To put on here what I meant to say when I called The Wright Stuff

[Ems101]

So I rang up The Wright Stuff this morning to comment on their discussion topic ': Let Abortion Clinics Advertise On Telly'.

However, just as I started talking to the panel, my little boy started whinging so I then had to bounce him on my knee so couldn't give my full attention to the call. I just feel I'd like to say what I meant to say rather what I babbled out this morning.

I don't believe abortion clinics should be allowed to advertise on TV. This view is not based on the idea that I don't agree with abortion, but because I believe it would add pressure to those facing an unplanned pregnancy that they should consider an abortion. I found myself facing an unplanned pregnancy last summer, and I was shocked at how much information was suddenly shoved my way by doctors about abortion, but not about either adoption or keeping the baby. I would certainly have not needed the additional pressure of seeing a TV advert that suggested what I should do. Luckily my family were very supportive and as some of you may know I now have a lovely baby boy. I fear for those who may not be quite so lucky, if they were given the same information as me and then saw the advert on TV, would they feel like they were only faced with one choice?

I also feel it would be wrong as although many women have abortions and are quite at peace with their decision, many go on to regret it and so seeing these adverts may bring back painful memories and cause great upset to them and their families.

I think if we are going to bring abortion into the media this way, it should be in a way that also brings adoption and single parenting (which I consider to be the 'other options' unless of course your partner sticks by you, which thankfully many seem to) into the media. I feel (and I emphasize that this is 'my' opinion, I appreciate others will feel differently) that these need to be talked about just as much as abortion. I considered adoption, but it was only through the research and calls I made myself that I found about the process and what happens. The same applied when I looked at how I would cope as a single parent (my boys father didn't want to be involved) in terms of money, support, etc.

This is purely my view, I understand others will feel very differently and will have different opinions and experiences. I just felt I wanted to say my piece. Thanks for reading.

[moajab]

If abortion clinics are allowed to advertise, then presumably pro-life groups would also be allowed to advertise. I think it could be very confusing for someone with an unplanned pregnancy full of hormones to at one point see an advert all soothing telling them how they'll help them through this difficult time etc. and then in the next commercial break an announcement that abortion is murder - not my view before I get flamed! And probably I am oversimplifying it - but you can see how confusing and guilt making it could be. Also such adverts would presumably be made by people who profit from the woman having an abortion, rather than someone who has the womans best interests at heart. I think it would be better if there was an advert giving details of impartial people to talk to, either by phone or in person. Also it should give details of support for those who really want to keep their babies, but perhaps feel that they have no choice (teenagers under pressure for example) as well as ongoing support for those who do decide that a termination is the best decision.

[Birdsgottafly]

Then we should be advertising the NHS walk in sexual health clinics. I think that the message about HIV has died out as well and it is the older groups that are contracting this.

I don't know much about private clinics, i just hope that they are folowing the guidelines on counselling and the standard of care is high.

[takethisonehereforastart]

Tabacco adverts were different though, they sold a lifestyle that was a complete lie, it was all glamourous women and handsome men and smoking being cool or a happy end to a bad day. At one point they were even advertising them as health products.

I doubt the adverts for clinics would be the same. Nobody is going to think that terminations are glamourous and cool or a healthy treat at the end of the day.

I do think that advertising clinics on TV will help a lot of people who, for one reason or another, cannot or do not want to go to their family doctor.

The Marie Stopes advert was very tastefully done and of course they are about so much more than terminations. We are not necessarily talking about abortion clinics being advertised as clinics that offer abortions as just one of their many services.

And it's not just the young teens that might need an alternative to their family doctor for pregnancy or sexual health issues. Apparently STI's are on the increase for people in their 40's and 50's who have recently become single and who have missed out on a larger amount of the education that the younger teens get. They might want somewhere safe and anonymous to go to as well, especially if they have known their GP and the hatched faced receptionist who always asks why they want to see the doctor a long time and don't want to discuss it with them.

[MarioandLuigi]

Not everyone goes through the GP and many young girls will not want to go to a GP because they are family Doctors and they worry that people will see them/find out from someone what they are there for (this is the reason I didnt visit my GP when I found out I was pregnant at 16).

[turdassmuthafukka]

You don't go through a GP actually.

[spookshowangel]

i dont really think there is any need to advertise abortion clinics. we know what there for and do, though a lot of them offer other services as well. if we need an abortion we have to go through our gp's so its not like we can go right to the abortion clinic of our own volition. so i don't really see the point tbh.

[LilBB]

They should be allowed to advertise. It's not like they go 'unplanned pregnancy? Sod that. Come have an abortion'. The Marie Stopes one was advertising that they are someone to talk to when an unplanned pregnancy occurs. I'm sure if you call Marie Stopes they will talk you through all your options not just book you in to terminate. Its also not just aimed at those in that situation but those who may end up in that situation. If it happens you should know where you can turn to for support and advice. It may also make people think about their contraception.

I'm not sure what an anti abortion clinic is but I don't think it would be appropriate for them to team up with an abortion clinic to show infomercials. Most pro life propaganda is based on religious beliefs so I dont think you would make an informed decision based on their information. As far as the information you get from a charity like Marie Stopes is concerned it would be based on fact. I also don't really think that you could say an abortion is damaging to a woman so why bot give the child away for adoption. Yes it's an alternative but I think it would be a lot more difficult to carry a child for 9 months, give that child away and spend the rest of your life knowing your child is out there. A termination, especially an early one, would surely be less difficult both physically and psychologically?

[LittleOneMum]

I agree that they should be allowed to advertise. It is a service like any other, frankly.

[turdassmuthafukka]

I remember a poster on here saying she had an abortion with no regrets and received a lot of vitriolic responses.

Of course people can have abortions and be fine; similarly they can have abortions and end up with mental health problems as a consequence. The same goes for having kids IMO.

Abortion is normal - whether people like it or not. About 1 in 4 women have one. That's pretty normal to me. There are a lot of things advertised on TV which are appalling bullshit and which I don't agree with. I just don't buy them.

Same with abortions. No one is going to have an abortion without thinking very deeply about it first. Adverts are going to give information rather than persuade, I think.

And be very very glad you have access to free healthy abortion ladies IF you ever need it (and you may one day find yourselves in such a position). Think back to the days of back street abortion clinics and count yourselves lucky.

Similarly, if you are Irish and pregnant, you will be having that baby whether you like it or not, unless you can stump up over 1k to get to England. The world is over populated as it is. Let's leave parenting to those who actively want to. It's hard enough even then.

[Birdsgottafly]

If posters are saying that they hardly know many women who haven't had an abortion then doesn't that prove that it doesn't need advertising, especially as there are more sexual health clinics available on a walk in basis?

[Birdsgottafly]

If advertising isn't influential, why have we banned the advertisement of tobacco? Are the adverts going to give the real facts of how many women die or become infertile after an abortion. Is the disclaimer going to state that the risk of emotional and mental health damage is at the persons own risk?

The advert may not be influential on the individual but in part it is normalising ending a pregnancy, i have heared the fact that abortion is available as an arguement to cutting benefits.

I think that we would have to have the system whereby the public is alowed to give feedback first on how an advert is put across because the media does have an affect on society so it is everyone's business.

If you want to find out about abortion, go to the nearest family planning clinic, google or pick up a yellow pages, there isn't a need to advertise. Abortion is covered in sex education as are the family planning clinics, we should ban the ability to remove the children from the lessons.

[LolaRennt]

HengshanRoad

Why should adoption be promoted as an alternative? A woman doesn't automatically become an incubator as soon as she gets pregnant.

Because it is an alternative? And a woman should be made aware of all her options?

[garlicnutter]

Oh, sorry, trillian, I completely misunderstood! I agree, yes. I hardly know any women who haven't had an abortion - but it takes a long time to get around to the topic; advertising could help to de-stigmatise it.

[TrillianAstra]

You misunderstood me garlic - I don't mean that abortions rarely turn out well, I mean that people rarely say it. I think it should be said more.

[garlicnutter]

People rarely say "I had an abortion and everything turned out fine"

That's not true, Trillian. It may well be here, being as it's a parenting site and all, but the overwhelming majority of abortions are trouble-free and, while recalled with sadness, were the right decision and are not regretted.

[FreudianSlipper]

i totally agree smarty

there are many women who have terminations and have no long lasting feelings of guilt or any at all but some members of our society want women to feel guilt for doing such a terrible thing, this myth that all women live guilt ridden for the rest of their life needs to be dismissed because its just not true

[SchrodingersMew]

So it's illegal to advertise cigarettes on tv and people enjoying drinking but not abortion!?

That seems a bit off. I believe there is a place for abortion when absaloutly needed but advertising it on TV makes it far too normal.

[garlicnutter]

I think abortion clinics should be allowed to advertise - via infomercials that must be obliged to also put the case for adoption and single parenting. They could try for co-funding from an adoption agency and the COI.

The individual clinic would still benefit, as it would own the case for abortion.

Simples Can I have my old advertising job back now, please?

[TrillianAstra]

Smarty is right.

People often say "I had an unexpected pregnancy and everything turned out fine"

People rarely say "I had an abortion and everything turned out fine"

[donnie]

then the anti abortion clinics should be allowed to advertise as well.

[itisnearlysummer]

SmartyHan

Thanks for clarifying - I'm being a bit thick today maybe! I can see the point in what you're saying. But I don't really like seeing adverts for condoms either. Oh God my mum's right, I'm an old prude!

But I think unwanted pregnancies shouldn't be seen as a women only issue. My mum still refers to "women who get themselves pregnant!" So maybe you're right after all. I still wouldn't want to see them though! Argh!

[itisnearlysummer]

The thing is, I'm very much pro-choice. But advertising it still doesn't sit comfortably with me. It might do with others, but it doesn't with me. And that's fine. We're all different. I wouldn't complain about it. But I wouldn't like it.

[SmartyHan]

itisnearlysummer

I think it should be advertised to remove the taboo, and say that you CAN have an abortion if you need it. Perhaps adverts should normalised alternative forms of contraception? Perhaps it should be normalised for contraception to be used by both people? Condoms for the man and pill/injections/coil etc for the females?

[FreudianSlipper]

i see no problem, terminations are a part of life, they should just be accepted that this is the choice for some women and once her mind is made up she should be able to get a termination as soon as possible

the adverts are not promoting abortion as a past time, something to be experienced they are advertising a service that is needed

[Ems101]

It has already been advertised, only once as far as I know, but still been done.