I have always been pro-choice and I have always kept myself informed about my options when it came to reproductive health care. I never thought I would have to use the information until I found out I was pregnant.
I am a 22-year-old college student and I live with my parents. I work as a waitress, nowhere near finished with school and my boyfriend works at a grocery store. There was no way we could have supported a child.
My parents didn’t know that I was pregnant and if they had found out, I would have been disowned and thrown out of the house. My boyfriend and I discussed our options and came to the conclusion quickly that I was going to get an abortion. He was there every step of the way during the whole medical abortion procedure. I am so grateful to him.
It scares me to think that there are congressmen in Washington D.C who are trying to take my reproductive rights away from me.
I sought abortion care because I was concerned that I would not be able to raise a child and give it everything it needed.
This was not an easy decision. However, in my heart I know I did the right thing.
–Submitted by Alexa* through our website
I have two children and two step children that I support financially. My boyfriend and I were laid off from our jobs and we’ve been overwhelmed. His children, who also live with us, are victims of abuse and have special needs because of it. I was taking birth control pills and using condoms, but I still became pregnant. Although I’m disappointed to have this happen, I’m so relieved I have the option.
–Submitted by Calleigh* through a member clinic
Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we feature real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.