Hi, My Name is Courtney.

Hi. I'm Courtney, and I had a medication abortion in North Carolina in 2025.

I found out I was pregnant when I missed my period, and my breasts were super tender. I took a pregnancy test after my missed period, and my first thought was "Fuck. I can't have a child right now. I'm recently married, but we weren't ready to take that on. I want an abortion." I decided to have a medication abortion because it felt easier than the other procedure and was less invasive.

I received my abortion pills from an organization.

From start to finish, the process was both easy and challenging. Easy because Planned Parenthood made the process as easy as they could with the state 72-hour wait period, which is an absurd policy by the way. I knew I wanted an abortion when I went to the clinic. I did not need the unnecessary hassle of the government thinking women are incapable of making our own medical decisions. I wish I could have gotten it sooner, aka the first day I went to my appointment. I took the pills at home with my dogs and husband, and I felt relief. I was hoping it would pass soon so I could be sure there was nothing left to worry about. My husband cared for me as I let it pass. What surprised me most was the protestors and how invasive they were. The worst parts were 1) having to drive from TN to NC to get medical care and 2) having self-proclaimed Christians scream at you while you are trying to go to your doctor's appointment.

Because I had access to medication abortion, I was able to continue attending graduate school. Now we can start our family when we are ready to provide for one. We still plan to have four children. I felt that the process should have been easier. It should be the exact same as a pap smear appointment with zero protestors outside opposing evidence -based medical care, spewing hatred and malice. I also have yet to share my story with anyone aside from my husband, knowing I will lose friends and family if they knew. I've never felt so alone getting a medical procedure. I had support for my endoscopy and my colonoscopy, but had no one for my abortion. I felt so alone.

I'm sharing my story because no one should be forced to carry a pregnancy. Medical care should be between a doctor and a patient. No one else, especially the government, should restrict our access as women to medical services. I want change. I want people to be far better Christians and people. This should be a no-brainer, and yet women are dying across the country because we do not have access to medical services.

Medication abortion is freedom. The freedom to choose if and when to have children without fear of coercion, violence, or government interference.