Violence, Pregnancy and Abortion

Information may not be reliable

Regrettably, incidences of violence against women are not an unusual.  Everyday news portrays how number of women around the world suffers from abuse. Many national studies estimate that up to 70% of women have experienced some type of sexual or physical violence by their intimate partner.

The relationship between the poor reproductive health and domestic violence is often connected and proven. This as well as the physical and mental health outcome of women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, it has a specific reproductive health context.

Unplanned pregnancies and violence

The World Health organization reports that abuse at the hands of an intimate partner may lead to a number of negative health consequences – these include reproductive and sexual health.  Many women suffering from domestic abuse consequently experience more unplanned and unwanted pregnancies, abortions and other complications.

There are some women in such cases who buy abortion pill online in secrecy to keep the pregnancy and its termination hidden from their partners, while others use unauthorized and unsafe methods.

There is proof that unplanned pregnancies associated with domestic violence (with intimate partner) are three to four times more likely than planned ones. Reproductive coercion, i.e. male partner forcing and making the pregnancy decision, is one method that helps explain the existing and known inter-relation between the partner’s violence and unintended pregnancies.

It is also important to note, that some women in violent relationship may be forced to go through abortion, and there are reports that provide evidence of poor mental health for women who go through coerced abortion.

Types of abuse

Women may witness a variety of types of violence during pregnancy – this includes sexual, emotional and physical by different people. The majority of three type women report are–

1.       Domestic Violence

This may include the male partner or the family that may be intimidating the woman and entrenching power and control her every move. The partner may manifest this behavior in various ways that may be psychological, financial, sexual, physical or emotional etc.

2.       Reproductive compulsion

This includes behavior of the male partner who is coercing the woman to forcibly either abort or continue the pregnancy against her wishes, therefore denying her the right to control her bodily decisions and preventing her from accessing help – i.e. not allowing her to buy abortion pills or surgery.

3.       Sexual duress

Sexual violence includes any instance of coerced or forced intercourse, like rape either from the partner in the relationship or any other person.  This includes intercourse that was coerced by emotional manipulation and violence, threats and even physical abuse. Situations where the victim was unable to consent and was under the influence of drugs or alcohol is also constituted under sexual violence; as well as manipulating women who might have cognitive disability or are extremely young.

Domestic violence should be considered by anti-choice campaigns

It is a well known fact that pregnancy can be a catalyst for abusers, and can escalate violence. The findings of a healthcare report found that 14% of the women coming in for pregnancy terminations in eight and a half month period duration had experienced domestic violence in past twelve months. One of the most common ways for women experiencing unplanned pregnancies in abusive relationship is by sabotaging birth control.  This is done in order to increase their control over the victim and lessen their sense of control.

It is evident that pregnant women in violent relationship are most likely to buy Misoprostol and Mifepristone abortion pills or go through the surgery. They may feel the need to escape from the abuse and children make it that much harder for women to escape.

Therefore it is quite possible that pregnancy termination not only makes women in such condition to not just survive within the violent relationship but make them take steps to get out of one. Therefore it is necessary for anti-choice supports to consider well being of women in abusive situations and their need to exercise control over their bodies.

Note – Onlineabortionpillrx does not, under any circumstances condone or support abortion or pregnancy continuation that is against the wishes of the pregnant woman.