I could die, it's as easy as that.

[Neoma]

I have endometriosis. It's where the lining of your uterus grows in other parts of your body and everytime you have a period, it bleeds and creates scar tissue. I was born without my right ovary, and my left Fallopian tube is wrapped around my left ovary. My right Fallopian tube looks "sickly." My uterus is perfectly okay, but we're not completely sure how wide spread the endometriosis is. We discovered it because I had a six centimeter cyst on my left ovary, which is why my Fallopian tube wrapped around the ovary. Even being hit by a mini van as a pedestrian did not top the pain of that the six centimeter cyst and the Fallopian tube wrapping around it. It was a 10 in my book... Maybe even an 11.

It was horrific to know why I felt that pain. The information after I had the surgery made me walk out of the room in shock.

I have to take birth control every single day to stop my period. The last week of those birth control packets? Those are actually vitamins, I have to skip that week to start another packet. I haven't had a period in years. When I used to have periods, I'd throw up and be completely incapable of moving because of the endometriosis. Once I couldn't even get any food down me all day.

The kicker here is that I take birth control to preserve my uterus and to stop the pain. I am married, and I'm okay with having a child if it comes to that. Because if I get pregnant, I won't have my period and I'll be safe until after the pregnancy. Then I have to go on birth control pills again.

How could I die? I'm more at risk for an ectopic pregnancy now. This is where the baby would grow in my Fallopian tube instead of my uterus. The baby cannot survive and neither would I, unless I get an abortion.

In a bleak future, I'd be sent to jail for murdering the child. When really, it wouldn't be so bad to have one.

I thought I'd share my story here. Every time birth control and abortions come up in politics, I get a bit scared.

[PDJane]

1. And this is why the insanity surrounding birth control and abortion and women's health

leave me furious. Yes, I have had to resort to an abortion; it was an abortion, or bleed to death. I got pregnant with a Lippes Loop in place. Yours is another reason that all of these things are your business and access to birth control pills should be available, along with all the other things that you need for your condition.

I just don't understand the reich wing nonsense.

[truedelphi]

2. Oh, do I hear you.

What a sick sick society we live in where we as women also have to worry about the legality of what our bodies might do to us.

Solidarity on this issue.

And my best wishes that your body reverses itself and allows you to have a child (if that is what you want.) And that after conception, it is a healthy pregnancy.

[Neoma]

3. We'd have to move if we decide to try.

This is actually where the movie Idiocracy comes true. We're waiting for the right moment in our lives. Probably won't end up happening due to finances. My body can't reverse itself, so I'd have to have in vetro fertilization. Know how much that costs? Yeah...

At the most, we'll adopt in the future. Even that is iffy. I love where we live too much.

[MsPithy]

4. Religious zealot republicans deny your existence.

They depend on the average person believing them when they say, dismissively,

No mothers' lives are in danger
This never happens
It's so rare
Ectopics aren't really that bad, I know a woman who had a healthy baby
It's what god intends
Shouldn't a mother who loves her baby risk her life for the baby

Thank you for telling your story. Religious zealot republicans depend on most people not knowing what these health issues are really like.

[Neoma]

5. When I was too young to spot bullshit...

There was this guy talking about how women don't ever die from childbirth.

Yeah, that's real accurate.

[fizzgig]

6. i'd most likely to have to stop my meds

and, as you know, that would spell disaster for me. and i'm not ok with that under any circumstance.

those fuckers will pry my iud out of my cold, dead uterus.

but don't forget, they don't give a shit about our well being.

[YarnAddict]

7. Even the most avid anti-choicers

believe that abortion is acceptable in a case where a mother's life is at risk. In addition, the chances of a tubal pregnancy resulting in a live birth is virtually zero, so this is a non-issue in the whole debate.

Also, who is threatening to take away your birth control pills?

[Neoma]

8. Haven't been paying attention?

Here's some politicians working with hobby lobby: http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/2759780
Santorum and the 'Anti-contraception' Conservatives
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/1192644
Two Dangerous and Misleading Provisions of New Kansas Anti-Abortion Law Blocked by State Court: http://reproductiverights.org/en/press-room/two-dangerous-and-misleading-provisions-of-new-kansas-anti-abortion-law-blocked-by-state-
Anti-abortion fanatics gain new ground:
http://socialistworker.org/2013/04/16/advances-for-anti-abortion-fanatics
The ten most dangerous places to be a woman in America:
http://www.salon.com/2013/07/05/the_10_most_dangerous_places_to_be_a_woman_in_america
Both sides of the debate find Ohio abortion law to be historic:
http://m.toledoblade.com/Politics/2013/07/08/Both-sides-of-debate-find-Ohio-abortion-law-decision-to-be-historic.html
Proof of GOP war on women
http://www.politicususa.com/proof-war-women-2
Here's some people that don't care of the mother is at risk:
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/12/19430914-ireland-set-to-allow-abortion-for-first-time-under-historic-new-law?lite
I don't believe in an instant that they are the only ones.

[uppityperson]

9. No, they don't believe abortion is acceptable when the woman's life is at risk.

Last edited Sat Sep 7, 2013, 02:27 PM - Edit history (1)

As part of my women's health care volunteering and work, I talk to others and there are enough who say otherwise. "If the woman dies, so be it. There is no reason to kill an innocent because of the life of a sinner. She took her chances by becoming pregnant. This is the will of God. etc"

[dembotoz]

10. hey yarn addict--don't know where you are from--profile does not say but you sure as hell

are not from around where i live
the anti abortion freaks are bastards around here
no exceptions not ever