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Reproductive Coercion

Reproductive coercion is a form of power and control where one partner strips the other of the ability to control their own reproductive system. It is sometimes difficult to identify this coercion because other forms of abuse are often occurring simultaneously.

Reproductive coercion can be exerted in many ways:

 Refusing to use a condom or other type of birth control.

 Breaking or removing a condom during intercourse.

 Lying about their methods of birth control (for example lying about having a vasectomy, lying about being on the pill).

 Not "pulling out" if that is the agreed upon method of birth control.

 Forcing you to not use any birth control (for example the pill, condom, shot, ring, etc.)

 Removing birth control methods (for example rings, IUDs, contraceptive patches).

 Sabotaging birth control methods (for example poking holes in condoms, tampering with pills or flushing them down the toilet).

 Withholding finances needed to purchase birth control.

 Monitoring your menstrual cycles.

 Forcing pregnancy and not supporting your decision about when or if you want to have a child.

 Forcing you to get an abortion, or preventing you from getting one.

 Threatening you or acting violent if you don't comply with their wishes to either end or continue a pregnancy.

 Continually keeping you pregnant (getting you pregnant again shortly after you give birth).

Reproductive coercion can also come in the form of pressure, guilt and shame from a partner. Some examples are if your partner is constantly talking about having children or making you feel guilty for not having or wanting children with them - especially if you already have kids with someone else.

Do you have any tips for anyone going through or recovering from reproductive coercion?

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