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Updated February, 2023

can my parents take me in for an abortion if i say no?

No one can make you get an abortion if you don’t want to. Abortion providers only perform abortions for someone who has made their own decision to have one. No one should pressure you into making any decision about your pregnancy, no matter what. Having a baby because your friends think you should, or having an abortion because your parents think you should, may not be what’s best for you. You may learn from the advice other people give you, but you have to decide what’s best for yourself.

Someone who has an unintended pregnancy has three options. They can raise the child, place the child for adoption, or have an abortion. Every person needs to decide which option is best for them, but deciding may be hard to do. Talking with a trusted adult — like a teacher, religious adviser, or trained counselor — may help you with your decision. 

Your local Planned Parenthood health center also has caring professionals that can give you accurate, non-judgmental information about all your options, answer your questions, and offer support as you make a decision — no matter what you decide about your pregnancy.

If you’re having a hard time finding someone in your life to talk with, check out All-Options. All-Options has a free hotline that gives you a confidential space to talk about making decisions about a pregnancy. They’ll give you judgement-free support at any point in your pregnancy experience, no matter what choice you make or how you feel about it.

But when you’re looking for reliable information, beware of “crisis pregnancy centers.” These are places that may seem like normal medical clinics and claim to offer information about pregnancy options, but they don't provide a full range of health care. They often give you false or misleading information about pregnancy, abortion, and birth control, and they usually don't have to follow privacy laws. Crisis pregnancy centers are often located very close to Planned Parenthood health centers or other real medical centers, and have similar names — they do this to confuse people and trick them into visiting them instead. 

There are many things to think about before deciding to have and raise a child. Once a person becomes a parent, they're responsible for another person for at least the next 18 years — it really changes your life. Raising a child involves a major commitment in time and money. 

Here are some things to think about before becoming a parent:

  • Am I ready to help a child feel safe, wanted, and loved 24 hours a day for the next 18 years and beyond?
  • Can I afford to raise a child right now?
  • What kind of support will I have from my family, my friends, and my partner/the father?
  • What will happen if my partner/the father and I break up?
  • Am I ready to accept full responsibility for parenting and do it alone, if I need to? Will I have enough money to support myself and a child?
  • Am I mature enough to keep from harming my child physically or emotionally? (I won’t ridicule, humiliate, slap, hit, shake, or threaten my child no matter what they do or how frustrated I get.)
  • Am I ready to seek whatever counseling I need to become a better parent?
  • Am I ready to give up my social life with my friends to take care of my baby?
  • Am I ready to put my school or career plans on hold?
  • Am I ready to go through pregnancy and childbirth?

Even with the help of your family and friends, being a parent isn’t easy. It can be rewarding, but it's also often complicated and frustrating — especially when you're young. Your child’s needs will constantly change and so will your ability to meet those needs. So it's really important that you think about your decision carefully.

Tags: Abortion, pregnancy options, family, parental notification

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