Reproductive coercion

What it is

Pressure or sabotage around your reproductive choices: tampering with birth control, pressuring you into pregnancy or termination, controlling access to reproductive healthcare, threatening if you choose otherwise. Treats your body as something to override.

Does this sound familiar?

"If you really loved me, you'd want my baby."

"I 'forgot' to use protection."

"If you have an abortion, I'll leave you."

Tampering with the pill or the condom without telling you.

How it gets justified

“I just want a family with you.”

Real family-building doesn't require overriding the other person's body. What's at stake is control over the most fundamental autonomy you have — when and whether you become a parent. That control determines whether you can leave.

“It's my decision too.”

The conversation is shared. The body it happens in isn't. Whoever carries the pregnancy or doesn't is the one who decides. Forcing that decision is a violation, not participation.

Related patterns

Intimidation and threats Controlling what you do Blocking work or study Isolating from friends and family Financial abuse

Something feels off but you can't name it?

An exercise to listen to what the body already knows.