This article has been written to help you consider and talk about the option of legal termination with your partner. Abortion is an emotive issue and there are many websites which are biased towards a particular religious or political viewpoint. There are no easy decisions and each situation is different – we have tried to make this article both factual and impartial.
The best advice anyone can give you is to become informed – find out as much as you can about the choices available. Each situation is unique. If you decide to keep the child, have an abortion, or go down the adoption route, there will be consequences – practical, physical and emotional. Find out all you can before making a decision and then equip yourself to deal with the after effects. Termination is not an easy option.
The first person to consider is your partner. Ultimately, you have to respect her choice in terms of whether or not to continue with the pregnancy. It is her body, and she is the one carrying the baby. How you deal with things, however, can greatly impact on her and so it is essential that you understand the power of your opinion and actions. You should try to talk about your emotions openly, she may want to know what you think and you are entitled to say how you feel, but be aware that the worst thing you can do is pressure her either way. It is such an important decision and should not be based on pressure from you, her parents or anyone else. If she is not entirely confident in her decision, this is most likely to contribute to negative feelings after the procedure.
What happens?In terms of procedure, the female can either take a pill that causes a miscarriage, if it is early enough in the pregnancy, or she can have the fetus removed by a doctor. You can learn more about this by following the links below, which offer impartial and neutral information.
It is important to realise that the medical procedure is just one part of the process. While some women are able to get on with their lives almost straight away, many more experience guilt, pain, remorse, and a number of other emotional complications. You might also have to confront difficult feelings. For these reasons, you should try to find out all you can before making a decision – and also to prepare yourself and your partner for aftermath.
Useful links for further information:
www.brook.org.ukBrook provides free and confidential sexual health advice and contraception to young people up to the age of 25.
Abortion – the factswww.likeitis.org.uklike it is - a web site dedicated to informing teenagers about sex and other growing up issues in the UK.
www.bpas.org/bpas supports reproductive choice and health by advocating and providing high quality, affordable services to prevent or end unwanted pregnancies with contraception or by abortion.
Abortion and men
www.efc.org.uk/Education For Choice supporting young people's right to informed choice on abortion.
www.childline.org.uk
National helpline: 0800 1111. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Provides a free, confidential telephone counselling service for children or young people with any problem.
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