than a third (35 per cent) in 2015.

Currently in England, Wales and Scotland, abortions can be carried out within the first 23 weeks and six days of pregnancy.

But later abortions are allowed in certain instances. These include if the mother’s life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability.