i am 1 in 3.

the school system in which i was enrolled offered absolutely no sex-education. i was raised by my grandparents after my mom died. the closest thing we had to a sex talk we had was when i started my period. i was told was that tampons would kill me and that i should bury my used sanitary pads at the bottom of the trash can, so the dog wouldn’t get them. while now this sounds comical, i assure you that when i ended up pregnant, it was no laughing matter.

i was pregnant because i didn’t know any better and i thought if he “pulled out” it couldn’t happen. i was just out of high school. my future lay in a college education – an education that would not happen if i had a child. i was lucky because my boyfriend had the funds and was willing to pay for my abortion. i was also lucky because i lived in a place where i, with planned parenthood’s help, could access a clinic with relative ease. the doctor and nurses were just amazing. the procedure was simple and i, like most women, experienced no complications. i was able to go on and finish my education. i then was able to have a wonderful career as a social worker. i also got married (not to the above-mentioned boyfriend) and had two beautiful sons – and the means to have a healthy, happy life. a career, a husband, two well cared for kids and dogs, lots of dogs. these are the things that i was able to experience because i made a responsible (and legal) medical decision at a time when i was far too young to be a single mother.

it truly saddens me to watch as women’s health rights shoot backwards so far and so fast. this is why i decided share my story. the stigma that shrouds abortion and the shame and embarrassment that women are forced to endure needs to stop. abortion must remain a safe and legal part of every woman’s medical resources.