From the article: Why Women Choose Abortion - Reasons Behind the Abortion Decision
Although abortion has been legal in the U.S. for over three decades, the decision to terminate a pregnancy is a topic rarely discussed openly. If you've had an abortion, what was your reason for doing so? Share your story in making this difficult decision...and rest assured that your privacy will be maintained and your choice will be respected and not debated here. The intent is to provide guidance for other women confronting this situation in the context of their own lives. Share your thoughts
best decision for me
- I had an abortion when I was 19 yrs old. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever have an abortion. Anyway, I felt I was too young, financially unstable to raise a child on my own (my boyfriend at the time and I had broken up a month prior to me finding out about the pregnancy). I knew I had to experience life more and get my act together before I could bring a child into this world. Education was also a factor for me. I wanted to continue school and felt having a child would deter me from accomplishing my goals and aspirations. Many factors led to my decision, but it wasn't an easy one to make. I never have regretted my decision but that's not to say that I wasn't an emotional wreck for quite some time after that experience.Sometimes, I wonder "what if..." but I know it was the best decision at the time given my circumstances.
- —Guest annie
my baby was disabled
- --and my husband could not bear to raise a child with special needs. He was suicidal. I felt I owed it to my two older children to keep their father in their life. I terminated my pregnancy at 17 weeks and I'm grateful that it was legal to do so (even though it was extremely difficult, both emotionally or logistically). I wanted that baby very much and I miss him every day.
- —Guest simone
Matter of who's life ?
- It was 1972 in January, just after Roe and Wade.It was a time when single mothers were shunned. They wasn't any form of help for single women. Because of my pregnancy, I became homeless, I'd been staying with a widow who had rooms for single girls, I was kicked out my church (they said I could come back when the situation was taken care of). My family turned their backs on me. My boyfriend was getting a divorce. I was desperate, suicidal! It came down to making the final decison of TAKING MY BABY'S LIFE OR MY OWN! I've been able to cope and deal with this decision. Since then I've gone through much counseling although on the anniversary date,I break down. The pain will never go away. When looking back, I know that I did the only thing I could back then. Today I"m doing well and I have helped many girls who find themselves where I was. I am so grateful for the women of today. There are so many services, especially counseling available for them . FREEDOM OF CHOICE IS VITAL FOR WOMEN.
- —Guest Vicki
It was the only way
- I was 19 yrs old when I got pregnant using an IUD. I had quit taking birth control pills because they made my migraine headache worse. I was shocked when I found out I was pregnant because I thought the IUD was as good as birth control pills. After I found out, my reaction was "I'm going to keep it" but when I told my mother she advised me that if I did that, I wouldn't be able to finish college, and I wouldn't be able to take care of the child financially. The father of the baby was younger than me, so he couldn't provide for a child either. I felt pressured in some ways, but it was still my decision. I am glad it is a woman's right to choose whether to keep or terminate a pregnancy, however it is not an easy thing to do for most women. I know a lot of people think that having an abortion is no big deal but they're wrong. It haunts me, especially around the time of year that the abortion was performed. I felt like I had no other choice at the time, and it makes me incredibly sad.
- —Guest Kristi
major decision
- I was 19 at the time. I was not in a relationship with the father and he wanted me to get an abortion. I was not going to get one at first. Prior to me finding out my mom said I had until June to find a place of my own. I had two jobs. I made the decision to have an abortion because I had to move out. Money would have been tight, I was in school, and I was not ready. My major reason for getting an abortion was because the pregnancy made me really sick I was vomiting every day constantly. I didn't eat anything for a whole week literally. It would not have been healthy for the baby. I could barely drink anything because it would come right back up. I could barely work. I kept getting sick at one job and at my other job I was working in heat and had too many close calls and nearly passed out. I had no insurance. So the best thing for me to do was get an abortion. Plus I could never give my baby away. I would feel too attached.
- —Guest Danielle
No regrets but still think about it
- I never thought it would happen to me, but I chose an abortion because I couldn't see a way to raise two children on one income. My husband and I had separated, I was raising a child on my own in a new town with no resources, no family, and a limited income, and I became pregnant. I thought long and hard about it. But I wasn't in a good place to raise another baby and take care of my 3-year-old. So I had an abortion in my first trimester. A few months later my husband and I worked things out and got back together. We had another child two years later. I know I could play the "what if" game but I'm not gonna go there. If I'd had the baby, maybe we wouldn't have gotten back together. It's hard to know, but I made the best choice at the time.
- —Guest Mandy
Abortion Argument
- My recently published novel, "Among Us Women," explores the opposing views of three women regarding abortion and their involvement in the opening of a women's health clinic in their town, where women get counseling and if they want, abortions. In addition to reasons women give, as you state in your article, is not wanting a deformed baby with its demands on a family, another determination chosen by a pro-life family in the book. One of the characters demands that her daughter marry rather than have an abortion. A second, having a problem becoming pregnant, rails against women "who so callously abort when so many of us are desperate to have a baby." And the third woman has an abortion when her lover insists but feels no guilt about doing so. I show no bias while revealing these personal confidences and their resolutions, and without doing so in the novel, will say that my own personal belief is whatever action a woman takes it is a question that should up to her conscience.
- —Guest Joan Lerner, Author of Among Us Women
Confused
- I am 18 my unborn child's father is 38. Since I've found out I was pregnant things began to go downhill for us. He's been having relations with other females and he doesn't support me when I need it. I feel very down and emotional a lot. I was supposed to get an abortion about 2weeks ago but he stopped me. I think it's because he wants me to need him. He has 6 children already. This is my first pregnancy I am 12 weeks. I wonder if I should just get the abortion or carry on and refresh an unconditional love for my child. If anyone has any advice please feel free to voice your opinion on my situation.
- —Guest Janea
Because I just don't want kids!
- I used contraception and EC - both failed. I got a medical abortion at 22. Why? Because I'm childfree and I don't want kids. Simple as that. It was not some huge sad event. I never had a moment of doubt or a single second thought. I knew immediately I wanted an abortion, and that was that. The process itself was not that bad. It was like a bad period. I felt empowered by it, and I'm glad I chose the medication route, because I got to do it at home, under my own power. It's my body, and I will choose what is done to it. Stuff happens, and while it was irritating to have to deal with it, it really was not the end of the world, and I'm even more of an advocate of women's rights now than I was before (and I always was!). Don't let the anti-choicers scare and guilt you. Your world won't come crashing down. You're not a murderer from exorcising a parasitic clump of cells from your uterus. It's your body. Do with it as you please, and protect it as you must.
- —Guest Liberated_woman
No Regrets
- I was 30 years old with two beautiful children. My husband had died the month before I discovered I was pregnant. Upon taking the positive pregnancy test I marched right down to the nearest abortion clinic, pushed through the protesters and opted for a medical abortion (that's the pills). My choice, the right choice, no regrets.
- —Guest Jo
he's making me do it..
- I am 17 years old and pregnant i am not on a relationship with the guy and he doesn't want the baby but i do i just feel we layed there and did it knowing the risks. He also wants me to get it because of our age difference .i want it he don't what should i do implus i couldnt ever forgive myself and god probably won't either
- —Guest lost my life
Choosing
- I'm 19 and think I could be pregnant. If so should I choose abortion because of this: I went to go hang out with an ex and he kinda pushed me into having sex after I told him no numerous times and that I had a boyfriend so many times. I really didn't want to. I am not 100 % sure if I have skipped yet. He also told me he wanted me back an amount of times as well. Well he's also got another baby with a different girl on the way too. I was beyond stupid for trusting him. I took a home test and it said I was pregnant and so I freaked and called of all things thinking he cared. He had that girl there with him. She called a night ago and told me I needed to be tested. She humiliated me and he won't talk to me because he hated me. I'm afraid to have it because God might hate me or the church I'm going to will. I talked to my boyfriend and told him that the other girl will try and say something. I told him me and the other guy have a past. He was ok with it. What should I do? Should I do this?
- —Guest confused and hurt
Congrats ladies!!
- I have never had an abortion but I work in an abortion clinic. I hear so many stories every day reagrding why women choose abortion. Most are sad, some are liberating and others are inspiring. I just wanted to say thanks for sharing your stories.
- —Guest vanessa
Why would anyone choose abortions?
- I had my first pregnancy as of January 13, 2011 and my due date was October 26, 2011. My boyfriend had a talk with each other. He suggested that I have an abortion or adoption. I couldn't bring myself to the terms that I was about to be a mother, I looked into both. Now, I went against both because why would I lay down and have sex if I'm not responsible to take care of a gift God gave me. Damn abortions, my son is the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm against both abortions and adoptions. Since my boyfriend suggested that I get abortion he's paying for those words because I left him, now he's paying child support.
- —Guest Layvonshay
modeling career
- I have my abortions all the time because I love my modeling career and I work my body very hard at the gym and eating healthy. Maybe irrelevant but I also own my own business as an esthetician. I don't like taking hormonal birth control because it makes me gain a little weight which could b detrimental to my modeling career. (Playboy and lingerie) I've tried iud and I got a bad infection. I won't abstain from sex because I love with my GORGEOUS fiancée and refuse to keep my hands off him (another subject!) Lol so I guess I use my abortions as a form of birth control. Yes I've seen all the pics n videos of aborted fetuses n how they do it. So don't believe the hype that u get all sad or that it hurts because I don't feel anything like that afterwards. Its nothing. I didn't become a drug addict or depressed. I actually live in a huge beautiful home, luxury cars, cute pets and an awesome and loving fiancee! Peace everyone!
- —Guest adrianna 512
1-15 of 137Next
