Whether you’re a journalist, a content creator, or a pro-choice advocate looking to spread awareness, this guide is designed to help you talk about abortion and help end abortion stigma.

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The impact of abortion stigma

Abortion is a safe and common medical procedure and globally, nearly 1 in 3 pregnancies end in abortion. Despite this, abortion care and rights are often shrouded in stigma, shame, and secrecy.  

The stigma that surrounds abortion feeds harmful myths and misconceptions which when internalised can negatively impact abortion laws, public health education, and women’s abortion experiences. Ultimately, it makes it harder to access safe abortion care and can even put those seeking abortions and abortion providers at risk of prosecution. 

When abortion is restricted, it is marginalised and less-affluent communities that are most affected. These are people who are less likely to have access to private healthcare, or travel to places where abortion care is safe and legal. It is for these people we need to challenge abortion stigma.  

We can change this.  By talking about abortion accurately through a rights-based framework, we can show that abortion is normal, abortion is healthcare, and that everyone deserves the right to choose. A shift in language and culture can help end unsafe abortion, save lives, and help communities become more informed, autonomous, and empowered. 

Using language to end abortion stigma

The way we talk about abortion matters. By talking about abortion in an accurate and stigma-free way, we can all play a part in supporting access to healthcare and ending abortion stigma. 

Inflammatory language and harmful rhetoric around abortion can perpetuate stigma and spread misinformation, which limits access to safe services and reproductive choice. 

Sometimes we can stigmatise abortion unintentionally, so to help end abortion stigma, here are some terms you can use and a few abortion messaging dos and don’ts.

Key messages to inspire your content on abortion care

To speak about abortion in a way that’s accurate and destigmatising, here are a few talking points around abortion:

• Abortion is a human right. Forcing someone to carry to term a pregnancy that they didn’t choose, or are unable to continue, is a violation of bodily autonomy and human rights.

• Abortion is an extremely safe and common medical procedure, with nearly 1 in 3 pregnancies ending in abortion worldwide.

• Restricting abortion access doesn’t reduce the number of abortions, it just reduces the number of safe abortions. It forces women and girls to put their health, lives, and futures at risk. On average, abortion rates are similar in countries where abortion is broadly legal and accessible and in countries where it isn’t.

• This year, 35 million women will resort to having an unsafe abortion and over 22,800 of them will die as a result. The World Health Organisation states that nearly every single one of these deaths could be prevented with access to contraception, safe abortion, and comprehensive sexuality education. No one should have to risk their life or health to determine their own future.

• A combination of abortion bans, cultural norms, rising misinformation, and poorly funded services collectively contribute to unsafe abortion rates. To end unsafe abortion for good, we must ensure that safe abortion is supported by policy and grounded in law, and that it’s de-stigmatised, funded, and easy to access.

• Everyone should have the right to access essential reproductive healthcare and to have autonomy over their bodies. Despite the recent overturning of Roe V Wade, which removed the constitutional right to abortion in America, most countries are increasing access to abortion. Progress is winning.

Contact our team

Our team are available to advise on how to speak or write about abortion in a way that is accurate and stigma-free. 

We have spokespeople from countries spanning six continents available for media comment. We can also help consider style guides to ensure reporting doesn’t represent abortion in an inaccurate or stigmatising way. 

If you’re interested in speaking with our media team, please email press@msichoices.org or telephone (+44) 07769 166 516. 

If you’re a content creator on social media and you want to connect with MSI about pro-choice content and partnership, feel free to send us a direct message on our social channels or email digital@msichoices.org. 

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More resources

Thank you for being invested in using language responsibly. Your words make a big difference in the lives of people who have had or will have an abortion.

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