L.

Share your story

2020 United Arab Emirates

I felt grief to have to abort the pregnancy given that I am older (42), conceived naturally with a partner I feel committed to and would like to have a child with, and feel it is unlikely that I could get pregnant again. However it was necessary given the legal risks in this country. So I felt very sad to have to do it. I was also scared of the physical process, worried about the pain and the potential for complications.

Although I was scared, the information I received was thorough and reassuring. I followed all the instructions exactly as written and it was a very smooth experience. I did feel cramping and had heavy bleeding and it took about 5 days after the procedure to feel completely normal again, but it was much easier than I expected.

I am married, but separated from my husband for the past 3 years. He is living outside the country at the moment due to COVID travel restrictions returning to the UAE after what was supposed to be a short trip, and we're in the process of a divorce. In this country, it is illegal to have sex with someone other than one's legal spouse. Since I am technically still married (having a divorce in process doesn't make a difference to the law here) and my spouse is outside the country, conceiving a child with my boyfriend of 2 years is technically illegal. Although I would love to have another child, I would face severe legal ramifications if I chose to continue the pregnancy since going for any prenatal care here and/or giving birth would implicate that I had sex outside my marriage. Under normal circumstances I would have traveled to Europe to obtain a legal abortion, but travel restrictions due to the COVID would not allow me to return here to my country of residence thereafter, so I felt that I had no choice other than to try to figure out a way to obtain an abortion here.

உங்கள் கருக்கலைப்பு சட்டவிரோதமானது உங்கள் உணர்வுகளை பாதித்ததா?

The fact that it is illegal in my country of residence did make me feel more nervous and fearful than I would otherwise. I was nervous about receiving the medications via mail and the potential of having to seek medical help if anything went wrong. However, the emails from the Women on Web team were incredibly helpful and reassuring and everything went very smoothly.

Emily

It isn't and shouldn't be as taboo as it is made out to be.

Luna

Lo hice en un país en el cual es ilegal, por lo que tuve que acceder al mercado…

มานี ชูใจ

ฉันมีปัญหาหลายด้านไม่ว่าจะเป็นเรื่องครอบครัว การเงิน…

Stephanie

at just 19 years old.

Nadi

Descobri que estava grávida no primeiro mês de atraso da menstruação, sempre…

Ania

Wczoraj dokonałam aborcji.
Odejście od męża, związanie się z nowym, wydawałoby…

MS

ABORTAR ESTÁ BIEN

Alana

I had abortion TWICE!!

Liz Price

I had an abortion

Issabela

Doloroso pero libre

Nadia

Le habia escrito una blanca cancion del amor entre una nube y un pez volador.

Lorena

Yo aborte por que decidí que no estaba lista para ser madre y por qué empiezo a…

Luka

Hice lo mejor que pude, estando bajo toda la presión del mundo.

Rene Suárez

A mis 24 años, en mi último año de carrera, sin nada estable, ni trabajo, ni…

baby t

i had 2 abortions first 1 when i was 16 i knew i was ready to have a child or…

Jess

*No podía ser* 11sem

Angy :)

I decided to have an abortion, it wasnt easy but it was the best decision