Reproductive Coercion includes threats, violence, and manipulation that interfere with your reproductive choice and autonomy. It can be committed by both men and women in a relationship and by family or friends.
REPRODUCTIVE COERCION most often includes sabotage of birth contraception (birth control, condoms, etc) and manipulation or pressure around pregnancy. Reproductive coercion can interfere with or take away your ability to make decisions about your reproductive autonomy.
Why Reproductive Coercion Matters
According to a 2011 report by the National Domestic Violence Hotline "25% of people who contacted The Hotline reported experiencing reproductive coercion."
Furthermore, "Approximately 20% of women seeking care in family planning clinics who had a history of abuse also experienced pregnancy coercion and 15% reported birth control sabotage." -the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists
"An August 2019 study found that of 550 sexually active high school females, one in eight had experienced reproductive coercion in the past three months." -UT Southwestern Medical Center
This is what Reproductive Coercion can look like in a relationship:
Examples of Reproductive Coercion
Refusing to use contraception such as condoms.
Lying about taking birth control
Tampering with your birth control (swapping out pills, poking holes in condoms)
Purposely giving you substances that impact the effectiveness of your birth control on without your consent or knowledge.
Taking off condoms during sex without your consent (also known as stealthing)
Controlling your access to birth control by withholding finances (economic abuse)
Preventing you from getting an abortion. Threatening you with threats of violence if you express wanting to get an abortion.
Forcing you to get an abortion. Threatening you to get you to have an abortion.
Threatening to tell family, friends or law enforcement if you choose to get an abortion .
Purposely withholding information about having a Sexually Transmitted Disease
Purposely giving you a Sexually Transmitted Disease
Impacts of Reproductive Coercion
Reproductive Coercion can make you feel ashamed, afraid, and like you don't have control over your body or decisions. It can also end in un-consensual behavior during sex and unplanned pregnancy.
Abuse does not subside during pregnancy. In fact, abuse often gets worse during pregnancy and is one of the most dangerous times for a woman facing domestic violence. Here are some facts about domestic violence and pregnancy:
Approximately 324,000 pregnant women are abused each year in the United States -the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists
Women in the U.S. who are pregnant or who have recently given birth are more likely to be murdered than to die from obstetric causes— Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
An abusive partner may try to coerce your reproductive decisions to gain more power and control over you emotionally, financially, and legally. They may believe that a pregnancy will force you to maintain the relationship or scare you from leaving due to financial pressure or cultural obligation. Furthermore, they may use your children by threatening abuse or legal action to further intimidate you.
What to do if you are experiencing Reproductive Coercion
If you are experiencing reproductive coercion in a relationship, you are not alone. Here are some ways you can combat reproductive coercion and find help:
Take a Break from, or End the Relationship
If your partner does not take your reproductive choice seriously, it may be time to consider if it is a safe relationship. Consider taking a break from, or ending the relationship. If it is not safe for you to end the relationship, seek help.
Talk to Your Gynecologist or a Trusted Person
Your gynecologist can help you identify signs your are experiencing reproductive coercion and help you find discreet contraception options. Furthermore, a friend's support can help you find methods to obtain contraception and offer moral support.
Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline
Call the R.A.I.N.N. (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) Hotline for confidential support around sexual abuse: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Seek Help
If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual coercion in a relationship, seek help. You deserve to have your body autonomy respected.
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