i am 30 years old and just had an abortion last week. it was not a difficult decision; as soon as i saw the pregnancy test i knew i could not have this child.

i was 33, divorced with two little boys. i was struggling to provide for them. my doctor discovered a breast lump and i had no health insurance and was terrified about who would take care of my boys if i died.

i became pregnant when i was 19 in the spring of 1984. i never considered any other option than abortion. i was a college freshman just finishing my final exams and i knew that finishing college wouldn't happen.

i was a sophomore in college when i got into a relationship with an abusive boyfriend. i was young and stupid and had no idea how i was supposed to be treated.

when i was 16 (going on 17...!) i lost my virginity to a college guy. i don't remember even really know what was going on but the next thing i knew i was pregnant.

brooklyn ny 1988. newly divorced, single, waiting tables, doing off-off broadway. restaurant christmas party-a temp bartender who'd been flirting w me for 2 months walked me home...and left the next morning, never to return, and never to flirt w me again.