Hi, My Name Is Elizabeth.

Hi. I'm Elizabeth, and I had a medication abortion in New York in 2001.

I found out I was pregnant when I took a pregnancy test in the weeks after being sexually assaulted, and my first thought was "How could this be happening to me?" I decided to have a medication abortion because I was raped at 16 years old, and I didn't want to have a baby.

I received my abortion pills at a clinic.

From start to finish, the process was emotional, validating, and safe. I took the pills at my grandmother's house, without her knowledge, and I felt confused, scared, and overwhelmed by pain. My body felt hot and feverish, but I had a sense that everything would be okay. What surprised me most was the clarity I experienced in the midst of such intense physical pain, and the strength I drew from my mother’s support after I shared what had happened.

Because I had access to medication abortion, I was able to finish high school as a "normal" teenager, keep my story private and protected from public scrutiny, and share it only when I felt empowered and ready to do so. I felt that having that choice allowed me to heal without the added trauma of having my story shared without my consent, mirroring the loss of control I experienced during the rape itself.

I'm sharing my story because I hope it can help others feel less alone, while also honoring the healing journey that brought me here.

Medication abortion is a deeply personal decision and a fundamental right that should belong to the individual alone, not to another person, and certainly not to the government.