My friend had an abortion – what should I do?

October 3, 2012
Paint Texture Border

Has a friend ever confided in you that she’s experienced an abortion? Maybe a friend asked you to keep it a secret that she and her boyfriend decided to end a pregnancy. Maybe a guy you know told you that his girlfriend had one without even telling him about it until after the fact. Whatever the situation, as a friend, you have the power to reach out and help. 


What’s the first step?

Listen to your friend. Don’t prod, but be available to listen to how she may be feeling in the aftermath of their experience. Allow her to unpack her emotions.


It may take time…

Don’t be surprised if your friend tells you weeks, months or even years after it happened. Be careful not to react strongly with your opinion because she may be hurting and just need someone to listen as she processes her feelings.


You’re not alone!

You may realize that your friend needs more than you may be able to give. That’s where Collage can help. We have trained staff who can meet with your friend, and allow her to talk about her experience and share what opportunities there are for healing. 


What’s next?

The support groups we offer for women who have been hurt by abortion are free and confidential. Only the staff that help facilitate the groups actually know who the participants are. 



If you have a friend who might benefit from our after-abortion help, give her our phone number, website or email address to find out more information. If she wants to stop in, she can bring you along if she doesn’t want to come alone. Your friend may need closure and you could be the one to introduce her to hope. 

September 7, 2026
Seeing another positive pregnancy test after having had a past abortion may bring up memories or emotions from that experience. If you already know you don’t want another abortion, you may be wondering what other choices you have and whether either feels realistic for your life right now. You have time to learn about your options and the available support. Collage is here to give you a place to discuss your circumstances so you can decide what’s right for you. Schedule a no-cost appointment today to learn more about your pregnancy and what your next steps could look like. And read on to learn more about your pregnancy options besides abortion. Consider What Parenting Would Require You may want to parent but have concerns about whether you can make it work. Finances, housing, childcare, your relationship, work, or school can all influence how possible this option feels right now. Before deciding that those challenges make parenting unrealistic, it can help to identify your biggest concerns individually. Some of those concerns may have solutions you haven’t considered yet. Think about the support you already have, along with what you would need during pregnancy and after your baby arrives. Knowing where the gaps are can make it easier to find resources rather than trying to solve everything at once. Learn More About Adoption If you don’t want another abortion but aren’t ready to parent, adoption is another option. Today, a woman making an adoption plan can have a significant role in deciding what that plan looks like. Depending on the type of adoption, you may be able to choose an adoptive family and decide what level of contact you would like after placement. Open, semi-open, and closed adoption offer different levels of communication and privacy. Speaking with a licensed adoption professional can help you understand these differences, your rights, and what the process would involve before you make any commitments. Discuss Your Options in a Confidential Space Having had an abortion before does not mean you have to make the same pregnancy decision again. Your feelings, circumstances, priorities, or perspective may be different this time. If you know you don’t want another abortion, start by learning what parenting and adoption could realistically look like in your current situation. Collage provides a place to talk about your pregnancy and the concerns influencing your decision. We can also connect you with adoption agencies and community organizations that provide the support you’re seeking. Reaching out doesn’t lock you into a specific decision. Schedule a no-cost appointment with Collage today to get your questions answered and explore the options available to you. Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.
August 11, 2026
If your girlfriend is facing an unexpected pregnancy and considering the abortion pill, you're probably wondering about costs and whether insurance will cover it.
Young woman thoughtfully learning about the abortion pill before making a pregnancy decision.
July 21, 2026
Learn how the abortion pill works and what to expect. Colllage center offers free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and more. Contact us.
Show More