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.

Last December I made the choice to have an abortion. I feel no guilt for this, because I know what it's like to grow up with a parent who was unprepared for the job of parenthood, and was not ready to bring a life into the world. I knew that I was not prepared and nine months would not make me so. It's been a few months now, and still no sign of "Post-Abortion Syndrome" as a few lovely anti-choice websites like to call it. It was the best choice for me at this time.

--submitted by Elaine* though a member clinic


The reasons are many that each woman decides to end a pregnancy; for myself the list is quite long. I have lupus and am a single 43-year-old woman with three children at home and an adult child. My hands are full with the challenges of what I am responsible for right now and would be made increasingly worse with another child, no partner, and no support to raise a child. It's a hard and difficult choice to make, and for me the choice took a long time to make as it's not easy to do.

I will say that without the clinic, I am not sure what I would have done. The medical society out there, where I live, isn't very helpful and wasn't giving me the answers I needed. I needed to take care of myself and to be my own advocate. I would encourage every woman to be their own advocate and to do what is best for themselves, whether that is having a baby or terminating the pregnancy, it's our life that we have to live and we are responsible, not the doctors, nurses, neighbors, friends, etc.

--submitted by Patricia* through a member clinic

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

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 felt very lost when I found out that I was pregnant. I am already a mother of a beautiful two year old and times have been really hard lately because I lost my job. When I found out I was pregnant, I considered doing dangerous things to my body because I did not want to be pregnant. I felt like there was no hope. When I went to the clinic, they helped me and it was a great feeling. I did not have to worry or do anything dangerous. I feel so relieved and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can now be healthy and be here for my daughter.

--submitted by Noreen* through a member clinic


I did not want to bring a child into the world under the circumstances that I am facing. It was not planned–I was taking antibiotics while on birth control. I have seven more months before my completion of being an LPN so before I bring another human being in this world I want to be sure that I am able to take care and be there for that child as I should.

--submitted by Savita* through a member clinic

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Article Features Women’s Stories from Crisis Pregnancy Center

An article published last week in Pasadena Weekly features accounts from women deceived by a local Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC).

“I thought I was at a medical clinic,” recalls Judy, a 43-year-old mother of one, who mistakenly went into Avenues [Pregnancy Clinic] because it’s adjacent to her general practitioner’s office. “I don’t like what I went through,” she says. “It was a horrible experience—just manipulative. Deceptive! That’s what I feel—deceived.”

After hearing stories from women like Judy, reporter Tina Dupuy decided to go undercover and visit the same CPC and write about her experience. “I spent nearly two hours of my time to get an admittedly unreliable pregnancy test, [and] erroneous medical information,” Dupuy said. She was also forced to listen to a religious speech from one of the CPC workers and given inaccurate information about the effectiveness of contraception.

Many CPCs use deceptive advertising practices to mislead women into thinking 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. In June 2006, NAF released Crisis Pregnancy Centers: An Affront to Choice, a comprehensive report outlining the ways that CPCs harass and mislead women.

>Share your story about an experience with a CPC.

Wednesdays 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 ability to choose abortion has made a difference in my life by allowing me to continue following my dreams. I am an Airman in the United States Air Force waiting to leave for Basic Military Training in May. Without this opportunity at the clinic I would not be able to begin my military career.

--submitted by Cynthia* through a member clinic

>Learn about the other challenges women in the military may face when attempting to access abortion care.


I’m 24 years old and a mother of an 8 year old. I grew up alone without my parents around most of my life, but I’ve gotten strong. I am raising my daughter on my own. Unfortunately, I’m a single mother and am just getting by raising her, taking care of responsibilities, paying tuitions, and keeping clothes on us and food on the table. I love my daughter dearly, and I am a good mother as well as a good human being and the decision I’ve made today is totally the best for me. Having another child will add to the stress and I do not need that. This pregnancy was an accident, it wasn’t planned, and I need to think about my child and myself before I bring another child into the world. This was the best decision for me and I’m still the best mother I can be.

--submitted by Sharon* through a member clinic

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Spain Considers Liberalizing Abortion Law

Spearheaded by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the Spanish government is drafting legislation to ease the country’s restrictive abortion law and legalize abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Under current Spanish law, abortion is only permitted in limited cases of rape, congenital disorders, or to preserve a woman’s health or life.

Spain’s Minister for Equality Bibiana Aído said that while Spain boasted equality laws that were among the most progressive in Europe, the country was a laggard when it came to abortion. First trimester abortion is virtually unrestricted in most European countries, though it is still outlawed in Ireland. Two years ago, Portugal legalized abortion up to the 10th week of pregnancy.

Access to safe, legal abortion care is essential to women’s health. When abortion is illegal or highly restricted, many women resort to dangerous self-induced or back-alley procedures in order to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. In the United States and other countries, there has been a dramatic decrease in pregnancy-related mortality and morbidity rates since the legalization of abortion.

>Learn more about international abortion issues.

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 am a college student that finds it hard just to pay rent each month. I have been with my boyfriend for four years and have been careful, with one slip up. We are both in school and are not financially stable or ready to be parents. Thank you for providing the opportunity for us to have this abortion. Without your help, we would have a very big struggle ahead. Both of us find it very important to finish school and set up a life first. So, thank you very much!

--submitted by Alice* through a member clinic


If it weren’t for the clinic, I probably wouldn’t be here at all. My life was going down the tubes, and then I found out I was pregnant. If I hadn’t had the choice to terminate this pregnancy, I would have made the choice to end my life. In no way was I ready to give a baby a fulfilling, happy life, and having a baby would have ruined mine. Thank you to the clinic and NAF for all of your help getting my life turned around!

--submitted by Leah* through a member clinic

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Film Highlights Consequences of Unsafe Abortion

Today, April 7th, has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as World Health Day. Each year, WHO uses this day as a worldwide opportunity to focus on key public health issues that affect the international community. So it’s very appropriate that independent filmmaker Lisa Russell chose today to premiere her film Not Yet Rain. Produced in association with Ipas, the film follows four Ethiopian women who illustrate the importance of ensuring that women have access to the abortion care they need to protect their health and well-being.



Unsafe abortion is a worldwide public health crisis. In countries where abortion is still provided under unsafe conditions, maternal death and complications rates are high. Each year, 68,000 women—almost entirely poor women from developing countries—die from unsafe abortions and millions more are injured, many permanently.

For more information on this issue, or to order the DVD, visit: www.NotYetRain.org.

Appeals Court Upholds Life Sentence for Anti-Abortion Extremist

Today, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan found no merit to challenges raised by anti-abortion extremist and murderer James Kopp, including an argument that his sniper-style slaying in 1998 of NAF member Dr. Barnett Slepian in the kitchen of his suburban Buffalo home was not intentional.

According to the court, “Kopp was convicted under a law that only requires that he acted with intent to injure Slepian because he had provided reproductive health services. The statute allows for a life prison sentence if death results.”

Kopp was sentenced in June 2007 to life in prison plus 10 years for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and for using a firearm to commit a violent act.

>Learn more about clinic violence and anti-abortion extremists.

New York City Council Passes Clinic Protection Bill

Last week, the New York City Council passed a bill to address incidents of harassment and protect access to reproductive health clinics. The new legislation allows police to arrest anyone obstructing the entrance to a reproductive health clinic, and permits clinic workers as well as patients to file charges against protesters.

This bill was first proposed in September of last year by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn in response to incidents of harassment, which included doctors being forced to the ground and clinic entrances being blocked. This legislation has enjoyed widespread support from the public, as well as Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

>Learn more about state clinic protection bills.

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’m currently enrolled in Nursing School. I’ve come a long way and when I found out that I was pregnant, I was very scared but knew what I had to do in order to provide for myself and my family in the future. I’m grateful that I have this option and I’d like to thank the clinic for their utmost respect and professionalism.

--submitted by Chloe* through a member clinic


Although I would love to be a mother someday, I believe that right now is not the right time for me to have a baby. There are so many things that I would like to accomplish before I have a child. I would also like to be financially stable and have my own place before I can even think of bringing someone else into this world. This is by far the hardest and most difficult decision that I’ve ever had to make, but I know I’ve made the right one. Thank you for helping to make it possible.

--submitted by Laura* through a member clinic

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy