"I hate the feeling of my body being out of my control or taken over by something I don't want."

Sharing Truth
Four Abortions, Australia

“I never want children. I want to get my tubes tied but doctors refuse to do this because they believe I will change my mind when I am older. The first time doctors treated me like I didn't have the ability to make a decision for myself. When I told the second doctor that I didn't feel capable of being a parent she offered me counseling and support services, like I might change my mind. The third doctor made me feel like I needed to justify why I wanted it done. The fourth made me feel bad about myself and like I was a horrible person.” Read more.

"I could barely support myself financially, and when I have children, I want to be able to give them the world."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Canada

“My period was a week late and I truly thought it was just stress. My boyfriend and I had been EXTREMELY careful, except one night. I took Plan B within an hour of having unprotected sex. We broke up two weeks after that night, and another two weeks later I found out I was pregnant. I really struggled with the decision since I had already had an abortion. The women at the clinic were extremely understanding and explained that some women are incredibly fertile and it isn't uncommon for situations like mine.” Read more.

"In patriarchal societies such as India’s, women are often taught motherhood is their life’s main calling, and therefore any choice that detracts from the path is automatically denounced."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, India

“The most difficult issue with it is that you fall into this section where you barely have rights. You do have access to abortions and you can go get one, but nobody is going to support you, and if something goes wrong, you won’t get justice. Herein lies the crux of a lot of bad memories people associate with abortions. They don’t necessarily stem from the abortion procedure itself but instead arise from the impossible difficulties society has lined up for those seeking to exercise their reproductive rights." Read more.

"She asked me to get up on the kitchen table, where she tormented me for what seemed to me forever with all kinds of sharp metal instruments she kept boiling on an ancient stove." 

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Bucharest, Romania

“She took great precautions not to let me make any noise by putting a rag in my mouth and asking me to bite on it when it hurt. I left that place with the conviction that I was never going to have sex again. I was worried because I continued getting morning sickness despite the ordeal I had gone through. Someone else took me for a secret check-up, which proved I was still pregnant. I was lucky I was taken to a real doctor this time, who finished the job on another kitchen table.” Read more.

"We both knew that we couldn’t take care of yet another child because we were both still so young and he too had already had a child from a previous relationship."

Sharing Truth
Four Abortions, California

“A year later I got pregnant by him again. This time I decided to keep it. I felt I wasn’t emotionally strong enough to go through another abortion although I was still so incredibly young. Four months after we had our child, I got pregnant AGAIN!! I didn’t want to have another abortion but I did anyway. Me and my child’s father separated for about 8 months after the second abortion.” Read more.

"Fue porque las dos veces me falló el método anticonceptivo." * "It was because both times the contraceptive method failed me."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Mexico, Spanish/English

“Estoy segura que no quiero tener hijos pronto y por eso usaba esos anticonceptivos, pero no sé si fue mala suerte o si hago algo mal o qué.” Lee mas.

“I'm sure I don't want to have children soon and that's why I used those contraceptives, but I don't know if it was bad luck or if I do something wrong or what.” Read more.

"My abortions brought me joy and relief and sanity when I needed it most."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, West Virginia, U.S.

“My second abortion was a procedural abortion. I remember drifting off to sleep in the feet-holders, and then waking up once it was over. I didn’t feel any of it. The clinic staff gave me soda to drink and let me rest for a bit. I remember walking out of the clinic and into the sunshine, feeling elated and relieved once more. I felt overwhelmingly free. It was beautiful.” Read more.

"Now? 34 weeks pregnant in a happy marriage and know what a disaster it would have been to keep either of my previous pregnancies."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, U.S.

“The trauma felt around my second was ALL of the bullying that was done by the dude to make sure I was going to get an abortion. That one was in a clinic. My girlfriend came with me, and he ignored my texts and calls all day. THAT was traumatic. That is what was upsetting. I had loving care through the whole process and afterwards. And I’m so grateful I didn’t have a baby with someone who was so god damn manipulative, again at a young age.” Read more.

Podcast ~ Listen to actor Alyssa Milano and artist Amanda Palmer talk about their experiences of having more than one abortion.

Sharing Truth
Audio, Two Abortions, Three Abortions, U.S., Scotland

"The hardest part of that whole day wasn't the procedure,” says Amanda Palmer, “it was actually the walk from the car to the clinic where I had to walk the gauntlet of angry, rageful, judgmental protestors." Says Alyssa Milano, “I was raised Catholic and was suddenly put in conflict with my faith — a faith I was coming to realize empowered only men to make every single decision of what was allowed and what was not allowed. I had a career and a future and potential.” Listen.

"I never imagined I could be pregnant; I didn't even think I was ovulating."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Location Unknown

“I was 28 when I had my first abortion. I had just started a new job, fresh out of graduate school and had just discovered I was in a horrible relationship. I couldn't get an abortion fast enough. I felt relieved mostly after it was over . . . At the age of 35 I had grown up a lot and had been dating a wonderful man for about three months while working towards my PhD. The very first time we had sex it happened. He co-signed my fears and stated that we were just starting a relationship, it was too soon, I had to finish my doctorate first. Still unsure, I went along with his strong wishes and had an abortion.” Read more.

"A year to the day later, I got pregnant again. I had missed ONE pill."

Sharing Truth
Two Abortions, Colorado, U.S.

“We still weren't ready to have a child. I had to go back to the clinic, but I went to a different town because I felt embarrassed that it happened again and that, again, I'm still not ready. Same medicines, just this time I got an IUD. Prior to this, no one would put an IUD in. I had asked a few physicians in different states. I am 30 now. We are married and now getting ready to take the IUD out and plan for a family. I don't regret my decisions because I did what I had to do to feel comfortable/ready in bringing a child into this crazy world.” Read more.

"With all the love in my heart, I gave the potential life growing within me back to our Creator."

Sharing Truth
Multiple Abortions, Location Unknown

“I was already a mother when I had my abortions. I love my children. I believe that my work as a parent is my most important job. When I had my first abortion, I was a single mother. I had just found the courage to end an abusive relationship. It was an incredibly empowering and scary step to try to stand on my own when I had nothing. My baby girl was 9 months old and my income was well below the poverty line. I prayed and lifted all that was weighing upon me to God.” Read more.

"I just want to be able to have someone take me seriously when I say I don’t want to be a mother."

Sharing Truth
Four Abortions, U.S.

“After my first abortion I saw several doctors to talk about my options. I had been on the depo shot, but I had adverse effects and had to stop getting it. I wanted to talk about sterilization, of course I was ignored. I was made to believe I just wasn’t old enough to know, that I would change my mind, and 7 years, and 3 abortions later my mind has never wavered.” Read more.

"I am not broken or damaged or heartless. I made the decisions I needed to in order to make the best of my life."

Sharing Truth
Four Abortions, Location Unknown

“I had my daughter at age 21. She is the light of my life and the reason for so many things I do. Her dad and I split up after a few years and I jumped into another relationship and got pregnant. I was 25. I wanted to be excited and for a few weeks I was but I knew that having a child with this man was not what was best for me or what I wanted. He had three kids himself and I was still in love with my daughter’s dad. Without him knowing, I had an abortion.” Read more.

Load More