Your body, your choice… or is it? What are your rights when it comes to contraception and pregnancy termination? In this article, we’re going to lay down the law (so to speak) so that you will never even have to think about this question ever again.
Marie Stopes and EASI co-hosted a workshop on abortion stigma for artists earlier this year. At the workshop, artists were given the opportunity to discuss abortion with experts in the field and to have time to develop the concepts for their artworks with other artists.
Marie Stopes, in conjunction with Amnesty International and EASI – the End Abortion Stigma Initiative – recently hosted the Body of Work: Abortion Conversations exhibition.
If you or someone you know has recently had an abortion or is considering it, be on the look-out for these symptoms after the procedure as there are a few risks of abortion. If you experience any of these side effects, you must get to your doctor or clinic ASAP.
Perhaps you’re considering having an abortion or maybe someone you care about is contemplating it. Either way, this procedure – the deliberate termination of a pregnancy – comes with a lot of questions.
When Karen*, aged 43, discovered she was pregnant, it was a massive shock. Her two kids were already out of the house, and with nappies, schooling and the teen years behind her, she simply couldn’t imagine raising another child – nor could she afford to. Her financial situation simply didn’t allow for another baby.
When Rakhi* discovered she was pregnant at the age of 23, she knew she was not in a position to bring a child into the world. Even though she’d been dating her boyfriend since they were at university, she was not sure that they were ready to have a child.
Imagine this scenario: A young woman finds herself facing an unplanned pregnancy. She panics: She’s not ready to have a baby and she anguishes over what to do. Finally, she makes a choice. Over the years, she wonders whether she did the right thing, and at times, she regrets the decision she made.
An unintended pregnancy can be a serious shock and it can also make you feel scared, panicky, angry or hopeless – so just imagine how your partner is feeling! This is why you need to take a moment to step back, take a breath and relax: An unplanned pregnancy doesn’t have to be the end…
In 2013, an estimated 138,000 women in South Africa resorted to using illegal and unsafe abortion providers to terminate their pregnancies, despite the serious health risks associated with illegal terminations.