Hi, My Name Is Audrey.

Hi. I'm Audrey, and I had a medication abortion in DC in 2018.

I found out I was pregnant when I missed my period and several pregnancy tests, and my first thought was "I'm alone in this." I decided to have a medication abortion because I was in an abusive marriage, I couldn't protect or support myself, let alone a baby.

I received my abortion pills from a clinic.

From start to finish, the process was lonely. I took the pills at the clinic/home, and I felt scared. The clinic team was helpful and supportive. At home, I felt alone. What surprised me most was that I wish we were honest about how physically painful and the amount of potential bleeding that can occur that is considered "normal." It's a little frustrating how I have seen it portrayed, even with the best of intentions in the media (like on TV shows).

Because I had access to medication abortion, I was able to finish my graduate school program (I'm a PhD now), have a job I worked years to attain that I am passionate about, and I was able to leave the abuse. I felt at the time heartbroken, but relieved.

I'm sharing my story because healthcare should be a basic human right, and that includes reproductive care. I don't want other women to feel as scared and alone as I did.

Medication abortion is why I'm still here today. Even though it was painful and a difficult decision, it was the right one for me.