The Only Abortion Opinion That Matters Is Mine

Last year I got a medical abortion at 7 weeks. It wasn't at all painful- it was kind of like a really heavy period, but all my periods are heavy, anyway. I had no hesitation getting the abortion. No guilt, no shame, no regrets. Just pure relief. My experience with the actual abortion was very positive. What was not positive were the people in my life who thought they were entitled to an opinion on my abortion. I only told my boyfriend, my mother, and a couple of close friends. My boyfriend told his parents and soon I was bombarded with calls, texts, emails, all about how I was 'murderer' and how could I kill their grandchild blah blah blah. They were, as you can probably tell, very very religious and very very pro-life. I am neither. So I said something like 'you may think abortion is murder, but I don't. You may be Christian but I'm not.' Like, that's one thing I always see with pro-lifers- that their opinions are the only ones that matter. They're the one with those beliefs. They're not my beliefs. My belief is that abortion is a medical procedure and the 'baby' was a bundle of cells, no different to any other cells in my body. All this to say, the only abortion opinion that mattered was my own. I was the only one who could make this choice for me. Everyone else's religious beliefs and views on abortion are irrelevant.

Edit: I didn't expect this post to get so much attention, so here's a few FAQs:

If you're a guy, I'm happy to talk and debate with you, but please be aware that it is my deep and unchanging opinion that men have zero say in women's reproductive rights.

My boyfriend was in agreement about the abortion. We talked. We agreed. I didn't go behind his back. If he hadn't agreed I still would have gotten the abortion. My view is that until he can carry the baby, it's not his decision. You can disagree, that's fine. This was between my boyfriend and I.

It was protected sex- I had an IUD, it failed.

I don't view abortion as murder. I don't believe in heaven or hell or God, so telling me I'm going to hell doesn't really do anything to me.

No, I don't regard the foetus as a baby. Yes, it had a heart but it also lacks the ability to survive without a host. I'm under no obligation to be that host.

Adoption isn't an alternative to abortion. Abortion is an alternative to pregnancy. I wasn't willing to be pregnant.

I don't care if I'm selfish. My body, my choice.

The rhetoric of 'should a man be liable for child support if a woman has a child he doesn't want/shouldn't a man have a say in abortion'. That's false equivalence. I agree that it's unfair that men are sometimes forced into parenthood and no, I don't think they should have to be responsible for it. But the issue is that it's still a woman's right to choose. A man can't force a woman to get an abortion and he can't force her not to get an abortion. Her body, her choice. I'd suggest making sure you're both absolutely clear about what your views on abortion are in case you find yourself in this situation.

Respectful questions will be answered respectfully. Comments calling me a murderer will not be. 😊