When I found out I was pregnant in December 2014, I immediately knew I wanted an abortion.

I wasn't in a position to be a parent. I had just started college and knew that having an abortion was the only option -- to pursue my own life, dreams, and aspirations before becoming a parent.

So, I went to my nearest Planned Parenthood health center where they helped me and a few weeks later, I had a medication abortion to safely end my pregnancy. I traveled one hour from my home to the Planned Parenthood health center in Philadelphia, which provided me with the care I needed. I took one mifepristone pill at the health center, and then used the medication misoprostol at home the next day.

This type of medication abortion, using a two-pill combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, is safe and effective. Like me, more than five million people in the United States have used mifepristone to end their pregnancies.

But access to mifepristone is under attack. I'm angry and horrified that the abortion pill I was able to take is now threatened. If allowed to stand, the ruling by a Texas judge to block the FDA's approval of mifepristone would severely limit abortion care for people who need it. The people most harmed are people with low incomes and people of color. For now, access to mifepristone remains as the Texas judge's ruling has been temporarily blocked while the appeals process plays out.

I was fortunate -- I could afford the time and money to get the care that was right for me. As states across the country restrict and ban abortion -- including medication abortion -- travel is costly and can often take days. More and more people are being cut off from care.

I know that Planned Parenthood will never stop fighting to protect and expand abortion access so that people who are in the position I was in can get the safe and effective abortion care that they want and need.

But fighting for access to care isn't enough. We must also use our voices and talk about abortion to break the culture of shame and silence.

When I got my abortion, I didn't feel like I could tell my family. My boyfriend didn't come to the appointment with me, didn't help pay for it, and didn't provide emotional support afterwards. I knew having an abortion was the right decision for me, but I still felt ashamed and unsupported.

I didn't tell anyone about my abortion for five years. Now that I've talked about my abortion with the people in my life, I know that they would have wholeheartedly supported me if I'd let them know what was going on. I wish I'd known that then.

That's why I proudly share my story to destigmatize abortion care. I don't want anyone to feel alone or ashamed like I did. Abortion is health care, and I was able to get the safe and effective care I needed to make my own decisions for my own life.

I hope you'll share your abortion or health care story today to help show the impact that accessible care has -- [link removed]

Thank you,

Audrey W., Planned Parenthood health center patient


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