Abortion has been sold to the public by Planned Parenthood, the abortion industry, and its friends in the media as a “right” for women, and as a marker of women’s empowerment. But in reality, many abortion patients say the experience was not the least bit empowering, testifying how they were given almost no information regarding the potential physical and emotional effects of the procedure, or regarding facts about the development of their babies. Beyond this, it is clear that teens who have abortions are at particular risk, as Planned Parenthood and other facilities do little to protect them, asking few questions and failing to report potential sexual abuse.
Below are statements from several women, including many minors, who suffered at the hands of the abortion industry, submitted to the Supreme Court in the case of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, which the Court decided in favor of the plaintiff, an abortion conglomerate with an extensive list of health and safety violations over several years. These women state that informed consent was not a part of their abortion experiences:
Mary K. S., age 13
I was thirteen, having a “forced” abortion by my parents…. Nobody told me what really happens to the baby…. I was traumatized because I wanted to keep the baby…. The doctor had only aborted half the baby…. THE OTHER HALF WAS STILL IN ME!…
Aishaq M., age 13
No. I was only 13 years old. Nobody ever explained to me what would be happening to me. They explained it to my father. However no one spoke directly to me. I was not given an option…. I was pregnant as a result of rape….
Nika, age 14
No. I was fourteen. This child was a product of rape. I was not given any other options, told my baby was a glob of tissue and was given no aftercare. Told absolutely nothing about what could happen during as a complication or what can happen after, nor of the emotional toll this would take on my life.
Karin, age 15
No. I was only 15 and was NOT given a choice – I did NOT want to have this done. I screamed at the doctors to stop but I was a minor and my parents made the choice for me….
Jennifer M., age 15
No. I was not informed on any facts on abortion during or before my abortion…. I was 15 years old…. My boyfriend’s sister who was 18 took me there. She called and asked beforehand if they would ask for proof of age. They said “no”….
Angela M., age 15
No. I was only 15 and I was so unaware of the consequences of my actions. My parents thought it would make the problem “go away” and everything would be back to normal…. I struggle even saying the word. I had nightmares, I began using drugs and drinking heavily and I struggled getting pregnant when I was married and ready…. My self-esteem is unrecoverable…. I have anxiety and depression.
Nicole P., age 15
No. I was 15 yrs. old. The procedure was never explained to me in any way. My parents did not know – only my boyfriend who drove me there. I was given no other option such as adoption…. I was scared as I laid there and the pain was intense as was the bleeding…. I contemplated suicide!
Shadia, age 15
No. I was 15 years old. I was directly told by the abortion saleswoman that my pregnancy was simply a blob of meaningless tissue. I was not asked if I wanted an ultrasound. I was never told I was killing a child. I was told if I hurried up and scheduled it before I reach 12 weeks, I’d save $150. No consequences…. Less than six months after the abortion, I became suicidal….
Julie E., age 16
When I went to Planned Parenthood for the free pregnancy test, the counselor came back in the room with the news that I was indeed pregnant. I was in shock and heartbroken. I was 16. I had no support and no help. She never explained the procedure. She never told me options. It was presented as the only option but the procedure wasn’t explained….
Lisa C., age 16
I was 16 and scared. I was told halfway through the procedure that I was further along than they suspected and they had to switch the larger diameter instruments. I realized then it had to be a baby and that it was already too late to save it. I laid in bed and endured the worst psychological and physical pain I have ever felt….
Vickie E., age 16
No. I was not informed about the risks, the procedure performed or what exactly was going on. I was only 16 years old and was treated with no respect and seemingly disdain from the doctor, nurses and office staff. I was not even minimally informed of any adverse effects.
Kimberly V. D. L., age 16
No. The procedure was explained as terminating a pregnancy…. Medically, I had intense bleeding after procedure and there was no one to call or to turn to but my school nurse. I was not offered any counseling concerning the emotional aftermath. No one asked about the father, who was 21 and I was 16, no one told me he had committed a crime pressuring me into sex.
C.C., age 16
No… I was never told about what my other options were and where to seek help if I wasn’t sure about my decision (which I wasn’t). I remember asking advice from the woman who had just explained the procedure to us, about whether or not I should go through with it or not. She told me, “Look, I’m not a counselor or anything but you seem like a smart girl to me. I don’t think you wanna ruin your life by having a baby right now…. At sixteen years old, frightened and alone, you can imagine the impact that these words had on me…. I was treated like a number and not a person…. As long as I was able to pay, nothing else mattered.
K.H., age 16
No. I was not told anything. I was only 16 years old and I was being forced into having the abortion by my mother…. The nurse never spoke to me about anything that would go on, what was going on, or what would happen later other than not to get pregnant again. They spoke to my mother but never to me.
P.S.J.M., age 17
No. I was 17, scared and didn’t know what to expect, what the consequences would be, how I would feel. They did it so often that they didn’t even bother to explain anything to me. I just followed the instructions.
Patricia L., age 17
No. As a 17 yr. old victim of rape I was told nothing. In fact, I was made to feel as if the rape was deserved because I knew the person. I was treated as if I had been asking for it. I was treated as if there were no other choices but abortion. I was told that no one would believe I was raped so there was no reason to report it either. I was told nothing except that if I didn’t have it then I was choosing to destroy my own life.
Cynthia C., age 19
No. I was not told how the abortion would be done or of any complications or side effects that could occur. I was not told that there was a possibility of not being able to get pregnant in the future or of any of the psychological effects. I was 19 and I was pressured into it by my fiancé….
Jeanene B., teen
No. I was a teenager that was kept in the dark about the whole thing. My parent paid for the abortion. My parent told the medical personnel to not tell me as much as possible….
K.R., age not given
No. The Planned Parenthood counselor told me my baby was only the size of the head of a pin. Later research showed that my baby was developed enough to suck its thumb.
R.W., age not given
No… I became pregnant because I had been raped…. All I knew was that the baby would be taken from me, that it didn’t have a heartbeat, that it was just a blob of tissue…. I was not told about the physical pain – and believe me – it DOES hurt!!… As the doctor was doing the procedure (taking my baby’s life) I couldn’t stop crying, and all he could do was scream at me that “if you don’t shut up, I’m going to knock you out.”
T.P., age not given
No. I visited Planned Parenthood…. Going to the abortion clinic was like going to a doctor for a cold. Very cold, matter of fact, and no, no one told me of any health or emotional consequences.
Gail H., age not given
No. I went to Planned Parenthood… live birth was not even mentioned…. Looking back on this, I feel I was pushed into my abortion…. No other options were even presented to me. I was given no information on what the negative physical, mental and emotional problems could and would occur….
Nicki, age not given
No. I was forced to have this abortion by my ex-husband, an Army officer, who felt another child would adversely affect his military career. I had no idea of the mental, emotional and physical toll it would take on my life.
Lianne, age not given
No. Planned Parenthood staff said it was good to have the abortion early because “it wasn’t a baby yet – only a blob of tissue.” Didn’t inform me of any physical pain, consequences or emotional ramifications. I was not given any information on amount of bleeding, physical pain or other consequences….
Rachele F., age not given
No…. Planned Parenthood told me that my baby was a blob of tissue. They said it was not a baby. I was completely awake during my abortion and felt everything….
Abortion industry leader Planned Parenthood has been caught lying to women about abortion risks as well as fetal development:
The fact is, the abortion industry knowingly deceives women, as attested to by former Planned Parenthood managers. The women listed above, and millions like them, deserve to be heard. Women — and their babies — deserve better than abortion.
