Hi there,

When Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams talk to patients who've decided to have an abortion, we often hear their personal stories—and some share with us the various reasons for deciding to end their pregnancies. Although 3 in 10 pregnancies worldwide end in induced abortion, people who have abortions often face harmful stereotypes, blame, and social stigma. 

At MSF, we know safe abortion care is essential health care. For Lakshmi* in India, it was a decision she made with her children’s future in mind.

Lakshmi was married at the age of 14. Her husband was abusive and did not support her in raising their children. When she found out she was pregnant with her sixth child, she cried a lot. She didn’t know how she would take care of another child. 

“It is very difficult for women to talk about abortions in our society,” Lakshmi said. “I shared my grief, my struggles, with a woman in my neighborhood.”

The woman told her about MSF’s Umeed Ki Kiran clinic, which provides care—including safe abortion—for victims of sexual and domestic violence. Lakshmi initially felt embarrassed about seeking care at the clinic, but here’s what she had to say about her experience:

“When I dropped the veil of embarrassment and sought help, I experienced a lot of relief and I was able to pull myself out of this difficult situation.”

MSF’s values of impartiality and neutrality are not synonymous with silence. Our decades of work providing medical humanitarian aid around the world have shown us that abortion is essential, lifesaving care that should be accessible to everyone, everywhere. 

Learn more about MSF’s approach to comprehensive reproductive health care in more than 70 countries.

*Name changed