We’ve asked people to share their abortion stories to help end the stigma, shame and silence around abortion.
Because, as MSI UK nurse Kendall says, “It’s so much more normal and common than people think, we just don’t talk about it enough”.
Here are a few stories shared by our community:
VALERIE
“I found out I was unexpectedly pregnant at 19, after my contraception failed. This was terrifying news for me. The relationship I was in at the time was not healthy, I was in the middle of my degree, and struggling financially.
There was no doubt in my mind that having an abortion was the right choice for me – I wasn’t ready to be a parent. That being said, it still wasn’t an easy decision.
I was terrified when I went for my first consultation. I had no idea what to expect, and I was alone and scared. Until someone from MSI spoke to me. I was met with empathy, kindness and understanding. They clearly explained my options – I finally felt safe and in control.
I chose to have a surgical abortion as I was too far along to have a medical abortion at home. I have a fear of being put to sleep, so while I didn’t feel much pain, I was aware of what was happening, and very emotional. A practitioner from MSI asked if I wanted her hand and I held it (and squeezed it very hard). I didn’t let go until the procedure was finished.
10 years on and I am grateful I had a choice. I have a career I’m passionate about, a partner I love and a life that’s mine. I will be forever grateful to the team at MSI, and to myself for being brave enough to take this step.
My life has been an adventure and I got to design it.”
REBECCA
“When I was 40, my husband and I realised that I was five weeks pregnant. I drove by myself to an abortion clinic in Chicago and had an abortion within two weeks of finding out.
I chose to get an abortion because my husband travelled a lot for work, we have no family in the state of Illinois, and I was concerned that I could not mentally or emotionally handle another child. My three children were active in sports and many other activities, and we were getting accustomed to having kids who were independent.
I am very grateful that we could afford it, we had close access, and that by being a stay-at-home mom, I was able to go to the abortion appointments while my kids were at school.
Randomly, my 12-year-old son made an abortion comment at dinner the other night, and I told him it wasn’t something funny to joke about. He asked if I had ever had an abortion. I told him I had, and my kids were very surprised and had a lot of questions. I told them I would answer any questions they had honestly, and that it was important for women to share their stories to reduce secrecy around abortion.
I told them that I am not ashamed of my abortion.”
ARA
“After suddenly finding out that I was pregnant following a few days of constant vomiting and being a week late of my period, I was shocked to say the least. I knew that an abortion was what I wanted. I booked an over-the-phone consultation with a nurse who advised me on my options.
When arriving at the clinic, all the staff were lovely and kind, especially the nurse who assessed me. I felt zero judgement and very secure in my decision.
The same day, I took my first pills of mifepristone and was completely fine going about my normal day. 24 hours later I took my other tablets of misoprostol. Within half an hour, the bleeding started and I felt quite a heavy gush but the pain was pretty tolerable. I had taken ibuprofen half an hour before and had a hot water bottle at the ready, which probably helped.
I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the nausea went away and also how well I was managing the pain and bleeding. For me personally, it truly was like a heavy period. I bled for a total of around 13 days. The first five were quite heavy, then patchy and spotting. Do be prepared with plenty of sanitary towels and a few snacks.
It has been three weeks since I took my pills and I have just tested negative. Medical abortion pills are a blessing.”
SARAH
“I had an abortion when I was 26.
A few months prior, I had left for a long-awaited backpacking trip to Asia, something I’d dreamt of since I can remember! I’d experienced multiple losses in my immediate family and my trip was a huge relief. I started to feel like myself, maybe for the first time since I was a child. I had no one to tend to, no sick family member to take care of or endlessly worry about. Just me. I was so happy and grateful for every day and experience.
A few months into my trip, I met my soon-to-be boyfriend. Very much in love, we travelled together through Vietnam. And I got pregnant.
I was so scared, confused and shocked. All I knew was that I did not want to deliver a baby. For once, I wanted and needed to be there for myself, and only for myself.
We went to the MSI clinic in Hanoi. Everyone there was professional and very friendly. It was my safety net of support, on the other side of the world. Just what I needed. To this day I remember the moment I took the first pill and how sad I was, as well as the moment I came back for a check up and ultrasound.
Getting an abortion is anything but easy. But it’s a woman’s right to choose for herself.
I continued my travels, and to this day I’m so grateful for how supported I was by MSI.”
There’s no one universal abortion experience. But there is a universal truth: abortion is healthcare and should be a choice that’s available to everyone, everywhere.
If you have a story of your own to share, we’d love to hear from you.
Note the names of individuals featured in this collection of stories have been changed.
