Your body, your choice—always.
Reproductive coercion is a form of abuse where someone tries to control your reproductive choices. This may include pressuring you to become pregnant, forcing you to continue or end a pregnancy, tampering with birth control, or controlling your access to sexual health services.
Reproductive coercion is a serious violation of your rights and bodily autonomy. It is a form of domestic abuse and coercive control, and it is never acceptable.
What Is Reproductive Coercion?
Reproductive coercion involves behaviours that restrict or control your ability to make decisions about your own fertility and reproductive health. It can happen in intimate relationships, marriages, or even within families or communities.
It may include:
- Pressuring or forcing you to become pregnant when you don’t want to
- Stopping you from using contraception (e.g. hiding, damaging, or removing condoms or pills)
- Lying about using protection or sabotaging contraception (“stealthing”)
- Forcing or pressuring you to have an abortion or to continue a pregnancy against your will
- Threatening you if you refuse to get pregnant or terminate a pregnancy
- Interfering with medical appointments or decisions related to reproductive health
- Preventing you from accessing sexual health clinics, abortion care, or contraception
“He told me we’d have a baby whether I liked it or not—and then threw away my birth control. I felt completely trapped.”
— Survivor of reproductive coercion
Reproductive Coercion as a Form of Abuse
Reproductive coercion is often part of wider patterns of controlling, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. It may be used to:
- Trap someone in a relationship by making them more dependent
- Isolate someone from their support network by forcing parenthood
- Punish or retaliate against someone who tries to assert independence
- Exercise power and control over someone’s body, life, and future
This form of abuse can occur alongside forced marriage, honour-based abuse, or faith-based pressure.
Signs of Reproductive Coercion
- You feel pressured to become pregnant or continue/end a pregnancy
- Your partner refuses to use or allow contraception
- You find your birth control damaged, missing, or tampered with
- Your partner monitors your cycle, pills, or appointments
- You’re made to feel guilty, ashamed, or fearful for asserting your reproductive choices
- Your partner threatens to leave, harm you, or take the children if you don’t comply
- Your medical choices are criticised or undermined
Know Your Rights
In the UK, reproductive coercion may fall under:
- Domestic Abuse Act 2021 – includes coercive control and controlling behaviour
- Sexual Offences Act 2003 – non-consensual tampering (e.g. stealthing) may be treated as sexual assault
- Human Rights Law – protects your right to bodily autonomy, privacy, and family life
If your safety, health, or rights have been violated, you have the right to seek protection and support.
How We Can Help
We understand that reproductive coercion can be isolating and terrifying. Our support is confidential, non-judgemental, and rooted in your choices.
We can help you:
- Access emergency contraception or sexual health services
- Connect with abortion or pregnancy care providers
- Create a safety plan that includes reproductive health
- Report abuse and understand your legal options
- Access trauma-informed counselling or advocacy
- Find housing, financial, or parenting support if needed
For Professionals and Parents
We provide guidance and training for:
- Health professionals and GPs
- Youth workers and safeguarding teams
- Educators, parents, and carers
- Sexual and reproductive health clinics
Topics include:
- Recognising reproductive coercion
- Responding sensitively to disclosures
- Supporting survivors through trauma-informed practice
- Ensuring access to safe, confidential healthcare
You Are Not Alone
Reproductive choices are yours alone. No one should ever control your body, fertility, or future.
We are here to support you—with compassion, confidentiality, and care.