I have always been pro-choice, and I can say with near certainly that I always will be. But my personal feelings about abortion haven’t always been so solid. There was a time when I believed I wouldn’t have to think twice about my choice, should I be faced with an unwanted pregnancy; now I’m pretty sure I could never have an abortion. But in debates over reproductive rights, there’s not a lot of understanding for women who share my views.
As a teen, I knew I had a lot to accomplish in life; I was pretty sure that having a baby was on the list, but I knew I didn’t want it to come before college, work, travel, and having some time to make careful choices about who I make babies with. That hasn’t changed—which is part of why I use one of the most statistically effective types of birth control available outside of tubal ligation. But should my IUD fail me (which, believe me: is a possibility that intermittently fuels my paranoia), I would likely be spending the next few months rearranging my life to get ready for a baby. More »