Hi, My Name Is Leah.

Hi. I'm Leah, and I had a medication abortion in Maryland in 1998.

I found out I was pregnant when I returned home from a trip to England, and my first thought was: "Oh f**k." I decided to have a medication abortion because I graduated with a major in Women's Studies at Penn State in 1993 and earned a Master's Degree in Women's Studies from the George Washington University in 1996. I had worked at the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues and Catholics for a Free Choice, so I knew a lot about women's health care and the options for non-surgical abortion.

I did my research and found there was one clinic in Maryland that offered medical abortion. I knew that's what I wanted to do because it was the only option if you were less than 6 weeks pregnant. I think I found out at 4 weeks and got my appointment at 4.5 or 5 weeks. My insurance plan would have covered a surgical abortion 100%, but that would require waiting another 2-3 weeks. When I make a decision, I don't want to waste any time. I was lucky that I had the hundreds of dollars it cost to do the medical option.

I received my abortion pills from a clinic.

From start to finish, the process was expensive, painful, and surprising. I took the pills at the doctor's office, and I felt ok at first. I've had two kids since, but back then, I would say a medical abortion was the most painful thing I went through, mostly because I threw up the pain medicine and I have a history of excruciating menstrual cramps. What surprised me most was the pain.

Because I had access to medication abortion, I was able to delay motherhood. Over the years, I worried that I would be "punished" for having an abortion and would never be able to get pregnant. I was so scared that I even used fertility treatment (IUI) to conceive my son. My daughter, on the other hand, was not planned. Goes to show you that it only takes one sexual act to make a baby, and sometimes it makes no sense when it happens. You can spend years and years of your life actively trying to avoid getting pregnant or years and years trying to conceive a child. Sometimes you can be stupid and get away with it. Other times, you can do everything right and still nothing happens. I felt guilty at times, but relieved. I am terrified for my daughter. The thought that she could live in a state that bans abortion after 6 weeks or that requires waiting periods or parental consent just infuriates me.

Whether it's legal or not, women will find a way to end a pregnancy. I had a friend who tried her best to induce a miscarriage with herbs. Sadly, it didn't work, and she ended up needing to go through with a surgical procedure. I had another friend in college who was considering an abortion after an unexpected pregnancy, and while she was still debating what to do, she had a miscarriage. I thought that only happened on soap operas. I'm strongly and vocally prochoice on social media and my website. My close friends know that I've had an abortion. My daughter knows. However, I have purposefully never announced publicly on social media or on my website that I have had an abortion myself. I have friends and colleagues who I know are anti-choice, and I didn't want to offend them or be judged by them. I can't stay silent any longer. I can't worry that people will unfriend me or unlike me or try to convince me that I made a horrible mistake and will go to hell if I don't confess my sin and ask for forgiveness from God.

I'm sharing my story because I'm infuriated that almost 30 years after my medical abortion, my daughter may not have access.

Medication abortion is safe and effective.