Maggie* was trapped in an abusive relationship and the threats of increased violence forbade her to leave. On a cold January night in 2024, her husband beat her and then forced abortion medication into her mouth. With little hope left, Maggie swallowed the pill, finally agreeing with him that she could not bring a child into this home. After he was asleep, she made a bold decision to finally leave. She called her sister who arrived quickly to take her away. After sharing with her sister of the imminent abortion, she also shared her deep regret and love for her preborn baby. With a quick search of the internet, they found Abortion Pill Rescue Network and made a life-changing call. * Maggie's story came in through the Abortion Pill Rescue Network. Maggie is a pseudonym.
A recent study reports 70% of women experiencing abortion state the abortion decision was inconsistent with their own values and preferences, and shockingly one in four abortions is unwanted or coerced.
Abortion activists commonly contend that access to abortion is central to a woman’s ability to define and carry out her own life plan. They assert that infringing upon this right has only negative impact on a woman. Yet the unrestricted access to chemical abortion has likely empowered those who abuse women far more than empowering women themselves.
Readily available, delivered to doorsteps across America, chemical abortion has removed medical pre-assessment prior to taking abortion drugs, as well evaluation for psychological coercion. Some are stockpiling abortion drugs for future needs for themselves and others.
The Charlotte Lozier Institute reports “at least 72 unique websites that sell either just Misoprostol (10) or both Misoprostol and Mifepristone (62) in MTP (medical termination of pregnancy) kits.” More than 20 of these websites have no gestational limits for sales.
[Click here to subscribe to Pregnancy Help News!]
Abortions of the past took place primarily at an abortion facility where the patient was typically separated from any apparent support people, giving opportunity for the woman to provide uncoerced informed consent. There was some time and opportunity for the woman to stop the abortion if she was being forced or having second thoughts. Today, most abortion websites require no proof of pregnancy and sometimes even offer a discount for buying the drugs in bulk. As the FDA continues to erode safety protocols, those seeking to abuse women and end their pregnancies have been emboldened.
Today’s abortions take place in utter isolation, empowering abusers to have complete control over the pregnancy decision. These cases have been described by some close to the cases as “devious, diabolical and disturbing.” Some abusers have even poisoned their girlfriends more than once.
‘Take these pills or I’m going to kill you,’ man told 12 weeks pregnant ex in forcing miscarriage: reports
Media headlines reflect what we hear commonly at the Abortion Pill Rescue Network – those seeking to control women are coercing and forcing abortion. These include boyfriends, aunts, husbands, friends, mothers, and those who pimp or traffic human beings.
Without consent, the pills are forced into the mouth or vagina of a victim to end a pregnancy. Some women are held captive and threatened until they agree to consume the abortion pill. Others have their medication swapped, only to learn later it was replaced with abortion chemicals. Still others consume a poisoned dinner or soft drink that threatens the life of their child. Often women sadly experience the loss of their babies assuming miscarriage and sometimes have no idea their breakfast pancakes or tea or water or smoothie was poisoned. Even in court, these cases are sometimes referred to as “miscarriage” rather than forced abortion.
Some of these children have been born alive, surviving only for minutes. At least one baby, born prematurely, survived the forced abortion induced by his father.
In the U.S. domestic violence is a growing tragedy. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that 20 people per-minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, which equates to more than 10 million cases each year. One in three women report have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.
The Justice Foundation confirms that forcing a woman to have an abortion, including a minor, is illegal in all 50 states of the United States of America and subject to prosecution.
Sadly, women who experience these horrific acts state they feel violated and describe the experience as a living nightmare. One woman, whose boyfriend swapped her amoxicillin for chemical abortion drugs, stated “There’s just no words for the horror I wake up with every day that this is my reality. There’s no escaping it, there’s no turning it off.” Another, grieving the loss of her preborn child, said in court, “I never even got the chance to listen to the heartbeat.”
With 24% of women now reporting coercion or an unwanted abortion, this violence against women undoubtedly continues to increase. Woman’s rights are being violated when they are coerced, unduly pressured, or forced into an unwanted abortion.
Tweet This: The unrestricted access to chemical abortion has likely empowered those who abuse women far more than empowering women themselves.
Resources for help:
If you or someone you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Local resources are available or you can call the national hotline:
National Domestic Violence Hotline
800-799-SAFE (7233)
800-787-3224 (TTY)
Advocates are also available to chat 24/7.
National Center for Victims of Crime
855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846)
StrongHearts Native Helpline
844-762-8483
If you or someone you know has experienced a forced abortion, the Center Against Forced Abortion is available to help. For more information: call (210) 614-7157 or email
The Center Against Forced Abortion offers free training for Pregnancy Help Organizations regarding how to help women being forced towards abortion decisions.
If you or someone you know are having regret after starting an abortion, the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, 1-877-558-0333, abortionpillreversal.com, is available to answer questions and connect you with immediate help.
Editor's note: Heartbeat International manages the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network (APRN) and Pregnancy Help News.
