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 will be featuring 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.
Though this was a very difficult decision to make, it was the best one for my situation. I have an 11-month-old son, and I had to stop going to school for a year to be with him. Having another baby just wouldn’t be wise right now, since I have not yet graduated from college and am not financially stable. I am pro-choice because no government of any kind should dictate what a woman should do with her own body. Women are strong enough to have children and also decide whether or not to have a baby.
–Submitted by Natalie* through a member clinic
My ex-boyfriend never told me that the method he used failed, so I never went to get Plan B. I found out about a month later that I was pregnant, and when I told him, he agreed to help out with funds. But every time I’d ask him about the money, he never had it. I tried to sell everything from shoes to valuables; I didn’t eat lunch, to save money. I even applied for a loan. Had it not been for the Hotline, I wouldn’t have been able to have my abortion. I greatly appreciate what they did for me.
–Submitted by Lynne* through a member clinic
*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy