Reproductive Abuse: The Hidden Form of Domestic Violence
🌸 Reproductive Abuse: The Hidden Form of Domestic Violence
What Is Reproductive Abuse?
Reproductive abuse—sometimes called reproductive coercion—is a form of domestic violence where a partner exerts control over another person’s reproductive health or choices. It’s not about love or protection; it’s about power and control.
Examples include:
Sabotaging or hiding birth control
Pressuring or forcing someone to become pregnant
Coercing or threatening them to end a pregnancy
Blocking access to prenatal or abortion care
Using pregnancy or children to manipulate, isolate, or punish
This type of abuse can occur in any relationship and across all identities. For many survivors, it’s intertwined with emotional, physical, or sexual abuse.
The Impact of Reproductive Abuse on Mental Health
When someone’s bodily autonomy is violated, the emotional impact can be profound. Survivors may experience:
Chronic anxiety and hypervigilance
Depression or grief related to loss of choice
Shame, guilt, or self-blame
Trauma responses during intimacy, medical exams, or pregnancy
Difficulty trusting partners, providers, or their own instincts
In perinatal and maternal mental health, reproductive abuse can contribute to birth trauma, postpartum depression, or perinatal anxiety. Therapy offers a path to process that trauma and rebuild safety—both physically and emotionally.
Why It’s Often Overlooked
Many survivors don’t realize that what they experienced qualifies as abuse. They might say:
“He said he just wanted to be close.”
“I thought we were trying for a baby.”
“He hid my pills, but I didn’t think it was abuse.”
Because reproductive coercion often happens privately and without visible marks, it can be difficult to identify or name. Yet, the emotional scars can run deep and influence every aspect of a survivor’s life—from self-esteem to relationships and parenting.
Healing from Reproductive Coercion: A Trauma-Informed Approach
At Karim Counseling Services, we understand that healing from reproductive abuse means restoring choice, voice, and connection.
Therapy may include:
EMDR Therapy: to reprocess traumatic experiences and reduce distressing memories.
Perinatal DBT Group Therapy: to rebuild emotion regulation, strengthen boundaries, and practice mindful self-compassion.
Somatic and Yoga-based Interventions: to reconnect with your body and feel safe again.
Our approach is compassionate, collaborative, and trauma-informed—centered on helping survivors reclaim their autonomy and rebuild trust in themselves.
Reproductive Justice and Mental Health
Reproductive justice means having the right and access to make decisions about your own body, including whether and when to become pregnant. When those rights are violated, mental health care becomes part of the healing process.
By integrating trauma therapy with reproductive and perinatal care, survivors can begin to move from survival to empowerment.
Finding Safety and Support
If this resonates with you, please know:
✨ You are not alone.
✨ You are not to blame.
✨ Healing is possible.
Resources:
National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Take the Next Step
If you’ve experienced reproductive coercion, trauma-informed therapy can help you rebuild safety, boundaries, and self-trust. At Karim Counseling Services, we offer both individual therapy and EMDR Intensives for survivors in Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, and Michigan.
💬 Schedule a free 15-minute consultation today to learn how we can support you: 👉 www.karimcounseling.org/emdr-intensives 👉 www.karimcounseling.org/group-therapy-for-moms