Women's Stories
Every day, women and men make deep, personal decisions about their reproductive health. Many send us powerful stories about why they’re pro-choice. You can read a few of them on this page.
We hope you will share your story with us, too.
Stories about: Abortion | Birth Control | Sex Education | Healthy Pregnancies
Abortion
Jerry
When my wife was pregnant with our first child she was going to school in a building that also had an abortion clinic in it. She was about 4 months along and was showing a little. Every time she went to school they had security that had to escort her through a crazy mob of protestors who grabbed at her yelling things like "Dont kill your baby!!"
Mariah, 19
Shortly after turning 18 and in my final semester of high school, I found out I was pregnant by my boyfriend of two years.
Andrea, 42
In 2002 my life was saved by an emergency abortion and surgery at a city hospital in NYC. I was uninsured and bleeding to death from an ectopic pregnancy.
Belladonna, 56
After two live births and one miscarriage, I tried to have a third child. After four sequential miscarriages, I had had enough.
Jamie, 35
In 2007, I was diagnosed with HELLP in my 5th month of a wanted pregnancy. Because my body was not responding to the labor inducing drugs so I could deliver my daughter, my body was dying quickly.
Kristina, 63
In May of 1980 I discovered that I was pregnant with what would have been my second child. I started spotting on a Thursday, and saw my Doctor on Friday.
Maria, 27
I've never needed an abortion, but if I were to become pregnant I would be forced to choose between having an abortion to survive, or dying with my unborn fetus. I have a health issue that makes it impossible for me to carry a pregnancy to term.
Lindy, 71
Back in the 1960s I had a very talented, intelligent, math wiz, friend, who had a life of success ahead of her. She needed an abortion.
Beverly, 70
In the late 1930's my mother became pregnant. The fetus died, and became infected.
Wordup, 54
I had break-through bleeding 2 weeks after a +pregnancy test. Quantitative blood draws showed declining UCG (pg hormone) levels.
More stories about abortion >>
Birth Control
Sandra
VIDEO: Contraceptives can cost a woman over $3,000 during law school. For a lot of students who, like me, are on public-interest scholarships, that's practically an entire summer's salary.
Katrina, 20
When I was in 7th grade I began menstruating. I had no idea what kind of pain I was in store for in the following years. Every month when I would get my period I would be in bed, in tears, from the pain of my cramps.
Lela, 24
I had my first child when I was only 15 years old, a ninth grader in junior high.
Susan, 68
I got pregnant from my second sexual experience at age 21.
Kathleen, 56
I was raised Catholic so I didn't know anything about sex or birth control.
More stories about birth control >>
Sex Education
Lela, 24
I had my first child when I was only 15 years old, a ninth grader in junior high.
Merry, 54
In 1972, as a 16 year old girl in high school, I instituted the “sex information center” at James Madison High School in Brooklyn, NY.
Chloe, 15
I am pro-choice, because I have seen what ignorance can do to people.
Healthy Pregnancies
Tina
VIDEO: I was 31 years old, just got laid off from my job, got pregnant and wondered what I was going to do.
Sara, 26
My stepmother was born in Boston during the pre-Roe days. She was then adopted by a loving couple. The doctor that delivered her set up the adoption—he had done this many times. But he was also there as a safe option for women that looked for an abortion provider.
Aaron, 28
I gave birth to my son in 2004—a son who was wanted, planned for, and loved. The deep love I had for my child didn't make the pregnancy an easy one, however. I am a transgender man.
Maggie, 28
I got pregnant at 18, and chose to keep my child, a decision I have never regretted.
Mooky, 50
I was enlisted in the Air Force. I was pregnant (planned) and after 2+ months began to have a miscarriage.
