i was 20 when i ended my first pregnancy, my partner 19. we had been together almost three years and were very much in love. since nothing had happened in the previous years, i guess i assumed it would be ok to have unprotected sex. i always thought it would never happen to me, i thought i had a hormone imbalance and wouldn’t be physically able to fall pregnant.

when i found out i made the call to the clinic the very next day and the procedure was carried out the day after that. the only thing painful about it was the people praying outside the clinic, the procedure was simple. i was around 5-6 weeks pregnant. relieved that at this stage the fetus could not experience pain. for the record there’s no scientific evidence to prove that a fetus can experience pain until 23-24 weeks.

if i had not made this decision i would be struggling financially, i would not have a reliable car, there would be family conflict, i wouldn’t have finished my post graduate program and i would not be the successful nurse i am today. my reasons for having an abortion are my own. i won’t state them simply because if i do i feel i will be trying to validate a decision that doesn’t need validation. i have no regrets. a year later i hold no sadness in my heart, only frustration at those who judge.