Disclaimer: This note is not intended, and cannot be used, as a legal guide. For local laws and regulations regarding abortion for your area, please refer to our directory in YSM as well as these useful resources from the 

After receiving news of an unplanned pregnancy, we may be feeling a wide range of emotions. We may be feeling happy, sad, scared or shameful. We may even feel ambivalent when we find out, which is a 

as we decide what is best for us to do next.

When deciding next steps, It’s important to ask ourselves a very serious question: 

Is this the right time for me to be pregnant?

 To help answer, we should first understand the options available to us.

With any unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, we have three options:

, especially depending on how far along the pregnancy is. The location, availability, and potential cost of an abortion will also change as the pregnancy continues and depending on where we live, so it’s important that we decide and plan for an abortion 

If there are certain factors that rule out the choice of abortion, such as the pregnancy term, availability of resources or our own views on abortion, we may decide on adoption. It may sound obvious, but it’s important to remember that 

adoption still involves carrying the pregnancy to term.

 around placing a child for adoption, depending on your location, so please check resources in your local area for more specific information.

and it’s important to ensure we have the right support going forward if we decide to become a parent. Again, depending on the location, there are different forms of financial aid to assist expecting parent(s), as well as support groups that may prove helpful.

Making a choice around which of these options to take during a pregnancy may be time-sensitive depending on the jurisdiction we are under, and we may need to decide quickly. When faced with tough decisions it’s common to distract ourselves or procrastinate by keeping busy with other things, even if we know what we’re going to do. 

That’s why it’s important to set aside enough time to really review all options and find the correct help needed. 

Sometimes not having enough information makes it even more difficult to decide. We have found practical information on 

. As with abortion, we must make sure to note the

 laws, processes, and regulations for adoption in our local area.

Understanding how we feel when choosing abortion 

We may be experiencing a lot of confusing and conflicting emotions and thoughts right now, and the first place to start is with

. Our values, beliefs, expectations or previous experiences may affect our feelings, thoughts and choices, without us even realising. 

 for our lives may also factor into the decision-making process. 

When we explore what we think and how we feel, it can help us make our decision. 

One way to do this could be to write it all down, as well as examine our values, experiences, goals and plans and then see where pregnancy fits.

Here are some prompts to help. Take some time to think about them, or write down some responses.  We may have already decided and therefore don’t have to answer any of these if we don’t want to or aren’t comfortable - they are here to help however needed. 

give ourselves a safe place to think things through. We are the most important person in the decision-making process.

 This doesn’t mean that others aren't important, but it is vital that we prioritise our needs and actions. Other people should not make the decision for us or influence us. The most important thing to remember is that deciding on abortion should be

 OUR choice. We’re also not alone in making that choice

 pregnancies around the world ending in abortion. 

Despite all this information, we may not know how we feel

 in case we decide to go for an abortion, and that’s okay. This decision can be complicated, we may experience different and complex feelings, and that is normal -  there are 

no set emotions for what we should feel. 

The important thing is to be secure and content that this is the right choice for us. 

Pregnancy for people who are transgender, non-binary and intersex 

Dealing with unwanted pregnancies can present complex and confusing challenges for those of us who don’t identify as female, are transgender or intersex.  Any discomfort or dysphoria with our bodies may surface, as well as other emotions.

 It’s important to take the time to consider all of our feelings. 

If there is a counsellor or a support group, we can talk to them, or if we feel comfortable, we can tell our loved ones what’s happening. It’s important to speak in a space where there is no pressure, threat or bias. Talking to someone should give us relief and not become stressful. 

Choosing abortion may bring up some worries about accessing

e. If you don’t have a regular doctor or clinic that can help with finding care, do some local research on clinic webpages, and call doctors and clinics in your area and speak to a manager to 

discuss and assess if they have experience treating transgender individuals or understand enough to respect your name and gender. 

ask for what you need to feel comfortable.

 You may want to have a friend or advocate help with research and/or accompany you for appointments. Take time to assess what support you need and how to get it. 

unsupportive, abusive or violent relationships

. Some abusive and controlling people see a partner’s pregnancy as a way of controlling them - 

 and a form of domestic violence. It can be our partner putting pressure on us to become pregnant when we don’t want to be, tampering with contraception, stopping us from having an abortion or putting pressure on us to have an abortion when we don’t want to. Our partners could be inflicting emotional, verbal or physical violence to make sure they get their way. Reproductive coercion, or 

not having the freedom to make our own decisions

, can lead to unwanted and mistimed pregnancies, as well as unwanted abortions.

Everyone who can become pregnant should have the right to decide if and when they do. 

 of violence and unplanned pregnancy can make it even more difficult for us to decide on the best option. Here is a helpful brochure about reproductive coercion which may help us in making the best decision for ourselves.

 We deserve to be physically and emotionally safe. We deserve a partner who does not hurt us. 

If you are concerned for your safety, you can contact support organisations or your healthcare provider for more assistance and information.

This section may be triggering, so please remember to take care of yourself and take breaks when you need to, and skip this section if it doesn’t apply to you. 

Some pregnancies are a result of incest - this form of abuse is one of the hardest to deal with alongside pregnancy, due to many issues including: 

Abortion in cases of rape and/or incest is allowed in a 

worldwide, either through laws enumerating these grounds or by permitting abortion on request. Although rape and incest are distinct legal grounds for abortion, they are very commonly paired together in abortion laws and policies. We should make sure we get the

 we need, and check the resources shared at the beginning of this note for more information.

Although the decision is ours to make, it may help us to speak to others or hear about other people’s experiences. 

 may feel daunting, but discussing our options with others may be a great source of

Some of the people we may decide to talk to are:

Some of these people may be unsupportive of our situation or future decision, and we have the right to distance ourselves from them if we can. 

The only people who should be involved in our pregnancy are the ones who care about our well-being and who will support our choices. 

It’s also important to remember that abortion is a 

 which many people opt for without telling anyone, and that is fine too! 

No one should feel under pressure to disclose their healthcare choices to others. 

Despite the fact that others around us may try to make the decision for us, the decision is ours. 

Hearing stories of others who have made this decision can also be helpful, and there are lots of useful sites and communities for those who have been in our position. There are

 sites where people are able to freely discuss their experience and decision

 and sites that give more information on difficult circumstances and 

Weighing our pregnancy options

In this note, we will discuss how to navigate our reproductive rights and freedoms and consider how abortion policies and regulations in different countries can vary and change rapidly.  

In this note, we will discuss how to navigate our reproductive rights and freedoms and consider how 

abortion policies and regulations in different countries can vary and change rapidly.

Disclaimer: This note is not intended and cannot be used as a complete legal or medical guide for healthcare

. For local laws and regulations regarding abortion in your area, please refer to our directory in YSM as well as the 

 resources we will be sharing through this note. 

Reproductive rights consist of all laws, policies, and regulations that determine our legal ability to choose what we do with our own bodies. This includes autonomous (independent) access to safe contraception and access to safe abortion options. 

We all deserve the right to decide freely and responsibly the number of children we want to have and when we have them. We also deserve the 

The views and laws that reflect or support these rights are called pro-choice

. However, not all countries have the same reproductive rights, or the same abortion access or resources. Navigating this can be frustrating and difficult, but remember that 

Because reproductive rights laws are often changing, 

it is important to find up-to-date information that is relevant to where we live

. The pro-choice Center for Reproductive Rights created an informative 

 map to help us understand the broad laws in our area that will be regularly shared throughout this guide. Additional country specific information and local organizations can be found on the 

“Sexual health and abortion services worldwide”

 database from the pro-choice organization Women on Waves. We’ve also found  a useful list of where pregnant people can access free information and services from 

Reproductive rights vary greatly around the world

. In a handful of countries, abortion care is prohibited entirely. Others permit abortion in a few cases, for example, for survivors of rape or if the life of the pregnant person is at risk. Even in places where abortion is permitted, there are many factors that can influence access, such as mandatory waiting periods, or regulations on abortion facilities that which lead to restricted their ability to provide care, or even socio-cultural and religious attitudes towards abortion.  

 on what we can do if an abortion is not a legal option for us, such as travelling to a country where abortion is permitted. As we discussed in Note 1, if we decide we don’t want to have an abortion, the other options available to us are continuing the pregnancy and becoming a parent, or continuing the pregnancy and placing the child for adoption. The 

 is a supportive resource designed to help us work through this decision.

we recommend reaching out to a local, regional, or national pro-choice organization

 to help navigate these laws and learn about our options depending on where we live. Speaking to someone directly about abortion may be difficult, but many organizations have anonymous helplines or chat features that may make us more comfortable. While pro-choice organizations are here to support us, 

we should always put our own comfort first. 

It is important to be aware that not every sexual health or women’s health organization or clinic is pro-choice.

 Movements aiming to restrict our reproductive rights have created health centers that actively try to discourage us from seeking an abortion, often called Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPC). They do this by refusing to give clients information on abortion rights, or by giving false or misleading information about our rights or health related to abortion. Some common misleading ideas are discussed in 

CPCs often try to look like pro-choice health clinics, so recognizing them can be difficult, but we are here to support and provide advice on finding 

. First, it might be helpful to find health centers that are affiliated with national or global pro-choice organizations, such as 

Member Associations of the International Planned Parenthood Federation

 located in 142 different countries, those listed in the 

 that offer free advice and referrals in over 20 countries. We might also be able to recognize a CPC based on their 

Here are a few indicators that a health center might be a CPC:

We may also find that there are no pro-choice clinics near us and a CPC is the only option for free services such as a pregnancy test. If we are in this situation, it is good to 

 to be in a potentially pressuring environment and contact a pro-choice organization to ensure we have all of the accurate information beforehand. 

It’s important we remain informed on how best to navigate our reproductive healthcare options. We all deserve unbiased support , and access to correct information when we make choices or when we look for help, irrespective of what part of the world we live in.

Navigating reproductive healthcare

Once we have decided to get an abortion and have found a suitable place for the procedure, there are some key things to 

 for in advance. We might need to see a doctor and discuss abortion first, book an appointment at an abortion clinic, or arrange to travel to another country to have the procedure done. In this note, we will talk about the 

The International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion 

has information that includes local, national, regional and international organisations and agencies that can provide you with information and support in a number of areas, including funding. If you’re in a jurisdiction where seeking abortion support is a crime or abortion bans are in place, please reach out to your local abortion support provider, who will be able to direct you to safe options locally or nearby. Be cautious about leaving a digital or paper trail if you are in a jurisdiction where seeking abortion is a criminal offence. This guide from Electronic Frontier Foundation shares some online safety tips.

Disclaimer: This note cannot be used as a legal or medical guide. 

If there is any concern about symptoms or signs, or if we are unsure of what help to get c, please contact a local healthcare provider. If at any point we need to take a break from reading through, we should do so. 

Once we’ve decided that an abortion is the right option for us, it’s a good idea to think about all the 

 to make sure we’re prepared.  It’s important to make sure we’re booking an appointment with a reputable clinic or healthcare provider, 

When searching online we might find ‘crisis pregnancy centres’, who appear to be healthcare providers but in reality might not respect our right to end a pregnancy. There’s more information about what these centres may look like in 

The more informed we are about safe routes to abortion, the more we will be able to make the best decision for ourselves. There are two common options for abortions that we may come across: 

can only be carried out up to a certain number of weeks into the pregnancy,

 so as mentioned previously, please make sure to contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible to check if the procedure can be done, and what kind it will be. 

When preparing for an abortion, there are a few things we might want to consider before attending our appointment:

Confiding in someone, or bringing someone with us

It is up to us to decide whether or not we want to tell anyone about our decision. However, if we have 

 it may be a great help before, during and after the procedure. 

 we might either be prevented from bringing someone with us, or actually be required to bring someone (sometimes called a chaperone), particularly if we’re under 16. If we’re not sure what the requirements are where we live, we should 

we will go through suggestions on how to speak to someone about this. 

that may be helpful for the person coming with us on how they can be most supportive before, during and after the procedure. 

 for our information to remain confidential. This means that unless we specifically agree, 

 with others. The hospital or clinic where we have an abortion may not be required to inform our doctors, but we have the right to ask them if they intend to do so, and also instruct them to keep our information private even from our doctor, if that is our preference. Providers have a 

 and should only collect the minimum information needed to treat us safely and legally, and to check how our treatment can be funded. 

 If our healthcare providers suspect we are at risk of harm, they may be obliged to contact authorities under mandatory reporting laws. 

However, they should always tell us first if they are going to do this. 

We may also have to take additional considerations if we are underage. 

It is important to check local laws on our confidentiality. Find more information about navigating local laws in 

 for the kinds of questions we may be asked on the day.  Many of these questions help the medical team get a clearer picture of why we want the abortion. This ensures that we are safe and sure of our decision. `They may ask us these questions in a pre-abortion appointment, or on the day of the abortion itself. 

Remember, if we feel uncomfortable or pressured to change our mind, we are allowed to leave.

We can think, plan in advance, and bring a notebook with 

 in case we forget on the day. Our providers should be able to answer our questions and be willing to discuss anything we need to in as much detail as possible. 

Remember, we have the right to feel safe and secure when getting an abortion, and having the right information to prepare us can help.

Preparing for an abortion

Disclaimer: This note cannot be used as a medical guide. 

The best way to care for ourselves physically after an abortion is to have medically accurate information about our bodies and the procedure. We should also have the contact information of a medical professional we trust for any necessary follow-up - especially if seeking abortion care is prohibited in our jurisdiction.

We should make sure that the medical professional providing our abortion provides us with information about possible side effects, as well as steps to take if we are having abnormal symptoms.

An abortion is a medical procedure. Like any procedure, it can result in side effects, some of which are completely normal, and some that we need to be mindful of. Listening to our body and noting how it 

 following an abortion can be the biggest act of self-care.

It’s important that we know where we can access an in-person healthcare service if we experience any unexpected side effects. There may be local abortion care groups that are safe places to seek support, especially if abortion is prohibited in our jurisdiction. 

For more information on symptoms and what to expect after an abortion

, here are some helpful links from Planned Parenthood:

After an abortion, it’s common for us to wonder if everything is okay. In most cases, 

t. It is important that our healthcare providers give us instructions, guidance and information on what to expect  following an abortion. 

, so it’s important to check the information provided by our provider, and 

We must be aware of the normal and abnormal symptoms

 that might follow an abortion so that we can properly care for ourselves. It might be helpful to 

 and log the way we’ve been feeling in a notebook as it may help us to keep that awareness, or discuss with a friend or family member we trust to keep it in our memory.

Knowing what symptoms to look out for and maintaining awareness with our bodies 

means we can more easily identify and get the support we need to ensure our physical wellbeing after abortion. 

 our hormones will change as our body tries to find balance again

. We may feel sore, tired, and emotionally confused (we’ll look at how to manage emotional wellbeing in the next note). 

, of course, but also trying to keep to regular routines with our sleeping habits, diet, any physical activities once we can, and spending time with supportive, caring people, if possible. Some of the guidance we are given might be to avoid strenuous exercise to make sure we recover well, and to avoid sexual intercourse for a certain amount of time - our healthcare provider should give us contraception options.

If possible, we should plan to take a couple of days to

 after the procedure. We may consider focusing on light activities like reading, watching TV or any other soothing interest that gives us joy and comfort.

tips that we can try if we’re physically struggling: 

creating a self-care package full of helpful items

, such as a water bottle or heating pad, a pile of feel-good films or shows for a good laugh (or cry), our favourite treats, some cosy and comforting pajamas, and some tea. We must snuggle up, get comfortable, and

For those of us who menstruate, our bodies will begin to prepare for our next menstrual cycle, which usually takes a few weeks to return. It may be normal for the first few periods and cycles to be slightly irregular, but we can check with our provider if we are concerned. A helpful way to keep a record of our abortion bleeding may be to

, where we can also log symptoms like cramps, sore breasts, and nausea to track our physical wellbeing.

Doctors generally advise that we avoid sex for a couple of weeks after our abortion to reduce the risk of any infections. It is very important to know that 

it is still possible to get pregnant almost immediately after an abortion

. If we do not want to become pregnant, we recommend  having contraception ready to use. Not all contraceptive options may be available during our appointment and our healthcare providers will advise us on our options, but if they don’t, we can always go back to ask for help.

If we are in a situation where someone is pressuring us to have sex before it is medically advised, making us feel guilty for not being able to have sex, or pressuring us into other sexual acts we are not comfortable with, 

. We never have to engage in a sexual act if we do not want to and we do not owe sex to anyone. If we find ourselves in a situation like this, we can find more support through the Chayn guide 

When recovering from an abortion it is important to 

maintain our physical wellbeing, check in with ourselves

. Having a clear understanding of possible symptoms and taking note of how we feel may help us understand what our body is doing or going through, and can help us know when to 

 when we feel something is not right. In the next note, we will examine how to look after our 

Physical wellbeing after abortion

It’s very common to feel a range of emotions during the abortion process, and no one 

 tell us how we should be feeling. Go slow and take whatever time is needed, and remember that any emotions we may feel are all valid 

Before we move on, we want to highlight that two common emotions are always suggested more than others - guilt and shame. These are sometimes framed as emotions we are expected to feel, but this is not the case for everyone! While we have included a section to support those who might be struggling with these feelings, 

we are not assuming anyone would, or should, feel this.

most common feeling after an abortion is relief, so it’s not uncommon at all to feel that way.

 We talk about feeling relief later in this note. 

We have created this guide to be as informative as possible for identifying and understanding the various ways we may feel, but there may be something we’re feeling right now that this guide may miss. We hope this note will help us all begin to 

 and if needed, bring forth some new insights about our lives, situations, and decisions. Additionally, this 

 is helpful on dealing with emotions around abortion. 

 deciding whether to have an abortion is 

, and should be our choice alone; any and all reasons for having an abortion are valid, whether it’s due to medical concerns, not wanting a child, or feeling unprepared and re-traumatised.

Whatever decision we make, this decision is an act of 

. No one else can know exactly what we need, or have needed, because our specific personal circumstances - our physical and mental health, beliefs, social environment, emotional responses, and more - are unique to us. But any choice can bring upheavals in our lives and we may need support in addressing them.

 doesn’t necessarily mean relying solely on ourselves. 

 seeking help from others is a great way of tending to our needs. If there are people we trust, talking to them might help us navigate this experience. Whether it’s 

 such as taking us to doctor’s appointments or 

such as talking to us or being with us while we make a stressful phone call, we should be able to rely on people who will just listen to our worries and support our decisions without feeling the need to provide unsolicited advice. 

Likewise, if finding support or people to talk to is difficult for us, Chayn and other organisations have many resources to support us when dealing with trauma. Even if we know that choosing an abortion is the 

, we may feel conflicted or confused afterward. We should give ourselves permission to work through our emotions as we go forward.

We may feel fine after an abortion, like a weight has been lifted, or we may feel sad in some way, or we may not know what we’re feeling. Our 

 throughout the entire process, and our individual situations may impact these feelings, so it’s important to understand and 

. While some of us may not need this - we may feel fine and continue to feel fine after - some may feel okay at first but then start to feel more negatively as time goes by, or it may just be the other way around too.

we may not be fully conscious of all of our feelings, 

and we need to work to identify them to find out how we’re really doing. To help us do that, we’ll try another exercise 

Whether we have positive or negative feelings, what’s important is that we begin to 

and care for our minds and bodies in the way that 

 and it will take time, but this process can help us move forward.

Later in this guide, we’ll talk a bit about the negative emotions we may struggle with during and after an abortion, but first, we will discuss the 

positive reactions that we may experience 

 It is good to feel happy and confident with your decision.

It’s your choice: a judgement-free guide to abortion

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