'Abortion Addict' Ended 15 Pregnancies

In controversial memoir, Irene Vilar says legal abortion saved her life
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 13, 2009 12:51 PM CDT
'Abortion Addict' Ended 15 Pregnancies
The cover of "Impossible Motherhood" is shown.   (IreneVilar.com)

Once an “abortion addict,” Irene Vilar is making waves on both sides of the contentious debate with her memoir of the 15 pregnancies she terminated—including one she had forgotten about. One pro-life blogger called for her to be thrown in jail; as for the other side, “the majority of pro-choicers—and I don't blame them—are somewhat confused,” Vilar tells the Los Angeles Times.

Vilar, granddaughter of a famous Puerto Rican nationalist, now has two daughters; she says the abortions she had between ages 16 and 33 were partly a result of her 11-year marriage to a man who saw children as an end to freedom. She feels she let the feminist movement down: “They risked their lives to give me this, and I abused that right.” But Vilar also says she would have gotten the abortions through any means necessary, and credits legal abortion with saving her life. (More abortion stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X