[MTSUGURL]

This is going to seem like an extremely personal post, but this is something I have shared with groups of teenagers that had hundreds of people, so I can share it easly without pain.

When I was 22 years old, I was raped by an exboyfriend, and was terrified I was pregnant. I skipped 3 periods , and then started all of a sudden one day. When my best friend asked me if I wanted to have any abortion, I said no. I have always been against abortion because of religious reasons and seeing the effects of abortion on a few of my friends, but it ocurred to me: Was having the abortion going to "unrape" me? Of course not. But, there existed the huge possibility that I would be adding guilt to what I was already feeling.

I am not in favor of abortion at any time. I would never tell another person that they were evil or bad or anything else for having one; I have sat through 2 with girls that I counseled. Yes, I tried to talk them out of it, but when they still went through with it, I was there with them - supporting and loving them, but not their decision.

You wouldn't believe how often I am attacked for my stance, and how many times I've heard the question: "What if you were raped?" Well, I was, and my stance still held.