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To learn more about the potential psychological impact of abortion, read "Post-Abortion Syndrome." If you're looking for "positive" abortion stories, read this.

"I had an abortion when I was 17. I knew it was wrong, and yet I did it anyway because I was afraid of what my parents would think if I told them I was pregnant. I did not want to disappoint my father. The father of the baby also wanted me to have an abortion. Plus being in high school, I saw no way of managing this situation. Looking back on this decision as an adult, although my parents would…"

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Age: 59
Location: Kingsville, MD
Date: April 4, 2019

"I was 22, and I had just started dating my boyfriend. I felt pregnant, so I turned to a friend who I knew had had two abortions before. I wasn't thinking that maybe she would have a one-sided opinion. From the moment I found out I was pregnant, she pushed abortion on me and told me I wasn't ready and it wasn't the right time. After the abortion, I cried, but I moved on—or so I thought. I came…"

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Age: 30
Location: Maryland
Date: September 19, 2017

"I was 18 when I first got pregnant. I was so scared because I thought my life would be over. How would I take care of my child? When I told my ex-boyfriend he was shocked. He was 17. I found out in school after volleyball practice. I went to my teacher because I felt that I was pregnant and, well, I was. I have to blame myself because I was the first person to mention abortion, but I didn't mean…"

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Age: 20
Location: Maryland
Date: August 22, 2017

"I am a 57-year-old mother of a 26-year-old son and a 21-year-old daughter. I also have a 3-year-old granddaughter. In November, 1980, I was in my last year of college and got pregnant. In December, I told my boyfriend that I was pregnant and was going to have an abortion. My baby would have been born in July 1981, and would be 35-years-old. I locked this secret in my heart for 20 years. The only…"

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Age: 57
Location: Baltimore, MD
Date: February 3, 2017

"I thought I was doing the right thing. For my future and my boyfriend's. I was terrified and didn't want to fall behind in college. The idea of being pregnant repulsed me. I didn't want to give up my lifestyle and everything I had. I just turned 21 and had barely gotten to go to the bars and have fun. I've always been against abortion, but when you're the one pregnant it's much different. I thought…"

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Age: 21
Location: Maryland
Date: December 18, 2016

"When I was 19 years old, I had an abortion. I already had a beautiful baby girl who was one year old. I got pregnant both times while on birth control. The first time I was using the pill; the second time I had received a birth control shot. My baby's father was very abusive and said if I kept the second baby he would leave. My father had just passed away, and my mom was still trying to grieve…"

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Age: 40
Location: Annapolis, MD
Date: March 8, 2016

"I went in for a medical abortion by but was exactly 9 weeks—so they told me a surgical procedure would ensure that the abortion took place, since the pill is less effective the longer you wait. I was so angry. I hated the idea of laying on a cold table staring at the ceiling while they strapped me down and put me to sleep. I just wanted to go straight home and not have to be traumatized…"

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Age: 20
Location: Rockville, MD
Date: November 14, 2015

"My period was late, and I figured I was pregnant instantly. It was about 2 am when I was up thinking, what if I could be pregnant? So I took a test. It came back positive. I immediately started crying out of fear because of the strict household I lived in. I knew my mom wouldn't accept it. I was about five weeks when I found out I was pregnant. I was excited on the inside—holding my belly,…"

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Age: 18
Location: Maryland
Date: August 19, 2015

"I'm married and have a 2-year-old daughter. I have always wanted her to have siblings, so I prayed and it happened. However, we are currently living with my mom and not employed. My husband was laid off and decided to join the military, which is taking longer than expected. When I first found out I was pregnant, I was ecstatic. I just knew life would fall into place, but with not having our own…"

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Age: 23
Location: Annapolis, MD
Date: December 30, 2014

"I had an abortion in February of 2011. I missed my period and had all the regular symptoms of pregnancy that I had with my daughter who is now 5. I am almost 30 and the father is almost 40. After 4 years of being with him, we didn't think we could get pregnant. Well the day that I went to take the pregnancy test, he already knew it was going to be positive because he couldn't eat anything at…"

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Age: 29
Location: Baltimore, MD
Date: May 13, 2012

"When I found out I was pregnant, I was in such shock... I didn't know what to tell the father. We weren't in a relationship, but he is the father of my twin girls. He seemed okay with having [the abortion]. I already had my mind made up. But a piece of me didn't want to do it. It felt like a dream, it felt unreal. So the following day I had an ultrasound. They told me I was 5-weeks and would…"

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Age: 27
Location: Baltimore, MD
Date: February 26, 2012

"As I'm writing this, with tears coming down my face, I am also helping myself. I have had a total of 5 pregnancies. I have one 8 year old, 3 abortions, and just found out I am pregnant. The first abortion I had when I was 18, 5 months after my first child was born. There was no way my boyfriend at the time and I could deal with 2 infants. We were young and struggling. I didn't know the impact…"

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Age: 26
Location: Maryland/DCMaryland/DC
Date: January 7, 2012

"In November of 2010, while I was a freshman in college, I received the news that I was 8 weeks pregnant. I thought abortion was the best thing because there was no way I could successfully raise a child while being over 300 miles from home and in college. I gave myself so many excuses and reasons as to why I was doing the right thing, but just like the story before me, I was pro-choice before…"

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Age: 20
Location: Maryland
Date: December 19, 2011