I recently saw a 27-year-old college student with a Mirena IUD, who came to see me for a pap smear. Upon exam, we not only found the IUD to be in the cervix, but the uterus was found to be the size of about 20 weeks gestation. We performed a pregnancy test, and it was positive. An ultrasound revealed a 21-week fetus.

She made the best decision for herself and decided to terminate the pregnancy. She had already been trying to prevent a pregnancy by using one of the most reliable forms of birth control as well as condoms.

If 20-week abortion ban restrictions were in place, she would have been forced to carry an undesired pregnancy to term, which could have resulted in serious physical and emotional health problems. Luckily, we live in a state without such restrictions, and I practice in an area in which I was able to refer her for services within days, and she did not have to wait for them.