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.
I’m a 21-year-old single mother of two, and without this decision I would more than likely have had to drop out of college to take care of my children. I feel that women have rights and should not be judged for their decisions.
–submitted by Alicia* through a member clinic
I had a surgical abortion in April. When I discovered I was pregnant, I visited a Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC). When I walked in, I was greeted warmly. They gave me a free ultrasound and seemed sweet and supportive. Then came the counseling session, during which I asked to be excused several times, and was told each time it was mandatory since they had given me an ultrasound for free. When I informed them of my decision to have an abortion, I was forced to watch a graphic video. I was suffering from morning sickness and I had to run out to vomit several times. They told me these were the consequences of sin. They warned me my fiance would never be able to look at me as anything other than the woman who killed his first child. I’ll never forget the way I felt leaving the Crisis Pregnancy Center that day.
I later visited a reputable abortion provider. My state required my provider to warn me about the supposed physical and psychological effects of abortion. I felt no shame, guilt, or depression resulting from my abortion. However, the CPC I visited brought me untold shame, stress, and confusion. My state legislators should have saved their mandated warning for the CPC.
–submitted by Joanna* via our website
>Learn more about Crisis Pregnancy Centers.
*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy