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Background: In general, men involved in legal abortion constitute an invisiblegroup and there is scarcely any knowledge about their experiences and opinions.Therefore, the aim of the present study was to increase knowledge about reactionsand reflections by means of a prospective study of men’s attitudes and feelingstowards abortion.

Methods: Twenty-six men answered a questionnaire before abortion, andparticipated in interviews at the time of abortion and 4 and 12 months postabortion.

Results: Nearly all of the men were happy with the women’s decision to havean abortion at both follow-ups. They experienced the abortion as a relief and aresponsible act. Simultaneously, abortion could also be experienced as a painfuland ethically problematic act. Overall, most men had only positive experiencespost- abortion, such as a feeling of maturity. More than half of those whoaccompanied their partners to the hospital felt that the staff did not have awelcoming attitude. It was also found that 1-year post-abortion, more than a thirdconsistently did not use a reliable contraceptive method.

Conclusions: There is a need for further studies concerning men’s experiencesand reactions in the context of abortion and it is of fundamental importance that agender perspective is incorporated into this specific field of reproductive healthresearch.