‘No one makes these kinds of decisions lightly’: the fear, grief and relief in accessing abortion in Australia

‘I cannot fathom how the grief would be complicated and made so much more traumatic if access to care and the care itself was filled with judgment and prejudice.’ Illustration: Greedy Hen/The Guardian

In Australia abortion is legal in all states and territories except Western Australia, but issues with access remain. Since the US supreme court decision to overturn Roe v Wade, the court case which interpreted the right to seek an abortion as protected by the country’s constitution, Guardian Australia asked readers about their experience accessing abortion in Australia.

Readers shared their personal experiences of seeking to end pregnancies over decades past. Their stories are complex, filled with obstacles, elements of grief, and gratitude.