Reproductive coercion - meaning and definition
Alsobirth control sabotagepregnancy coercioncontraceptive sabotagecondom sabotageforced pregnancy
Definition
Reproductive coercion is behaviour that interferes with someone's decisions about contraception or pregnancy, such as hiding pills, damaging condoms or pressuring them to continue or end a pregnancy.
At a glance
- Interfering with someone's decisions about contraception or pregnancy.
- Includes tampering with contraception or pressuring decisions about a pregnancy.
- It often overlaps with intimate partner violence.
- Clinicians increasingly ask about it because it affects health and safety.
- Sexual health services can offer confidential support.
In detail
Examples include tampering with contraception, refusing to use condoms, pressuring a partner to become pregnant, or forcing a decision about a pregnancy through threats or control. It often overlaps with intimate partner violence.
Clinicians increasingly ask about reproductive coercion because it affects health and safety. Discreet methods such as an implant or IUD, and emergency contraception, can give people more control, and sexual health services can offer confidential support.
In a sentence
- The clinic leaflet explained that hiding someone's pills is a form of reproductive coercion.
- Her nurse asked privately about reproductive coercion as part of the appointment.
Common questions
What are examples of reproductive coercion?
Hiding or throwing away contraception, damaging condoms, refusing to use condoms, pressuring a partner to become pregnant, or forcing a decision about a pregnancy through threats or control.
What can I do if a partner is interfering with my contraception?
A sexual health clinic can talk confidentially about options, including methods a partner cannot easily see or interfere with, and emergency contraception. A domestic abuse helpline can help with safety. Talk to a clinician about what suits you.