Sylvie Shene

Share your story

1979 Portugal

it was okay

உங்கள் கருக்கலைப்பு சட்டவிரோதமானது உங்கள் உணர்வுகளை பாதித்ததா?

Yes

A Life-Saving Experience


Thank you for asking people to share their abortion stories. I believe that the only way we can remove the stigma surrounding abortion is to let people share their stories in public and have an open, honest dialogue.

Abortion was a life-saving experience for me. I had just turned 20 years old in 1979, when I found out that I was pregnant. I was already living in an emotional prison with my family in Portugal, and having a child at that time would have robbed me of any chance to free myself. My child wouldn’t have fared any better: He or she would have lived a life of poverty with an emotionally unavailable mother.

Abortion was illegal then, and my whole family was against it. If they had found out about my condition, there’s no doubt in my mind they would have forced me to carry my pregnancy to term by any means possible, including locking me up or giving me drugs.

Fortunately, I found a midwife who was willing to give me the abortion I needed, although I got a bad infection from the procedure and had to go to the Emergency Room. Shortly thereafter, I moved away from my family and liberated myself from the traumatic emotional bonds that tied me to them.

The moment I found out that I was pregnant, I knew in my heart that abortion was the best choice for me. I was very comfortable with my decision, and I’m still confident that I did absolutely the best thing by not bringing an innocent new being into my set of circumstances.

The way I look at it, abortion is a private choice between a woman and her conscience that has very little impact on society. On the other hand, violence and abuse against unwanted children create a huge burden on humanity. If more people thought about this, I think they’d see that people who are against abortion are actually supporting cruelty against children.

The only bad feelings I had about my abortion was that it was illegal. No woman should have to go underground to decide what’s right for her. I still feel angry that I had to hide from everyone. I strongly believe that abortion should be available to every woman who wants one, and that politicians and religious fanatics have no business controlling women or putting us down.

AM

I had a surgical, had two kids, and then had medical abortion.

Katarzyna

Nie mogłam mieć dziecka z kilku powodów: jeszcze się uczę, chłopak w ogóle nie…

Canela

Me hice un aborto porque no quería ser madre en ese momento.

Sapphire

I had an abortion and it was worth it, absolutely no regrets.

Florencia

No podía quedar embarazada, las posibilidades para que eso suceda (según los…

Liz

I cry. Going into the decision I was strong and certain that I wanted to have…

magdalena

Miałam aborcje. Dzięki pomocy i wyrozumiałości women on web uda mi się to.

Brenda

Having an abortion was the right thing for my family.

Tha

Primeiro, Calma!

Vamos lá, tenho 31 anos um filho de 7.
Voltei a me relacionar…

Anonimowa

Dwie kreski...Te dwie czerwone kreski na białym papierku były jak kubeł zimnej…

Micaela Mica

Debo decir que no me senti ni culpable ni arrepentida en ningún momento al…

AS

I am having an abortion as I am writing this, at home with cytotec…

Daniela

No era el momento, no me arrepiento.

Eva Paradise

Aborté. Fue un alivio. Nunca me arrepentí. Hoy tengo dos hijos y puedo criarlos…

Paula *

Yo acompañe a mi hermana quien pasó por este proceso, siempre fui una persona…

mica

Yo aborté y no me arrepiento ni un segundo de haberlo hecho.