What women and men need to know about reproductive coercion
January 14, 2020
Replacing a partner’s birth control pills with sugar pills or poking holes in a condom sounds like a plotline from a TV drama. But these scenarios don’t just play out on the screen. It's reality for some patients and is known as reproductive coercion.
This type of abuse occurs when a person exerts power and control over another person's reproductive health and decisions. The term may be unfamiliar, but the situation is much more common than people realize. An August 2019 study found that of 550 sexually active high school females, one in eight had experienced reproductive coercion in the past three months.
If you or a loved one suspect you are being coerced, your Ob/Gyn can help identify the signs and connect you with resources to help navigate the situation.
“Reproductive coercion comprises a range of behaviors, but regardless of which are used, it’s important to understand that it is abuse.”
Types of reproductive coercion
As with any type of intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion is primarily focused on gaining power in a relationship.
The partner might do this by:
- Refusing to use a condom or other form of contraception
- Lying about using a method of birth control, such as getting a vasectomy
- Sabotaging birth control methods, such as tampering with birth control pills or poking a hole in a condom
- Hiding or destroying contraception
- Withholding money to purchase birth control
- Failing to use an agreed-upon pull-out method
- Physically removing contraception, such as a vaginal ring
- Purposely trying to give a partner a sexually transmitted infection
- Pressuring, guilting, or shaming a partner about their decision whether to have children
- Forcing a woman to get an abortion, or preventing her from getting one
Reproductive coercion can, at times, even be a form of physical abuse.
If a woman becomes pregnant, the abuser might use the child to maintain power and control. For example, the abuser might say they will take the child away if the other parent doesn’t do as they're told. However, the abuser isn’t always an intimate partner. They can be family members as well.
It’s also important to note that reproductive coercion is often not the only form of abuse a victim is experiencing. In the study of high school females, those who experienced reproductive coercion were also more likely to experience physical and sexual abuse.
Women who experience intimate partner violence often receive little or no prenatal care. Because of this, they are at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as low birth weight, preterm birth, or stillbirth. This is just one of the reasons we screen for intimate partner violence during prenatal exams.
Related reading: Pregnancy, depression, and suicide: How to get help
More resources
National organizations recommended by ACOG include:
Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Futures Without Violence (previously known as Family Violence Prevention Fund)National Coalition Against Domestic ViolenceNational Network to End Domestic ViolenceNational Resource Center on Domestic ViolenceOffice on Violence Against Women (U.S. Department of Justice)
Get help from your provider
We encourage women (and men) to confide in their health care providers if they are experiencing any form of intimate partner violence. We are here to provide support and resources.
During annual health maintenance exams or prenatal exams, we ask questions related to mental health and intimate partner violence. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends these screening questions related to reproductive coercion:
- Has your partner ever forced you to do something sexually that you did not want to do?
- Has your partner ever refused your request to use condoms?
- Has your partner ever tried to get you pregnant when you did not want to be?
- Are you worried your partner will hurt you if you don't follow their wishes regarding the pregnancy?
- Does your partner support your decisions about when or whether you want to become pregnant?
Along with providing support and resources, we also can talk about discreet and confidential methods of contraception, such as IUDs with shorter strings, birth control injections or implants, emergency contraception, or birth control pills in anonymous packaging.
Above all, know that you are not alone. We are ready to provide support and assistance.
If you feel the need for anonymity, additional resources are available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) provides highly trained advocates 24/7 to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.
If you’re in crisis, call 911 immediately. If you need to schedule an appointment to discuss reproductive decisions, including contraceptive methods, call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online.
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