Readers have responded to Roe McDermott's article arguing that abortion does not inevitably lead to regret, with many sharing their own experiences and challenging the stigma surrounding the procedure.
A Straightforward Decision
Sylvia Rose from Totnes, Devon, described her own abortion many years ago as a straightforward decision. She said she did not want to become a mother, so she chose not to. What she found confusing was the expectation that she should feel more hesitant and conflicted. She compared the experience to having a cancerous tumour removed from her colon: something unwanted inside her that required removal for her well-being. The key difference, she noted, was stigma. 'With cancer you get sympathy and casseroles; with a termination you have to be cautious who you even tell,' she wrote. She called for an end to false shame, insisting that her letter be published with her name attached.
The Complexity of Grief
Another reader, who chose to remain anonymous, agreed with McDermott's pro-choice stance but added nuance. While she does not regret her abortion, she described it as painful, heart-wrenching, and a loss she will carry forever. She felt unable to talk about her grief for fear it would be used by anti-abortion groups or dismissed. She stressed that it is okay to feel no attachment, ambivalence, or deep sorrow, and quoted Amanda Palmer's song: 'You don't need to offer the right explanation / You don't need to beg for redemption or ask for forgiveness.'
Multiple Abortions and Trauma
A third reader, who had three abortions, argued that the issue is more complex than McDermott suggests. While women may never regret their choice, they can still be traumatised by the pregnancy loss. Pregnancy changes the body and mind, even in early weeks, and denying that is a disservice to women. She called for normalised support groups for women who have had abortions, free from social judgment. After having a child, she later terminated a pregnancy due to chromosome abnormalities, feeling the same sadness and certainty. She criticised mandated waiting periods, asking: 'Imagine the outcry if men had a mandated wait of three days to get erectile dysfunction medications or vasectomy.'
Conclusion
The letters collectively affirm the right to choose while acknowledging the emotional complexity of abortion. They call for an end to stigma and for support systems that honour women's diverse experiences.
