Insights in reproductive health research and practice from CompassCare's medical team.
We women have been blessed with the amazing ability to talk. Well, not just talk, but yak; mountains of words about the terribly important to the downright boring and mundane. Really, our mountain of words, which is simultaneously amazing and annoying to men, is how we work through life: we gather and discuss facts; find […]
When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, it’s common to consider the option of abortion. However, the doubts and fears associated with that choice may be stronger than you anticipated. If you’re not sure that abortion is right for you, take some time and get informed about all of your options. Abortion alternatives include both parenting […]
“We’re able to bring the patient in and truly, through the tool of stenography, turn her theoretical, ‘I think I’m pregnant’ into ‘I sure am pregnant, and there’s my baby’ by letting her see the heartbeat of that baby on that screen.” Common symptoms of pregnancy include: missed period swollen or tender breasts increased fatigue […]
Over half of all American women facing unplanned pregnancies report feeling pressured, or coerced, into choosing an abortion2. Pressure can come from anywhere – a partner, parent, sibling, friend, employer, or even a medical professional.
“Most of the pressures that we see are brought by those people that she cares about.
It’s really important for us to help her sort through all the voices that she’s hearing,
and those pressures that she’s hearing, to get to her voice.”
Coercion has become a growing topic of concern among those who want to protect the rights of women seriously considering abortion.
Recently, a bill was passed that would amend the penal code in the state of Michigan to include the Coercive Abortion Prevention Act3, prohibiting anyone from compelling a “pregnant female to seek an abortion”. As defined in the bill, coercion includes anything that would cause a reasonable individual to suffer “emotional distress”, such as:
Coercion goes beyond what is listed here. The term coerce means “to restrain or dominate by force; to compel to an act or choice.”1 It includes any psychological pressure, physical duress, verbal abuse or withdrawal of emotional support by loved ones. Facilities who stand to gain by your decision may provide misleading or incomplete information, making coercion by providers common. In a recent study, 84% of American women who had abortions stated they had not received adequate counseling beforehand2.
You have the right to unbiased counsel, free from external pressures. Contact CompassCare for a free, confidential consultation.
The first decision you’ll ever make about your unplanned pregnancy is who you’ll share the news with – or if you’ll share it at all. Depending on your situation, you may feel like confiding in someone is just not an option. However, hiding your pregnancy leaves you to sort through this crisis alone. Confiding in […]
“It was a really difficult choice to make, and… I mean, even my parents, you know, had things to say about…‘Cause I was trying to get through to them, you know: where I’m at, how difficult this is for me. I was scared, but I’ll tell you,when I had the ultrasound at the center […]