This story from a man is published at Women on Web.

I had several abortions. And children, too!

My feelings were mixed — relieved, confused, sure, sad.

An abortion means that you let go of possible future. Even when I was very sure about the decision and relieved after the operation, there was also sadness and mourning about it. The sadness about not being able to enjoy this other future, too!

The fact that abortion is legal and free in the Netherlands allowed us to focus on our own responsibility and decision, rather than on other troubles around it.

We took it for granted and never realized that our parents had to fight for this right and that in so many countries it's not available safely.

All abortions I was involved in were rather private. Not many others reacted to it. In general abortion is considered a common practice in the Netherlands. But people don't talk about it.

~ Willem Velthoven