Purpose
In this study, Fighting for Control, the purpose was to discover women’s emotional responses to the Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) procedure, particularly through identifying the pivotal moment a woman chooses to attempt reversal. Another objective was to understand how women found APR and accessed care, what her initial thoughts or possible fears about APR were, and what the emotional aftermath of the decision was.
Methods
One-on-one, in-depth interviewing was used with a group of 12 participants. Interviews were conducted by the professional research team at Emotional ConteXt and done on the campus of Heartbeat International in Columbus, Ohio and via Zoom. Participants varied in age, race, religion and household income. All had attempted reversal and of the 12 participants, 10 had successful reversal attempts. One began the APR treatment and stopped to complete the abortion, while another began reversal treatment but loss of pregnancy occurred.
The interview explored women’s beliefs about abortion, personal experiences with chemical abortion and abortion pill reversal.
Conclusion
Motivators for abortion have not changed since our initial study, Abortion The Least of Three Evils, conducted in 1992, which cause women to feel they have no choice but to abort. The trauma of contemplating the loss of their future selves is what drives them to their initial decision, as they are seeking to take control of their lives and situations through abortion, though they remain uncomfortable and delay making their choice until time runs out.
Interestingly, for this subset of women – those who chose to attempt reversal– the realization of their choice to abort hits them hard and fast, in ways they did not expect, sometimes mere moments after leaving their abortion appointment and taking the first abortion pill, Mifepristone. Instantly, respondents explain that they feel determined to rectify their mistake and regain control of their situation by attempting reversal.
The entire experience of reversing their abortion attempt and carrying their preborn children brings a unique sense of empowerment and resolution to their lives. Additionally, they attest to finding hope in their faith or spiritual journey through the process.
Key Findings
- Agonize and Delay
While the trauma of the unexpected pregnancy led women to choose abortion in the first place, all respondents explain that they delayed making their decision and contemplated not making it at all. Many had multiple visits with abortion providers because they could not bring themselves to begin the two-step, two-drug process at their initial appointment. Another, who ordered the abortion pill online, recalled putting it on her dresser and looking at it for days until ultimately deciding to begin the abortion process.
Since the FDA has set the allowable limit for chemical abortion at the 10th week of pregnancy, women describe feeling rushed for time as their window of opportunity begins to close. They fear having to have an emotionally and physically-taxing surgical abortion if they do not begin the abortion pill process, so they proceed with their decision, though they wish “someone else would just decide” for them.
- Shutdown and Shutout
In order to follow through on their abortion plan, women attempt to “go dumb,” or, as one respondent best put it, they try to “be a zombie.” They block out all rational thought and emotion in an attempt to move past their own hesitation to start the abortion process. Because they were hesitant to begin with and wrestled with their decision, they hope and expect committing to this choice by swallowing the first abortion pill will bring clarity and stability to their situation. The “relief” they anticipate, however, either never comes or proves to be extremely short-lived.
- Regret is Immediate
Maintaining a numb, zombie-like composure proves to be too much of a challenge for these women and regret sets in almost immediately. They experience an immediate shift in emotion, often just after leaving the abortion facility. In this moment, they go from rejecting the identity of being mothers to not only embracing the identity of motherhood, but also to becoming protective mothers that seek to undo their mistakes and ensure their preborn children are safe.
Our research team determined that there was a high level of urgency when accessing APR– one that outweighed fears and any hypothesized barriers to care or concerns. One respondent put it perfectly when she said, “I was determined to make it right with myself at that point, to do whatever I could to set everything up so that if the baby did make it, that I would do my best to give the baby whatever they needed.”
In short, these women were determined to regain control of their situations and to attempt to carry their pregnancies to term.
As for their access to Abortion Pill Reversal, all respondents found information online using their phones. Some were helped through a family member`s internet search that resulted in information about APR.
- Hope & Faith
During interviews, it became clear these women rely on one thing throughout their APR experiences: Hope. Hope is what drives them to start APR and what sustains them throughout their journeys. Respondents said they did not need or expect certainty, rather they just wanted someone to answer questions and offer hope for the possibility of positive outcomes through healthy, sustained pregnancies.
Additionally, there were more references to faith, religion and spirituality in this research study than any study we`ve done over the last thirty years. Women describe a transformative process where more than just their babies were saved. During their interviews, they recall darkness to light conversions in their lives as they relive their experiences with APR and express immense gratitude for the help they received. In their interviews they specifically use words like: God, faith, spirituality, and hope.
- Blessings
In keeping with the previous theme, women who chose APR, and whose pregnancies continued, believe their children are “miracles” and feel grateful for the help they received. Phrases like “miracle child,” “special” and “gifted” were used in nearly every interview. Even respondents who remained non-religious reported feeling like their children were “meant to be here.”
Implications
- Digital Marketing
Because these women turn to the internet in their time of need, it is important to ensure medical offices and pregnancy centers include information about APR online. This can include information about how essential the hormone progesterone is in pregnancy, how Mifepristone works as a progesterone antagonist, and how the APR regimen attempts to sustain a pregnancy.
Medical offices may also consider focusing on a woman’s circle of influence as it may be a support person who is searching for answers and providing her with information. It is important to highlight the powerful idea of hope, the excellent safety record of APR, and the fact that APR is simply replacing the natural hormone, progesterone, that the abortion chemical, Mifepristone, unnaturally removed.
- Quick Action
Women who access APR experience regret almost immediately. APR services should be readily available to them when that happens. In this situation, time is of the essence, and it is crucial that doctors consult with women and begin the APR regimen within the first 72 hours. Additionally, continued follow-up support is recommended, as she may be experiencing needs in other areas that pregnancy centers or other organizations can assist with (housing, job insecurity, food instability, etc.). This is also an excellent way to bring a woman into the fold of an organization so that she doesn’t feel forced to complete the abortion she initially began.
- Grandmothers
Highlight the incredible importance of strong mothers and strong generations of women in families. Consider marketing to mothers of women in unplanned pregnancies (the grandmothers of the preborn children) with the truth about body literacy, fetal development, and holistic, life-affirming healthcare. Also recognize that these grandmothers might have abortion experiences of their own, which may be driving them to encourage their daughter to choose abortion, to justify their own abortion experiences and to avoid having to admit they feel regret or have suffered from abortion.
- Spiritual Support
Women who have chosen APR nearly universally express a profound desire to rekindle or begin a faith journey and walk with God. Their experiences dealing with the trauma of unexpected pregnancies, the immediate regret of choosing abortion, and the seemingly miraculous opportunity and second chance to protect and save their children is a powerful avenue to God. This unique journey allows them to be open to God, prayer, and religion which provides an opportunity for pregnancy centers to offer spiritual support or connections in addition to medical and emotional support services.