I was 21 when I had my abortion. I just started dating my boyfriend at that time for a few months, we had a rocky relationship due to my personal issues with me and him with substance abuse issues.

It was one week before my 24th birthday when I found out that my diligent birth control efforts were fallible. The decision to not be pregnant by the time I turned 24 was one of the most straightforward I have ever made.

I was 43 when I became pregnant for the first time. I had been sexually active, often without contraception, since my early teens and had begun to think that getting pregnant was something that just wasn't going to happen to me.

Let me start this by saying, my entire life I have been pro choice. I always knew it was each individual’s right to decide what they did with their body regardless of the circumstances. Little did I know one day I would be making that decision on my own.

I had no idea how important abortion was until I found out the hard way that it can be the only way to end a pregnancy.

I am 23 years old. I had my abortion in May of this year. I have never wanted children. I have never wanted to carry a thing inside of me that is not part of me. The very thought chills me to the bone.