Thread by @DrPetra

This #MaternalMentalHealthWeek a reminder in Zara Ahmed’s words “people everywhere want, need and find ways to get abortions” nbcnews.com/think/amp/ncna…

Discussions, plans, or actions to ban abortion do not mean abortions don’t happen.

Access to abortion and reproductive rights vary by country and state and your choices will vary based on many factors including law, finances, transportation, healthcare access, faith and culture, personal freedoms and safety. And above all else luck reproductiverights.org/maps/worlds-ab…

There are many reasons to have an abortion - all of them are valid. There aren’t some reasons that are more appropriate or worthy than others. Depending on the circumstances of why you need an abortion it may be a relief,upsetting,or both. Nobody should judge reasons or feelings

Nobody should be pressured to disclose they’ve had an abortion; shamed for choosing to have or not have an abortion; or silenced if they want to talk about why their abortion was right for them (including ones that happened long ago).

Reproductive rights and justice are a global issue intrinsically linked to many other factors - gender inequalities, healthcare, prosperity, housing, politics, faith, opportunities. We generally focus on the US and England which ignores other experiences (good and bad) worldwide

A lack of access to abortion in any state or country always disproportionately affects those that are poor, disabled, at risk of familial/relationship violence (including coercive control); or otherwise minoritised and harmed, particularly by racism.

A lot of misinformation is spread about abortion, primarily by those that oppose it. Wrongly claiming abortions cause mental or physical health problems bpas.org/media/1439/10-… Those who support abortion can still spread myths by repeating scary, old fashioned, or debunked ideas

Abortion has been made to be a taboo, complex and fraught topic and all of that can play a part in making it difficult to access abortion, for any reason needed, in a timely and safe way. You can help others and yourself by learning about it so you don’t assume or misinform

Inequalities widen when there is reduced or no access to safe, supportive, stigma-free, funded and evidenced care around
- contraception
- abortion
- pregnancy
- infertility
- miscarriage, molar and ectopic pregnancy, and stillbirth
- menstruation and menopause

To summarise. Abortions are needed for lots of reasons. None of those are anybody else’s business. Abortion is a right and should be part of safe, funded healthcare. You can discuss yours, or not, as you please. We should support other people’s choices without conditions.

Abortion is linked to mental health. A myth is that it causes mental health problems. In reality the reasons why you needed an abortion can always impact on mental health and could need care. Being shamed for having an abortion or barriers to getting one affects mental health too

Discussing abortion can be challenging and I’ve found it particularly so around miscarriage. Not least because people who’re anti choice/forced birth like to use my losses and/or graphic (and often faked) images to bully and silence. Blocking and reporting is important

There are times when abortion is very topical but we can talk about it all the time, clearly and supportively, from an informed position and without shame. It’s not a competition. You don’t need to have the hottest of hot takes on this one. Just persistence and solidarity.