“I told my doctor I am pregnant. I am young and just went through an abortion a year and half ago. I told her I wanted to keep it this time and she looked at me like I was crazy. Instead of supporting my decision, she immediately began feeding me reasons NOT to have my baby. “
“Instead of referring me for the procedure, he told me to discuss my choice with the father first and come back in two weeks to have another pregnancy test and blood work done, just to be sure it was safe to proceed.
Something told me to move on this faster. I ignored his advice and looked up the nearest Women's Clinic in the phone book. When I spoke to the female doctors there I learned that, had I waited those two weeks, I would have exceeded the allowable window to terminate the pregnancy. After which I would have had to prove it was a risk to my health, or take legal action to get the procedure. Even the women doctors at the clinic asked me three times if I was sure about my choice before they brought the papers out for me to sign. As I was leaving the office the receptionist called me over to double check my procedure appointment.“
“I was suicidal for years, and the way people treated me after the assault is a big factor in that. I attempted suicide about two weeks after the procedure. The hospital refused to let me stay after 72 hours because I was "just looking for a bed to mooch".
I still feel resentment about this. The main reason being it is 2018, over a decade later, and this is still a common story when it comes to sexual assault and abortions.
I was 14 and homeless. I am First Nations and gender-queer/2S. I didn't have the voice I have now, at 14. So, I never gave them feedback.”
“I was, and am, resolute in my decision to never have children, I know other people seeking reproductive care have experienced far more overt attempts at manipulation, but from this experience, I am still more guarded and defiant with health care providers.”
"Pain affecting women's reproductive parts is not taken seriously. I have received pain shots for stitches on my finger, yet when a vacuum abortion was violently performed on me, pain was an afterthought. How is this even possible?"
"I am a master's educated 30-something and I could not navigate this experience, nor advocate for myself. This really opened my eyes to what marginalized women must go through."
"He had held these test results and called them "lost" for 6 weeks. He knew I was pregnant for 6 weeks and withheld that information only to tell me to 'think about it for five days'"
"At the hospital, I felt like I was made to feel little, like I couldn't possibly know what's right for me. As though I don't know my own body. I felt like these people have ego issues and they can't trust their patients and nature. I feel like I was raped and violated. I felt disgusted that women go through this regularly and perhaps don't speak up. Disgusted that this may be the norm."