I’ve had 2 abortions. For the first one, I had been married a year and a half to my wonderful husband and was 22 years old. I had recently been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome by a doctor who worked out of a Catholic hospital (he was the closest one on my insurance). I had used birth control pills successfully for years, but he told me I needed to go off them because it was “bad for my condition.” I told him under no certain terms that I did not want to get pregnant, but he assured me that women with my problem were infertile. Two months later I was pregnant and livid. I kick myself every day for just believing him without question, but it truly never occurred to me that even a Catholic doctor would lie about such a thing just to further his own agenda (his waiting room was filled with pamphlets that were anti-birth control). I do indeed have polycystic ovary syndrome, but not all women with it are infertile. I’ve always been pro-choice, and I have never wanted children. For me, I had no trouble quickly and easily coming to the decision to have an abortion. My husband fully supported me. He went with me, and the procedure was quick and virtually pain free. I went back on the pill for another 2 years, but had to go off of it after I had breast reduction surgery. I switched to the minipill (progesterone pill) after the surgery only to find out that I was one of a small percentage of women who have bleeding problems on progesterone and had to be taken off when I became anemic. I’m also allergic to spermicide, so that made most barrier methods less trustworthy. I begged my doctor to tie my tubes, but she refused because I was so young and had never had children. She did not care that I had even had an abortion. For 9 months, my husband and I only had non-spermicidal condoms to rely on while I searched for any doctor to help me. I finally found one willing to give me an IUD and all I had to do was wait one week until I had my period to get it placed. My period never came. I was pregnant again. I could not believe it. We still to this day do not know what happened. I’ve always considered myself an intelligent person; I was working on my Master’s degree in Biology for crying out loud! But, there it was. I was pregnant again. Again, I knew I could not have a baby. I had never wanted this. So, at the age of 25, I had another abortion. It was just like the first one, and everything went fine. I do not regret my decisions at all; I only regret that I had so much trouble with bad doctors and birth control. The one good thing that came out if though is that the doctor who was going to give me an IUD agreed to tie my tubes for me. My husband and I have wonderful lives, and I know it wouldn’t be the same way if I didn’t live in a country where I could get a safe procedure. For this, I am very thankful.
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