About the Project
Each year, millions of women have abortions, yet many feel secretive and alone in their decision. By bringing together personal stories, Project Voice hopes to establish a resource of sharing and support, and convey that abortion is a choice many women have made, and continue to make, for a variety of reasons. Women of all ages, races, religions, backgrounds, and circumstances have had abortions, and the more women who share their stories here, the more accurately Project Voice can represent the multiplicities of abortion experiences.
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California, US
I called my mom and told her that I would get the abortion if she would let me come home. -
Canada
Deciding to have an abortion, for myself and by myself, was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. -
New York, US
When I walked to the bathroom, my toe tore a hole in the front of one [paper] slipper. That embarrassed me a little. -
Minnesota, US
No place closer performed abortions at that late a date. Also, it would be about $2500. -
Michigan, US
After my ultrasound, I was pulled in by a counselor who told me I wasn’t 12 weeks pregnant. I was actually 15 weeks and 4 days. -
Oregon, US
In the country where I was living, abortion was illegal and punishable by 10 years in prison. -
Illinois, US
When I got home, my parents told me that if I wanted to keep it I would have to move out because they couldn't help me. -
Maryland, US
We were using condoms and I was on birth control, so it was like a complete anomaly. -
New Jersey, US
He was like, I am not going to be a father. I am not going to help you. I am not going to give you money. -
Missouri, US
We were to meet a driver at the New Yorker Hotel. The mystery man arrived and put us in a car. -
Canada
The act of terminating the pregnancy was not difficult, but dealing with other people was. -
Ohio, US
I chatted with the doctor and surgical assistant the entire time, and didn't think about what was happening. -
Missouri, US
I was so grateful that we came to the same conclusion and that I would have his unwavering support during such a terrifying time for us. -
Idaho, US
The day came, and we said goodbye to our "son" that we had dubbed as Darius. We do not regret it. -
Rhode Island, US
At 1:00 I'll take anti-nausea medication. At 1:30 I'll take the pills that open my cervix and cause my uterus to contract. -
Pennsylvania, US
I wrote this two weeks after my abortion, on New Years Eve 2006. Now, in May of 2007, my thoughts have changed some. -
United Kingdom
I feel more personally pro-life but more politically pro-choice than I could have ever possibly imagined. -
Tennessee, US
The doctor gives me something to calm my nerves but it doesn’t help the screaming inside my head. -
Texas, US
I haven't told anyone in person, but I am not ashamed. I am just scared of the people who want me to be ashamed. -
Massachusetts, US
I totally don’t talk about—I think there’s an association that you’re a floozy or irresponsible. -
Ohio, US
Yes, the scars are still there. The pain, regret and guilt haven't gone away completely. -
New York, US
I had two little kids and was having a love affair, which was my escape from a tormented marriage. -
New York, US
I never thought that's the kind of decision I would ever have to make because I'm responsible, I come from a good family. -
New York, US
It goes back to when I was married... around 1945... It was not legal. It was a secret. -
Massachusetts, US
I was on the pill; he was on HRT, and I was supposed to be infertile (thanks a lot, gyno). -
Washington, US
I had the first procedure when I was 19 years old. I already had one child-- my daughter was 8 months old. -
Montana, US
Today I took the first abortion pill. Tomorrow, at 3:00, I will have taken the last four pills to end my pregnancy. -
California, US
We had our problems, as everyone does, but we were your typical high school couple... -
Texas, US
I have one beautiful daughter, have had three miscarriages, and three previous abortions. -
Massachusetts, US
It was very clear to me that I wanted to do this on my own. I didn't want anyone to influence my decision or be involved. -
North Carolina, US
Age 32 felt like a good time to have a child, so when I discovered myself pregnant I was excited. He wasn't... -
California, US
I previously believed that people who accidentally got pregnant were careless and irresponsible. -
Washington, US
I believe that I had a baby inside me and I chose myself and my current children over that baby. -
Canada
I had an abortion when I was 14. It was the best thing I could possibly have done, and I still don't regret it to this day. -
California, US
He showed so much love and commitment to me, but the minute I got pregnant, I felt he no longer respected me. -
California, US
I am with a new guy who knows nothing of this. I don’t think I could ever tell him, or anyone else for that matter. -
Oregon, US
It's not something I'm embarrassed about. I just wish it were something that people could talk about more freely. -
Washington, US
Five months later, I see that I made my decision too quickly. I see now that I was only thinking of the father. -
Oklahoma, US
Not until afterwards did I become angry that he did not express a clear opinion... -
Oregon, US
15 minutes after I took the pill, I started cramping really bad. I locked myself in my room and eventually fell asleep. -
Arizona, US
My abortion was actually quite empowering, and I know how that might sound to some people. -
Mississippi, US
There are always rumors of girls who had money that were able to get doctors to perform them at home. -
Colorado, US
I felt alone and scared and had nobody to support me or care about what I wanted... -
Georgia, US
I was 19 years old, and I had been with my bf for a bit less than a year and a half. -
Cuba
I had three abortions at different times in my life. I guess my approach to each of them had been totally different. -
California, US
There was no room for me to say, "Hey I'm really going through a tough time because of this." -
Pennsylvania, US
We called Planned Parenthood and set up an appointment for a medical abortion. -
Florida, US
I was told by a doctor that it was very unlikely that I could get pregnant without fertility treatments. -
New York, US
This was in 1962... The doctor said he would do it, that he wanted the money, and that I had to come back alone. -
Kansas, US
The term “rape” was definitely not a word I used often; I don’t think I even knew what it meant at the time.
