Getting an Abortion Was the Right Decision, and I Don't Regret It

This article is part of POPSUGAR's 50 States, 50 Abortions, a large-scale storytelling project that aims to elevate the voices of people who've had abortions. For more information about how to find an abortion clinic near you, please visit The Cut's abortion service finder.

I was 20 years old, in college in Laramie, WY, and the spring semester had just ended. I'm not sure why it took me so long to realize, but I had not had my period. I tested, and surprise, I was pregnant.

Immediately, I told my mom, then I told my boyfriend at the time. I was in a pretty long-term relationship at that point. We had been dating for about a year when we found out. His immediate response was to terminate the pregnancy, and I definitely agreed, so there wasn't even really much of a discussion. Both of us were in the middle of our bachelor's degrees. My mom was a single parent for a long time. My dad was in the picture, but they weren't married. I saw how much she struggled, and I didn't want that life for myself.

My mom suggested I look into different facilities that I could go to. This was in 2006, and we were unable to find a clinic that provided abortions in Wyoming — today, there are only two in the entire state — so I had to go to Colorado. I was a college student, so I did not have any money, but I paid for it solely by myself.

My mom went with me because they recommended that I not drive after the procedure. I don't remember a lot of it because it was so long ago, but there are parts that stick out to me. The physicians were all very kind. I remember that when they did the ultrasound, they asked if I wanted to see it, as if that would persuade me to not do it. I chose not to look.

Before going into it, I was very confident that it was the right decision. Emotionally, it was kind of tough the first couple weeks, especially since my boyfriend at the time decided to not really support me in the process, even though we made the decision together. Ultimately, the relationship did not work out.

My mother was really supportive, but I didn't really feel comfortable telling other people for a long time. I actually just had this conversation with my dad recently, and I told him that I'd had an abortion, and that was the first time he had heard that.

I was grateful that I was even able to have an abortion, even though I had to go to a different state to do it and had to come up with the money on my own. I am grateful that I still had access, because it was my choice at that time to not carry out the pregnancy. Getting an abortion was the right decision, and I don't regret it.

I would tell people in my situation to do what feels best for you. Only you know what is going to be in your best interest. And with Roe v. Wade being overturned, also just be careful, because you never know who is actually going to be part of your support system and who isn't. It's very disappointing that we've come back to this. Having to fight for our rights again, just to have even medically necessary care. I don't think people understand how much of an impact it has, not just abortion wise, but on medical care in general, which, for women, has not been great anyway. Having to fight for that again, honestly, is really disappointing.

— Krista (she/her) (Wyoming), as told to Maggie Ryan

Image Sources For "Click For Stories From Each State": Unsplash / Aaron Burden, Getty / Sergii Iaremenko/Science Photo Library, Unsplash / Manik Roy and Photo Illustration: Patricia O'Connor