Renee

I only told a select few - but the people I did tell were very supportive. Especially my sister.

I had mine at one of Dr. Henry Morgentaler's clinics. The staff was extremely respectful and caring. The procedure itself I barely remember as they use a light sedation, but afterwards I was encouraged to rest as long as I needed to and I felt very calm and cared for.

The man I was married to at the time and I both agreed we were not ready for children. I had been on the pill at the time I got pregnant - so we were very unprepared and surprised.

Also, our relationship was not terribly stable (we married too fast and were learning just how unsuitable we were as a couple). Neither of us wanted to bring a helpless child into the mess we were creating between us.

My own reasons were simply that I did not want a child. I think not wanting a child is worse than being simply unprepared and having one anyway. I've always known that children were not something I wanted.

I knew, absolutely, that I was not prepared to be a parent and that I did not want to be a parent at that time.

I've never had a great desire to have children - and having them when you're not ready (as I wasn't) and with the wrong man (as I would have, had I carried the pregnancy to term) seemed to make things that much worse.

It was the best possible decision for me at the time - and for the relationship I was in.