I’ve had 9 abortions…
March 9, 2010 by Janelle Oswald
‘I am not ashamed by what I have done nor am I proud,’ says Candice Small*. Like all women I have the right to chose when I want to become a parent. It’s not that I don’t want children but my life right now is not conducive for kids – but when the time is right I will.’ Speaking to Flavour, Candice revealed that she has had nine abortions and has lost count of how many times she has taken the morning after pill.
The statistics
The number of young women who have had more than one abortion has risen by almost 70 per cent since 1991, fuelling fears that terminations are being carried out for lifestyle reasons. Experts warn that binge drinking among young women – especially teenagers – has also contributed to the increase. In 2007, 5,897 girls under 20 had their second, third or even fourth termination. Sixteen years earlier, in 1991, the figure stood at just 2,934, the journal Contraception reported.
Candice’s story
‘I become sexually active at 13,’ says Candice*. ‘I had two abortions before my 15th birthday because I thought if a guy pulls out before ejaculating I would not become pregnant. But now I am a lot wiser at two [abortions]. ‘The other times I fell pregnant were because the pill had let me down. I am one of those unfortunate women who, despite taking contraception, I still become pregnant for whatever reason. Although people may say that I am ignorant for not having an implant or the injection, which has a better success rate, I have chosen not to because I don’t like putting on extra weight.’ Shrugging her shoulders, Candice dismisses the idea that the terminations have had a negative effect on her. ‘I’m not saying that every time I have had an abortion I have left the clinic skipping, but life pretty much goes on. I don’t like to dwell on the past as there is no point. In an ideal situation I suppose I would have had gone through with some of my pregnancies, but I do not want to be a single mother and I definitely want to be more financially stable.’
She goes on: ‘The only time I felt completely broken was when I decided to try the abortion pill, as I was only eight weeks gone. I bought the abortion pill online for £50 because I have gone to nearly every clinic in London and I did not want somebody to recognise me. A couple of hours after taking it, I began to bleed heavily and was in excruciating pain. Half an hour later, I was on the toilet weeping and doubled over with pain as my baby was aborted. The bleeding carried on for four weeks.
‘Taking the pill was traumatising because you have to go through the whole emotion. While my body was recovering, I became for the first time heavy with guilt.’ Hoping to one day see her name in lights as a singer, Candice is part of the growing number of young women who see abortion as an alternative form of contraception. Abortions in the UK have reached record levels – almost 200,000 a year in England and Wales – a rate second only in the western world to the US. A new survey of teenagers across the UK also showed that 38 per cent of those who had abortions had not used any contraception.
Psychotherapist Kitty Hagenbach, is based at the Viveka clinic in London, which specialises in women and children’s health. ‘While we would never want to go back to the days of backstreet abortions,’ she says, ‘today’s quick-fix culture means that many young girls see abortion as just another form of contraception. It’s easy to get the morning after or abortion pill, which also increases their relaxed attitude towards sex.’ Meanwhile, peer pressure and the rise of underage drinking only add to the problem. Jacqueline Collier, Professor of Health Services Research at Nottingham University, advocates for more research behind the growing trend of women using abortion as contraception, stating: ‘It is right for us to put it as a priority. It is not good for society, let alone for teenagers, to be having repeat terminations or repeat pregnancies they are not wanting or not able to continue with.’
Michelle’s story
Michelle Clarke* had four abortions by the time she had reached the age of consent. Taking a vow of abstinence after becoming a born-again Christian, Michelle explained to Flavour that she was too young to understand about contraception when she became pregnant at 12 after a single encounter with a fellow teenager at a sleepover. Placed on the pill immediately by her mother, Michelle unfortunately fell pregnant again at a party while intoxicated, claiming that she did not realise that despite not having full-blown intercourse she could become pregnant. The third time she was raped and the fourth termination was after her then boyfriend decided that he was too young to become a father at 16.
‘I hate myself for having four abortions and I prayed then when I am finally responsible enough to have a baby, I can. Because I have heard that if you have more then three abortions you will have trouble conceiving later on in life’ ‘I know I am not a bad person at heart, I just made bad choices. I have lost count of the amount of times that I have woken up from having nightmares. I pray for forgiveness every day because before my abortions I truly did not realise the trauma it would bring.’
Marie’s story
Law student Marie Macintosh* revealed to Flavour, that her ‘one abortion, was one too many,’ and after falling pregnant for the second time, she decided that she had to follow her pregnancy all the way. ‘Every time I look at my son, I try and imagine what my first child would have been like. In some ways I feel that Isaiah is a reincarnation of my first baby because I fell pregnant so soon after my termination. ‘I would never judge anybody who decides to have an abortion because everybody has the right to choose but for me, my one-time experience was one too many.’
A change in thinking
There are two camps that women who have terminations fall into, as Dr Trevor Stammers, a GP and a lecturer in healthcare ethics, explains. ‘There is one that understands the consequences and another that [is] very cavalier and hardened about it – [women] have entered a phase of regarding it as a back-up method of contraception. We have got to communicate that abstinence is not folly.’
Help when you need it?
Ann Furedi of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, which carries out almost a third of UK abortions, says: ‘A lot has changed the past two decades. Abortion has become more acceptable, easier to access for all age groups, better funded by the NHS, and more integrated into mainstream healthcare – all of which are good things.’ She adds: ‘Everyone agrees that it would be better for young people to avoid unwanted pregnancies and there is an extensive range of research and ongoing practical initiatives to address this. ‘All of these moves contribute to young people feeling more able to make choices about whether or not they should have sex and how best to handle the consequences.’
*Some of the names in this article have been changed
Abortion Facts
If you are pregnant and worried, be assured you are not alone. There are a number of organisations that are there to support you.
If you are a teenager and are considering abortion, call ChildLine at 0800 1111.
Marie Stopes International offer a telephone abortion consultation service. You can arrange to have an initial consultation over the phone with an experienced nurse at a time that suits you.
For 24-hour abortion information and booking service call 0845 300 8090.
Life offer free confidential counselling and emotional support on all matters concerning abortion and pregnancy. To speak to a counsellor call 0800 915 4600 or text 07786 200 330.
www.abortionfacts.com
Words by Janelle Oswald
Scary world out there… stay safe kids!!
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Yes it is definitely a scary world. Teenage pregnancy and promiscuity in the UK are of huge concern and I think that we need to go back to basics when it comes to sex education for our children and making sure that teenagers and adults are all aware of the various forms of contraception out there as well as STIs and also taught to respect themselves, their bodies and others.
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ccc Reply:
March 25th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
SPOT on Annika…..people talk about contraception like its soul purpose is to prevent pregnancy.
What about the STI's?! They need to realise sex education is about more than telling young women they need to get on the pill…
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Bit of a sensationalist article. Was it sponsored by pro-life groups?
Figures are a bit vague too – "Abortions in the UK have reached record levels – almost 200,000 a year in England and Wales – a rate second only in the western world to the US."
The US is a much bigger country so if you're comparing the two you really need to look at how many women that is out of, rather than just saying England and Wales has more or less than other countries.
The journalist should also have looked at other reasons why girls and women may be having multiple abortions rather than only interviewing people who suggest it is as an example of laziness. Sounds to me like these females have very little self esteem if they can't even be bothered to sort out contraception for themselves before having sex.
And putting a scan picture of a foetus on is just tacky.
Is that to try and guilt us all into seeing these women as evil?
You haven't captioned it, but that looks to me like a foetus who is pretty well-formed, ie. way past the point at which an abortion would be allowed.
What a shame. When I saw the front of this magazine I felt quite interested by it and was hoping it would provide something new for the market.
On the strength of this one article (admittedly not the whole mag) it seems you are seeking to appeal to all the old lowest common denominators of prejudice, knee-jerk reactions and Daily Mail sensibilities.
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once or twice is unfortunate, maybe a bit careless and somewhat unfortunate, but 9 times is just stupid. I don't care what way you want to paint it. That woman is obviously an idiot.
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I don't want this to come across as rude or aggressive but if you were not ashamed why haven't you given your real name?
I guess the pill failed me but even though i was 18 I was working, had somewhere to live & a partner – it was a no brainer… my 'baby' is now 5, I'm still working, still have a social life. Not saying that I am planning more anytime soon – BUT i made sure that I wasn't put in a position where abortion is even an option. Thats not for religious reasons but when there are so many people struggling to have children, for medical reasons etc…. how can someone so flippantly get rid of life when so many struggle to bring kids into the world? Someone close to me currently in remission from a horrible and aggressive cancer basically found out that she won't be able to have kids now….she put her ability to have children over her own health – and still couldn't have them. I wouldn't even point her in the direction of this article as she didn't get a choice….
My point is a baby is not the end of your life but something that gives you more focus ambition and drive to succeed. It wouldn't be easy, but if it did happen to me again abortion wouldn't cross my mind. I am big enough and confident in myself to know that whatever 'barriers' there may be in raising a kid – I can handle them.
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Really like your post Kate, so clear and so correct and so on point. This magazine is perpetuating the same old stereotypes and judgements that the mainstream media so often shoves down our throats because it is afraid to do anything else.
It's definitely a one sided article. Lets not forget that women have choices for a reason and that having a child is not something that everyone wants to do and yes we should all use contraception but come on now, this is the real world.
Also lets remember that just because a woman can get pregnant doesn't mean she should be a mother and just because a man produces sperm doesn't mean her should be a father. Single parent and waifs and stray statistics anyone?
Re Cici, good for you to feel strong and determined enough to have a child at such a young age but your experience in no way mirrors everyone elses. This article is not sensitive to women even though it was written by a woman. Typical!
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