National Abortion Federation Blog: Saporta Reporter

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 am a struggling parent of three who is just getting out of an abusive divorce and was kicked out of my home. I thank the clinic and the Hotline for going out of their way to help others like me in need.

--Submitted by Matilda* through a member clinic


I wanted to tell my story to let people know that the stereotypes about who gets abortions are misleading. I am a 35-year-old Caucasian woman with a post graduate degree, and my boyfriend is educated and employed. We chose to terminate my pregnancy because we want any children we bring into the world to have the best possible chance for a good life, and right now we are not financially able to provide that. We cannot afford to get married or pay for a pregnancy/delivery because of student loans. I am a self-employed lawyer and my health insurance won’t cover prenatal or maternity expenses. I live in the Detroit area, and full-time work with benefits is very hard to find, so I also work part-time. My boyfriend only makes enough to cover his mortgage and loans.

I want people who oppose abortion rights to take a good look at how screwed up their logic is. We say we are a society that values education, but we don’t support fair wages and benefits for people who take on debt to get one! I have sacrificed a lot to achieve what I have already accomplished. I’m not going to sacrifice my children’s future by having a child I can’t support financially. I look forward to having a family when I can be the kind of mom I want to be.

¬--Submitted by Anne-Marie* through a member clinic

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

Last week, the public health blog The Health Hawk named our blog as one of its “Top 50 Blogs About Reproductive Rights.” We are joined by other well-known blogs like RH Reality Check, Our Bodies, Our Blog, and Feministing on the Health Hawk’s list.

The Health Hawk tracks health related news, and focuses on a variety of issues, from public health policies to education and general health issues.

The full list of the top 50 can be found here.

Labels: health blogs, saporta reporter

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 have five kids at home, and we are all living off of one income. We are barely making it, and I know to have another child would be too hard for me. That being said, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

--Submitted by Jill* from a member clinic


Because I was 38 years old, we decided on an amniocentesis for my second pregnancy. It showed that only the barest, most rudimentary structure of the brain, the brain stem, had developed. Virtually the entire brain was missing, along with most of the middle of the face. All that was there was an empty, fluid-filled space, with no structures. As a pediatrician, I knew that these anomalies were not compatible with life. My husband and I decided then and there to have an abortion. My own OB/GYN scheduled it for the next morning, in the hospital that we both used. She recommended that I have general anesthesia, but then called back that evening to tell me that not a single anesthesiologist on staff at the hospital would participate, even when my OB described to them the absence of a brain! We were living in Salt Lake City at the time, and apparently most of the anesthesiologists in town refused to participate in an abortion, no matter what the reason. Fortunately, I knew an anesthesiologist who had privileges at that hospital, though she rarely used them, and she agreed to provide anesthesia. I had an abortion in my own hospital, with my own OB/GYN. It was entirely covered by my insurance, with the same small co-pay that any surgical procedure would have required. Later, my OB/GYN told me that she had checked for a heartbeat before initiating the procedure. She had been unable to find one. Apparently, between the ultrasound at 5 pm and the surgery at 7 am, the fetus had died. Genetic testing of fetal tissue showed that the fetus had Trisomy 13, a condition virtually always incompatible with life.

--Submitted by Stephanie* through our website

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy.

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

Today, Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning effectively halted a law requiring health screenings for women seeking abortions from ever going into effect. LB 594 would have required doctors to screen women to determine if the abortion could cause any negative mental or physical side effects.

LB 594 was signed into law by Gov. Dave Heineman and set to go into effect July 15th. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law in late June, and district court judge Laurie Smith Camp issued a temporary injunction against the law on July 14th. In her ruling, Judge Camp said that the law placed “substantial, likely insurmountable” obstacles in the way of women seeking abortions in Nebraska.”

"It is evident from the judge's ruling that LB 594 will ultimately be found unconstitutional,” Bruning’s spokeswoman, Shannon Kingery, said in a news release following Bruning’s decision. “Losing this case would require Nebraska taxpayers to foot the bill for Planned Parenthood's legal fees."

>Learn more about reproductive rights laws in your state

Labels: nebraska, state legislation

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.

My pregnancy was a complete shock to me and my fiancé. Our wedding was a month away, I had been on birth control without any problems, and I had just lost my job and decided to go back to school. My fiancé is a firefighter, and while his position seemed secure at the moment, there was no telling where that would go.

We were both in our early twenties, and while that is a perfectly acceptable time to have a child, especially in my family where no one has had a baby past 23, we still felt like this was something we weren't ready for. What about all the things we wanted to accomplish first, like getting out of my parents’ house and finally getting our own place? We have always wanted children, but there was no way we could have provided for a baby at that point.

After weighing our options, it seemed clear terminating the pregnancy was the best choice for us. Of course, this didn’t come without its doubts, and it wasn’t until I decided to discuss this with my mother that I got exactly the comfort I was looking for. She told me that any person who can recognize that they can’t provide for a child at the moment is responsible and caring enough to be an excellent parent.

About a year later, my now-husband and I have begun talking about having a baby. This time it will be planned and we will both be fully prepared. When looking back, there is nothing we regret. Being responsible means making choices that are not always easy, but are always right. Now we are excited to start trying to conceive and know we can provide our child with everything it needs and then some.

--Submitted by Ethel* through a member clinic


My senior year of high school, I ended up pregnant. I was on the pill, and I was also taking medication for bi-polar disorder. My psychiatrist and my pharmacist neglected to tell me that the two medications essentially canceled each other out.

I considered my options, and after consulting with a physician, we determined that with the medication I was taking, and my lack of proper nutrition, it would be best to terminate the pregnancy. I was on several other prescription medications throughout the course of the year. My insurance did not, and does not, cover any form of birth control for any reason, even PMDD or migraines, nor does it cover abortion.

Women's health should not be a topic to be debated by the politicians on Capitol Hill. It is my health—our health—that is in the hands of a biased and sexist majority. My choice, my decision, is just that... my choice. I am a responsible adult; I am a strong and independent woman. Law should not dictate what I can and cannot do with my body.

--Submitted by Maggie* through our website

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

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.

My pregnancy was a complete shock to me and my fiancé. Our wedding was a month away, I had been on birth control without any problems, and I had just lost my job and decided to go back to school. My fiancé is a firefighter, and while his position seemed secure at the moment, there was no telling where that would go.

We were both in our early twenties, and while that is a perfectly acceptable time to have a child, especially in my family where no one has had a baby past 23, we still felt like this was something we weren't ready for. What about all the things we wanted to accomplish first, like getting out of my parents’ house and finally getting our own place? We have always wanted children, but there was no way we could have provided for a baby at that point.

After weighing our options, it seemed clear terminating the pregnancy was the best choice for us. Of course, this didn’t come without its doubts, and it wasn’t until I decided to discuss this with my mother that I got exactly the comfort I was looking for. She told me that any person who can recognize that they can’t provide for a child at the moment is responsible and caring enough to be an excellent parent.

About a year later, my now-husband and I have begun talking about having a baby. This time it will be planned and we will both be fully prepared. When looking back, there is nothing we regret. Being responsible means making choices that are not always easy, but are always right. Now we are excited to start trying to conceive and know we can provide our child with everything it needs and then some.

--Submitted by Ethel* through a member clinic


My senior year of high school, I ended up pregnant. I was on the pill, and I was also taking medication for bi-polar disorder. My psychiatrist and my pharmacist neglected to tell me that the two medications essentially canceled each other out.

I considered my options, and after consulting with a physician, we determined that with the medication I was taking, and my lack of proper nutrition, it would be best to terminate the pregnancy. I was on several other prescription medications throughout the course of the year. My insurance did not, and does not, cover any form of birth control for any reason, even PMDD or migraines, nor does it cover abortion.

Women's health should not be a topic to be debated by the politicians on Capitol Hill. It is my health—our health—that is in the hands of a biased and sexist majority. My choice, my decision, is just that... my choice. I am a responsible adult; I am a strong and independent woman. Law should not dictate what I can and cannot do with my body.

--Submitted by Maggie* through our website

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

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 was 19 years old when I found out I was pregnant. I was a drug user and I often drank. Right when I found out, the only word that can describe how I felt was panic. When my boyfriend and I went to the clinic in North Carolina, a bunch of pro-life people yelled and said horrible things to us – I can’t ever repeat the names I was called. I stumbled into the clinic crying and scared, and I got an ultrasound. I was further along than I thought – I thought I hadn’t gotten my period because I had stopped eating and I thought the throwing up was because of the amount of pain pills (my drug of choice) I was taking. A nice, gentle woman told me I could get an abortion at a clinic in another state. I told her I needed a moment to think, and as I stood outside, crying and calling my mom (who supported me fully), some of the protesters started yelling at me again. The doctor came and took me inside, and she actually held me and talked to my mom while I cried. She gave me a referral to the clinic, and I called and made an appointment on my way back home.

I am so grateful to the doctors that took care of me, and the Hotline. I know in my heart that I made the right choice. I am also proud to say that after the abortion that I quit using drugs. I am now 11 months sober. I am so grateful to the wonderful people at the Hotline and the clinic. Thank you, oh thank you so much.

--Submitted by Kaitlyn* through our website


*Name has been changed to protect patient privacy

There are rumors spreading on Twitter and Facebook claiming that abortion will be illegal in Michigan after July 31. These claims are unsubstantiated and we can find no evidence to support them. Women in Michigan are still able to obtain the safe, legal abortion care they need.

For unbiased, factual information about abortion or laws in your state, contact the NAF Hotline at (877) 257-0012.

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.

Honestly, I never thought I would be in this situation, but who does? I don’t have enough money to support myself, let alone a child. I just didn’t think it was fair to bring a child into the world without being able to support it to my full potential. When I do have children, I want to give them what I have and more.
-- Submitted by Abra* through a member clinic

I want to thank the Hotline for its help during this difficult time. My boyfriend and I never imagined having an abortion, but after a long discussion we realized it is what we need to do at this point in our lives.We are just not ready. If it weren’t for the Hotline, I don’t know how we would have followed through with our decision. Thank you!
-- Submitted by Harriet* through a member clinic

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

Monday, a district judge issued an injunction to stop the enforcement of an Oklahoma law that would require women to undergo an ultrasound one hour prior to obtaining abortion care and listen to an explanation from the medical professional performing the ultrasound while the image was displayed where she could see it.

NAF member clinic Reproductive Services of Tulsa and Oklahoma physician Larry Burns, along with the Center for Reproductive Rights, sued the state after the Legislature overrode Governor Brad Henry’s veto of the bill in April 2010. The law was placed on hold the following month, and with today’s ruling will not be enforced until a hearing is held that is currently scheduled for January 21 of next year.

>Learn more about state laws restricting abortion.

Labels: oklahoma, state legislation, ultrasound laws

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 have a three-year-old and an 11-month-old. My husband was laid off a year and a half ago. He now earns $250 a week, gets no unemployment, and we live off of food stamps. We had to declare bankruptcy, our car was repossessed, and we were evicted when, due to an emergency, we were unable to pay rent. We can barely provide for the children we already have; we were unable to pay our other bills this month to come up with the money for my abortion.

--Submitted by Annie* through a member clinic


I recently lost my job after 10 years at a health care facility, and am presently attending school to become a special education teacher. I am a single parent; my daughter is a beautiful dancer. In order to take care of children properly, you have to have dedication, love, and a good job. Thanks to the NAF Hotline, I can continue with my education and provide my daughter with an exceptional life. Thank you for giving me another chance in life.

--Submitted by Stacey* through a member clinic

Names have been changed to protect patient privacy.

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

This week, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction to stop the enforcement of a Nebraska law that would require additional screenings for women seeking abortion care in the state.

U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp said the evidence presented so far showed that the screening law would make it harder for women to get an abortion in Nebraska by requiring screenings that could be impossible to perform under a literal reading of the law. She also said the law would make doctors who perform abortions at risk of crippling lawsuits.

“The effect of LB 594 will be to place substantial, likely insurmountable, obstacles in the path of women seeking abortions in Nebraska,” Judge Smith Camp said in her ruling.

Judge Smith Camp’s ruling will prevent the law, which was scheduled to go into effect tomorrow, from going into effect until the lawsuit challenging it is decided.

>Learn more about state laws restricting abortion.

Labels: nebraska, state legislation, women

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.


Though this was a very difficult decision to make, it was the best one for my situation. I have an 11-month-old son, and I had to stop going to school for a year to be with him. Having another baby just wouldn’t be wise right now, since I have not yet graduated from college and am not financially stable. I am pro-choice because no government of any kind should dictate what a woman should do with her own body. Women are strong enough to have children and also decide whether or not to have a baby.

--Submitted by Natalie* through a member clinic


My ex-boyfriend never told me that the method he used failed, so I never went to get Plan B. I found out about a month later that I was pregnant, and when I told him, he agreed to help out with funds. But every time I’d ask him about the money, he never had it. I tried to sell everything from shoes to valuables; I didn’t eat lunch, to save money. I even applied for a loan. Had it not been for the Hotline, I wouldn’t have been able to have my abortion. I greatly appreciate what they did for me.

--Submitted by Lynne* through a member clinic



*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

This week, NAF board member Carole Joffe, author of Doctors of Conscience and the recently released Dispatches from the Abortion Wars, published an article about recent anti-choice legislation in Nebraska. Published on RH Reality Check, the article reads in part:

Not only is Nebraska’s Women’s Health Protection Act impossible for providers to comply with, this legislation is not necessary. With respect to physical health, the excellent safety record of abortion since Roe is well documented. With respect to mental health, the best predictor of a woman’s mental health status after an abortion, psychological experts have concluded, is her mental health before an abortion, and as suggested, there is no support for the existence of “post abortion syndrome.”

>Read the rest of the article here

Labels: carole joffe, nebraska, state legislation

This week, we held a press conference in Ottawa with other leading Canadian women’s and reproductive rights organizations to address family planning and abortion care in the G8 maternal and child health initiative. Following the press conference, we delivered letters signed by more than 100 international organizations and government officials from the G8 and other countries to Prime Minister Harper.

At the press conference, I issued the following statement :

Since Prime Minister Harper announced that maternal health would be a development priority at the upcoming G8 Summit, Harper and members of his cabinet, have publicly stated that the government’s maternal health strategy will not address unsafe abortions in developing countries or support access to family planning and contraceptives. Despite public outcry concerning the government’s remarks, and recommendations from leading scientific bodies and international aid agencies, Harper refuses to discuss including access to safe abortion care in Canada's G8 Health Initiative.

As we have seen in Canada and other countries throughout the world, access to safe, legal abortion care preserves women’s health and saves women’s lives.

We have reached out to organizations from the G8 and other countries, and more than 100 groups have joined us in signing a letter to Prime Minister Harper, urging him to include access to safe abortion care in the G8 maternal and child health initiative.

Labels: Canada, G8, maternal health, reproductive rights

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 am a mother of two young children, and I have cervical cancer. I was taking birth control pills as directed, and never missed a dose. I went to the clinic for my pre-op for cancer and was told that I was pregnant and couldn’t get the surgery I needed for my cancer. I need to be healthy and cancer-free for the two children I have.

-- Submitted by Cierra* through a member clinic


I am a college student and a waitress, and both my parents have been laid off, so there’s no insurance. I could never afford the medical bills. It put a lot of stress on my fiancé and me as we knew we couldn’t afford to raise a child. We fought a lot more than usual. I contacted the clinic and went in for an informational visit. They made me feel right at home, and they and the Hotline helped me more than they could know—they saved my relationship, my career, and my life. Thank you so much!

--Submitted by Helen* through a member clinic

--*Names changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

NAF board member Carole Joffe, author of Doctors of Conscience and the recently released Dispatches from the Abortion Wars, has just published an article about recent anti-choice actions, from the ongoing controversy over Sister Mary Margaret McBride to Oklahoma’s just-passed ultrasound law. Published on RH Reality Check, the article reads in part:

Do these examples of misogyny represent anything new? To be sure, in some extremist anti-choice circles, full throated woman-hating never went away. (See, for example, this video from several years ago of Flip Benham screeching at women entering a N. Carolina clinic that “Satan will drink the blood of your child!”) But in other, more mainstream quarters of the movement, the heated, and hateful rhetoric of the period immediately after Roe—where women seeking abortion were routinely called “sluts” and “baby killers” —gradually became replaced by a new frame: abortion hurts women. Given that by the early 1980s, about 40 percent of American women were estimated to have an abortion during their reproductive years (the number now is about 33 percent), arguably such hate speech was counterproductive for the opponents of abortion: too many Americans either themselves had had an abortion or knew someone who did. Thus, antiabortion rhetoric shifted to professed sympathy for women, and abortion providers—those doing the hurting—became the main objects of demonization.


>Read the entire article here.

Labels: anti-choice, carole joffe, oklahoma, ultrasound laws

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 pro-choice because I think having a right to have this option is very helpful! I am also grateful for the help of the Hotline because I wanted to make this decision for myself. I would like to thank you very much, from the bottom of my heart. I couldn’t have obtained an abortion without the Hotline’s help.

--Submitted by Carrie* through a member clinic


I found out I was pregnant at the worst time possible. My boyfriend and I are both currently out of work and having a lot of money issues. I had to take off a semester of college because I couldn’t even get the funding for school; there was no way that we were financially or mentally ready to support and raise a baby. The people at the clinic have been so helpful and nice and making this process a lot more comfortable for me.

--Submitted by Britney* through a member clinic

--*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

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.


When I was 28 years old, I had completely depleted my savings account. I decided to drop out of my graduate program in order to find a better-paying job than the one I had. My husband was in school, and had a lot of student loans. Then the economy fell apart. The job search was a long and difficult process.

My husband and I had lost our health insurance when I left school, but for about $400 I took out a temporary plan with one of the big companies, that would last three months. It didn't cover any costs relating to pregnancy or abortion, but I wasn't particularly worried about that. I had no plans of getting pregnant. I was taking my birth control pills as prescribed.

The next month I missed a period, and bought a pregnancy test just in case. It was positive.

Since my temporary insurance plan did not cover any costs associated with pregnancy, childbirth, or abortion, I followed the suggestion of the health center staff and applied for medical assistance through the local county office. My state does cover the cost of abortion for women who qualify for medical assistance. But first I had to qualify. I submitted tax records and bank account statements for me and my husband. I submitted my husband's student loan records and records of my wages. I wrote a statement explaining how I had a temporary insurance plan that offered no coverage for abortion. I spent of lot of time waiting in line.

My abortion was a deep decision, one I was certain about, but one that challenged me to think deeply about my life path. I don't want my health care options ruled by people who would impose their views on me. I'm able-bodied, well-educated, and married. But I'm poor. I can't even imagine how difficult the process of getting an abortion would be for a woman who isn't as privileged as I. The lack of insurance coverage is one piece we need to fix. I will fight for it.

--Submitted by Katie* through our website

*Name has been changed to protect patient privacy.

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

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.


The summer after my freshman year of college, I found out I was pregnant. Seeing as how I was only 18 and working just 20 hours a week at a tanning salon, I was not financially stable enough to support a child. My boyfriend worked a lot, but he did not have enough money for a baby. We went back and forth with our decisions: one day we'd want to continue the pregnancy, and one day we wouldn't. We were fighting a lot and it was putting a lot of pressure and stress into our relationship.

After a week we finally decided to go through with the abortion. The morning that I went to the clinic, there were protesters outside the door. I was surprised to see that only one of the protesters was a woman, and the remaining four were men. I thought to myself how selfish they were to try to make me question my decision. They were men; they would never have to be in my shoes, pregnant. I was feeling scared when I walked into the clinic and saw about ten other girls who were around the same age as me. It was comforting to know that I wasn't alone with my decision.

The procedure was quick, and everything was done before I knew it. When I walked out the door, an enormous amount of pressure was lifted off my shoulders. I felt like I could go on with my life the way I wanted to, and an unplanned pregnancy no longer had to define my future. To this day I do not regret my decision. My boyfriend and I are still going strong despite our rough time, and I'm now going into my junior year of college. I could never thank the women at the clinic enough. They really did a lot for me, and I know they've helped out many women.

I'm very passionate about being pro-choice. I believe all women should be able to make decisions about their body, no matter the circumstance. I'm very happy to live in a time where I don't need to struggle because of an unplanned pregnancy. I had no complications with my abortion, emotionally or physically.

--Submitted by Lila* through our website


I am 32 and have three children. After a lengthy separation and amiable divorce, I met a wonderful man. We moved in together, and proceeded to live a rather full and loving life. We'd been careful, and when the condom slipped I picked up Plan B, but I was one of the women for whom it didn’t work.

My partner had decided long ago not to have children. He has a form of muscular dystrophy, and did not want his children to have to suffer from this disease as he has to. I respected that completely, as I'd long before decided not to have any more children.

I made the choice, and my partner stood with me. And thank the gods of all, we had the ability to make the choice! I had a lovely clinic, full of women who were so full of support and love, and a partner who was right there with me.

When the time comes, if my daughter needs to make this choice, I want her to be able to do so. I've been pro-choice for years now, one of those letter writers, phone callers, and general rabble-rousers (even before she was born). If I could give a huge hug to a woman in my position, like those ladies did for us, I would, even if that hug is just her knowing she's supported by someone, somewhere.

--Submitted by Elizabeth* through our website

--Names changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

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 was a college student in 1994 when I had my abortion. It was the right choice for me because I was single and it was an unplanned pregnancy.

I assumed getting my abortion would be a simple doctor's visit, but I was wrong. In the state of Ohio, before I could have my legal abortion, I had to listen to the pros and cons of abortion and childbirth via the phone; pick up a brochure sponsored by the state on fetal development; and wait an additional 24 hours before my procedure to give me time to “think.” The hoops I had to jump through were meant to dissuade me, but instead they just made me more determined to have it.

This was the first time I really started to take charge of my sexual health and became aware of how restrictive state abortion policies can affect ordinary women like me.

This experience started my interest in pro-choice politics and led me to become a clinic escort so other women wouldn't have to face what I did. In my escort work, I’ve been grabbed, and my openly gay friend was attacked and hospitalized with a concussion and six broken ribs. My attacker was convicted of criminal trespass, and my friend’s attacker was recently acquitted.

¬--Submitted by Nina* through our website

I was raped in December 2007. When I found out I was pregnant, I told my mom that I wanted an abortion. My mom blamed me for being raped, but even though she’s against abortion, she took me to the clinic. She thought it was better for me to have a safe, legal abortion than to attempt to do it myself in an illegal and dangerous way.

Every time I hear someone say she isn't able to get an abortion that she wants or needs, I can't help but think "what if my anti-choice mom hadn't taken me to get an abortion? What if my mom had cared more about her views on abortion than about my life?" I'm just glad that my mom valued my life more than her abortion views.

I'm pro-choice because I think all women and girls should be allowed to make their own decision about whether to carry a pregnancy to term or get an abortion. In a perfect world, everyone would place more value on the lives of women and girls than on their anti-abortion views.

--Submitted by Amanda* through our website

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

This week, Nebraska governor Dave Heineman (R) signed a law banning most abortions in the state after 20 weeks gestation based on unsubstantiated claims that a fetus has the capacity to feel pain. The law is scheduled to go into effect on October 15.

“There is certainly no solid scientific evidence establishing that a fetus can perceive pain at these earlier stages, so any court decisions to uphold such broader laws could only do so by disregarding the importance of good scientific evidence," said NAF Board Member and attorney Caitlin Borgmann. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has also stated that there is no legitimate evidence supporting the perception of pain in the fetus.

Heineman also approved a separate law that requires women seeking abortions to be screened for mental health issues.

>Learn more about state laws.

Labels: nebraska, state legislation

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.

Just two years ago this April, I found out I was pregnant. I knew that abortion was the choice for me. I suffer from a seizure disorder and take daily medication that can cause severe birth defects. I am so grateful I have the right to choose. I know I want children of my own one day, however I need to change my medicine and be off the current one for six months before I can try to have children. I am grateful for the doctors and clinics who offer these services to patients. My clinic was amazing. Thank you for everything, and your work to keep women safe!

--Submitted by Skylar* through our website

My family is going through a hard time financially. Without the Hotline’s help, I don’t know what my options would have been. Going through this made me thankful that I have a family and people that care about me. This experience has changed my life; it has made me more independent and responsible, and taught me how to make not only good decisions but the best ones for me. Thank you.

--Submitted by Ramona* through a member clinic

Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

Last week, the Austin, TX City Council voted unanimously to require Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) that don't offer or refer clients for abortion care or birth control services to post signs with that information at their facilities.

This ordinance comes two months after the Baltimore, MD City Council passed a similar law requiring CPCs without licensed medical professionals to post signs informing women that they were not receiving information from medical professionals. The majority of CPCs often use deceptive advertising practices to give the appearance that they are legitimate medical clinics that provide a variety of reproductive health care services, including family planning and abortion care.

In reality, most CPCs do not provide full options counseling and generally will not refer for abortion care or birth control. Women who mistakenly visit CPCs describe being harassed, intimidated, and given blatantly false information at their appointments.

If you have experience with a deceptive CPC, we would be interested in hearing your story.

>Learn more about CPCs.

Labels: crisis pregnancy center (CPC), maryland, texas

Today we issued the following statement:

Throughout his 35 years on the Supreme Court, Justice John Paul Stevens has been an influential member of the Court known for his protection of civil rights and civil liberties. We thank him for his years of dedicated public service, and wish him well in his retirement.

Justice Stevens consistently and vigorously upheld the protections of Roe v. Wade. He voted to uphold a woman's right to choose in several important cases, including Casey and Stenberg (Carhart I). Most recently in Carhart II, Stevens joined Justice Ginsburg's impassioned dissent attacking the majority for placing women's health in danger when the Court upheld a federal law banning certain abortion procedures in 2007. In 2000, Stevens wrote the majority opinion in the Court’s decision to uphold a Colorado buffer zone measure that protected women seeking abortion care from harassment.

The Supreme Court plays a critical role in protecting women’s access to abortion care, and the last two cases involving abortion (Carhart I and II) have been decided by just one vote. This vacancy is an opportunity for President Obama to select a justice who will uphold the right to privacy found in the United States Constitution with the same vigor as Justice Stevens.

Labels: Obama Administration, Supreme Court

Anti-choice legislators in the states continue to restrict women’s access to abortion care by passing bills that ban health insurance coverage for abortion, interfere in the doctor-patient relationship, and place an undue burden on both women and their health care providers.

Last week, the Tennessee House Commerce Committee passed a bill that would eliminate insurance coverage for abortion care from a health insurance exchange slated to go into effect in 2014. Several states are considering a variety of different restrictions on insurance coverage for abortion care under the new structure created by federal health care reform.

The Tennessee legislature also approved a bill that would require abortion clinics to post signs that read, in part, "It is against the law for anyone, regardless of the person's relationship to you, to coerce you into having or to force you to have an abortion." A similar measure was recently passed in Georgia. These bills are unnecessary, as abortion providers already work extensively with their patients to determine that their decision is voluntary and informed.

In Oklahoma, Governor Brad Henry signed into law three separate anti-choice bills. The statutes outlaw gender-specific abortion; regulate the provision of medical abortion; and create the Freedom of Conscience Act, which says employers "cannot discriminate against an employee by refusing to accommodate the religious beliefs of said person as it pertains to abortion, human embryos, fetal transplants or euthanasia."

>Learn more about state restrictions.

Labels: access, georgia, health insurance, oklahoma, state legislation, tennessee

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 am currently separated from my spouse. He is not dependable right now, and has not been for the last year. I do not doubt my ability to love and support a child, but I do doubt my ability to financially provide. If it’s a struggle to pay for this service, how can I expect to provide basics? I cannot imagine the lifetime struggle I would have faced if this option were not here. I now can continue my life for the child I already have. I know I can support her, and I can look forward to a healthy, loving supportive relationship that may bless me again with a child.

--Submitted by Rae* through a member clinic


When I found out I was pregnant, I was very scared and I did not know what I was going to do. I knew that I wasn’t capable of taking care of a child at this time. Knowing that there are still caring people in the world who want to help you get through such a tough thing really means the world to me. Thank you for your kindness and understanding.

--Submitted by Kristina* through a member clinic

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

A Dallas man is facing federal charges for threatening NAF member Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center in Dallas, TX. Erlyndon Joseph Lo, 27, went to the Plano federal courthouse last Friday and filed a court document saying that at noon that day, he was planning to go to the clinic and "use deadly force…," according to court documents. Lo was arrested by the FBI on Saturday and remains in custody.

"We won’t tolerate threats to clinics,” said Mark White, spokesman for the Dallas FBI. "We acted swiftly to ensure that no one was injured and that no act of violence actually did take place.”

Lo has been charged with one felony count of communicating a threat via an instrument of interstate commerce and one misdemeanor violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison.

>Learn more about clinic violence.

Labels: clinic violence, FACE act

Today I released the following statement:

Today a judge in Wichita, KS sentenced anti-abortion extremist and convicted murderer Scott Roeder to the maximum sentence allowed by Kansas law for the murder of NAF member Dr. George Tiller.

While this won’t bring Dr. Tiller back, it is important that Roeder spend the rest of his life in prison so that he cannot harm another abortion provider. Anyone thinking of committing a similar crime also needs to understand that there is no justification for murdering an abortion provider, and that if they commit such a crime they will spend the rest of their lives in prison.

In January, a Sedgwick County jury took just 37 minutes to convict Roeder of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault. Under Kansas law he faced a mandatory life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years; however, based on aggravating circumstances, prosecutors requested and received a “Hard 50” sentence, which requires Roeder to serve at least 50 years before he can be considered for parole. Roeder is 52 years old.

We hope this sentence will serve as a deterrent for those who may be considering following in Roeder’s footsteps. In a civilized society, we cannot allow anti-abortion extremists to take the law into their own hands in order to advance their own personal, political agendas.

Labels: clinic violence, Dr. George Tiller, Kansas, Scott Roeder, violence

NAF member Carole Joffe, author of Doctors of Conscience and the recently released Dispatches from the Abortion Wars, has just published an open letter to Congressman Bart Stupak about the violence and harassment abortion providers face every day. Published on the website of Beacon Press, the letter reads in part:

“I wonder, however, if your own experience has made you more empathetic with abortion providers, who have for years endured similar behavior from the same antiabortion extremists who have now targeted you? Though obviously you and the provider community do not agree on the abortion issue, perhaps now you can agree with them that the disagreements over this issue must remain civil. How can we call ourselves a democracy if we cannot express political beliefs without fear of violence? Congressman Stupak, I respectfully call on you to disavow violence against all Americans, not just elected officials.”

Carole’s letter is particularly timely, as today Scott Roeder will be sentenced for the murder of Dr. George Tiller.

>Read the entire letter here.

Labels: health care reform, Scott Roeder, violence

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.


The clinic and the Hotline made a big difference in my life. My boyfriend and I are both unemployed and knew that having a child at this point in my life would be very difficult. The clinic and Hotline’s assistance have allowed me to pursue my dreams.

--Submitted by Nadine* through a member clinic


I have a five-year-old daughter and since she was born my whole life has been geared towards her safety and happiness. Now that I am a mother, my views have changed on what women’s rights are and how we need to protect them.

If anything bad ever happened to my daughter and an unexpected pregnancy was the result…I would just die if someone was able to just snap their fingers and decide what was best for her future without knowing or caring about how she felt.

I am and always will be pro-choice because of my beautiful baby girl.
--Submitted by Jessica* through our website

*Names changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

Today, I issued the following statement:

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed historic health care reform legislation. And while we agree that the health care system is certainly broken, it is unfortunate that reform continued the discrimination against our country’s most vulnerable women.

Health care reform was intended to expand comprehensive health care coverage for millions of Americans. Abortion care is basic health care for women and should not be treated differently from any other health care service, yet restrictions like the Hyde Amendment seriously limit women’s access to care. Although it has been the status quo for more than 30 years, the Hyde Amendment is a harmful, unacceptable policy that discriminates against millions of women who rely on the government for the rest of their health care.

While many of us feel very strongly that public funding restrictions need to be lifted, the pro-choice community did not attempt to use health care reform as a vehicle to advance this important goal. Now that reform has been passed, it is time for pro-choice leaders in the private and public sectors to come together to truly address the inequalities in access to abortion care and work to repeal the Hyde Amendment.

Every month, our toll-free Hotline receives thousands of calls from women who are unable to afford the abortion care they need. We recently heard from a woman who was fleeing an abusive relationship and although she had Medicaid, it wouldn’t cover her abortion; a full-time college student who was selling her textbooks to raise money for her procedure because health insurance through school didn’t cover abortion care; a rape victim and mother who was pawning her possessions in order to afford an abortion; an unemployed mother of four who was facing eviction and suicidal because she could not afford an abortion; and a single mother raising a child with a disability, who was employed and on Medicaid, but unable to afford the cost of the abortion care she needed.

In a fair and just society, we cannot continue to discriminate against our poorest women and their families. It’s time to redefine what being pro-choice means in this country. You can’t be pro-choice and deny low-income women the same access to abortion care as wealthier women.

While passing health care reform was important, it is critical that the President and our pro-choice allies in Congress now turn to protecting the health and rights of low-income women and begin to work toward the repeal of the Hyde Amendment. All women—regardless of their economic status—deserve equal access to the abortion care they need.

Labels: health care reform, women

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.

The clinic has really helped me in many ways. They helped me to make the right decision and to understand that I’m a good person. They helped me to realize that I don’t have to be ready to have a baby. I don’t have to rush things just because of what other people say. They helped me to become a woman and know what’s right for me, and it’s not that hard with the help of the clinic and the Hotline.

--Submitted by Cindy* through a member clinic


I became pregnant only one year after the birth of my first child. I do not have the means to support a second child nor do I believe that it would be fair to my son to have another so soon. I was raised in a Unitarian Universalist family and we were brought up to be pro-choice. I knew that abortion was the safest and best option for me at this time.

--Submitted by Ellen* through our website

*Names changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

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 have two sets of twins, both delivered via C-section. The second delivery was extremely difficult due to severe scar tissue. My doctor informed me this pregnancy could take my life or leave me with severe complications. I have four small children, two seven-year-olds and two eight-year-olds, and I could not risk not being there to watch them grow up and share their lives.

--Submitted by Karen* through a member clinic


After the pregnancy test came back positive, I knew that I was going to get an abortion. I'm only 21; I'm too young to be a mom, and I don't have the money to support myself and a child. I'm still in college, and I don't want to drop out and end an art career that had yet to start. Not to mention the man involved was no longer in my life. He's also still in college, and I didn't want to put the burden on him of paying child support and student loans. It wouldn't be fair to either of us.

I went to a clinic outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The first visit there was for a sonogram and to find out my blood type. One of my best friends went with me for support. I love her so much for going with me. My next visit was for the actual procedure. I'm lucky that my mom was understanding; she went with me so that she could drive me home. The staff at the clinic is just amazing; they made sure that I understood the procedure and what was going to happen after. They also had a counselor for me to talk to about the abortion.

I know this was the right choice for me. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to go through, but I'll never regret my decision. I'm just thankful that my close friends and my mom were there for me to help get me through everything.

--Submitted by Abigail* through our website

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

Today, The Washington Post profiled abortion provider and NAF Board Member Dr. Carol Ball. Dr. Ball is one of four physicians who travel from out of state to provide abortions in South Dakota, which has not had an in-state provider of elective abortions since 1994.

South Dakota has seen some of the fiercest challenges to Roe v. Wade, including a 2006 bill that would have banned all abortions except when a woman’s life was in danger. Voters in the state rejected this ban in 2006, and a similar measure in 2008.

Dr. Ball has cared for women for nearly 30 years. She currently serves as the medical director for Planned Parenthood’s regional office in the Twin Cities. The clinic she works at in South Dakota is the only clinic in the entire state.

Labels: access, members, South Dakota

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 chose this decision because I always wanted to bring kids into a better world, one where I would be married to the man I was having kids with, not separated. I wanted to be caught up on my bills and prepared for having kids. It was a hard decision to make, but in my life right now it is the best decision for me.

--Submitted by Avery* through a member clinic


Growing up I went to a private Presbyterian high school with devotions and Bible class every day along with chapel every Sunday. One of the most exciting events for the school was when we all caravanned to the capitol to march in a pro-life parade once a year. I always did it, but deep down I knew I felt differently.

I was about to graduate college when I became pregnant. I saw a little plus sign on the stick, picked up my phone, and made an appointment. When the day came I was nervous but ready. In the waiting room I met a mother of two. She didn’t have access to care where she lived in Nashville and had to drive a long way to obtain an abortion. Another girl chimed in that she was from Macon, Georgia. Their stories came as a shock to me because these women had to travel so far and pay so much to get care that I was able to access so easily due to my insurance and location.

The clinic was extraordinary, they offered counseling and the entire office was comfortable. I felt a light bulb go off waiting for the doctor. Two years previously I had gone through a rape trial that had dragged out for years, and my rapist was only sentenced to one year. There my rights were almost nothing, whereas here at the clinic, I felt empowered—everything mattered and my choice was supported.

I was put under anesthesia for 30 minutes and then it was over. The only discomfort I felt was minor cramping, and the relief was extraordinary. I left feeling happier than I had felt in years for many reasons. The biggest reason was that this was the first major decision I had made myself. I now knew that I was in control of my life and decisions.

--Submitted by Mariah* through a member clinic

Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

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.

My boyfriend and I are both college students in the Cleveland area, and I just finished my freshman year as an English major. Starting a career after graduation is very important to me. Though children are precious and my boyfriend and I would love to have them one day, now is not the time. It would be senseless for me to parent a child before I am financially or emotionally grounded. I greatly appreciate the Hotline’s help, because this procedure is essential to my future success.

--Submitted by Grace* through a member clinic


I am a single mother of two beautiful children, a girl and a boy, ages seven and nine. I recently returned to college to complete my bachelor’s of nursing. Though my boyfriend and I love each other very much, this is not the right time for a child. I have put my life on hold to ensure I can be around for my children. Now that they are older it’s time for me to finish what I started (college) so many years ago, so I may ensure a better future for myself and my children. I appreciate the help from the clinic and the Hotline. Thank you!

--Submitted by Angela* through a member clinic

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women

Today, I issued the following statement:

Last week, Prime Minister Harper announced that he plans to make maternal health in the developing world a priority when he hosts the G8 summit in June. If the Prime Minister is truly serious about improving women’s health internationally, his initiatives must address the comprehensive maternal and reproductive health care needs of women, including access to safe abortion care.

As we have seen in Canada and other countries throughout the world, access to safe, legal abortion care preserves women’s health and saves women’s lives. Unsafe abortion remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in developing nations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 70,000 women worldwide die from unsafe abortions annually and millions more are injured, many permanently.

The WHO also estimates that up to 40 percent of maternal deaths could be prevented with access to family planning and contraception services. International health and development agencies, including Amnesty International and the United Nations, consistently link contraception to maternal health in the developing world.

However, last week Canadian International Development Agency Minister Bev Oda said the government’s child and maternal health strategy will not address unsafe abortions in developing countries or support access to family planning and contraception. Canada must not follow in the footsteps of the United States, which during the Bush Administration restricted funding for foreign organizations providing abortion counseling, referrals, or care, and those who worked to challenge abortion restrictions. This policy had devastating consequences for the millions of women in developing nations who rely upon such organizations for essential health care services.

This is a critical opportunity for Prime Minister Harper to champion the health of some of the world’s poorest women. We join Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and others in the Liberal Party in urging the Prime Minister to keep ideology out of the maternal health initiative and include access to contraception and abortion care in his efforts to improve maternal health care.

Labels: Canada, Contraception, Global Gag Rule, international, maternal health