Reproductive coercion is any behavior intended to maintain power and control in a relationship by controlling someone’s reproductive health.  

This can take the form of disrupting birth control methods, such as:

• Tampering with, hiding, destroying, or controlling access to birth control 
• Breaking or poking holes in a condom on purpose or removing a condom during sex in an attempt to promote pregnancy  
• Not withdrawing when that was the agreed upon method of contraception. 

This can also take the form of controlling pregnancy outcomes, such as:

• Forcing, threatening, guilting, or coercing a partner to become pregnant when they don’t want to 
• Forcing a partner to get an abortion they don’t want to get. 
• Injuring a partner with the intent to cause a miscarriage.   

Sexual coercion is any behavior intended to maintain power and control in a relationship by controlling someone’s sexual health.  

This can take the form of:

• Forcing, threatening, guilting, or pressuring a partner to have sex without a condom or not allowing other prophylaxis use. 
• Intentionally exposing a partner to an STI/HIV or lying to a partner about the risk they are agreeing to (such as lying about STI testing, number of partners, or protection used with other partners). 

You have the right to have control over your sexual health and reproductive decisions. This includes: 

• Using a condom, dental dam, or internal condom. 
• Having your partner use a condom, dental dam, or internal condom. 
• Using birth control and PrEP. 
• Controlling the outcome of a pregnancy. 
• Having access to any medical care that you might need.  

Sexual and reproductive health coercion are not always violent or obvious, this is why it is important to learn the signs so that we can understand it. Sexual health coercion is any behavior used to pressure someone into potential STI/HIV exposure through manipulation, intimidation, or violence. Reproductive coercion, similarly, is any behavior used to pressure or manipulate someone into becoming pregnant, or into continuing or ending a pregnancy against their will.  

Self Quiz: 

• Am I afraid to ask my partner to use condoms or birth control? 
• Does my partner remove condoms during sex, or claim that condoms keep breaking during sex? 
• Has my partner ever refused to use a condom when I asked them to or not let me use a condom? 
• Has my partner ever made me feel ashamed or accused me of cheating because I wanted to use protection, PrEP, birth control, or have an abortion? 
• Have I ever had to hide my birth control, PrEP, or HIV medications from my partner? 
• Has my partner ever pressured me to get pregnant when I didn’t want to? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your partner may be trying to take control of your sexual health and reproductive decisions, and your health and safety may be in danger. You are not alone, and you deserve to make your own decisions about your body and your future without being made to feel ashamed or afraid. 

PrEP  

PrEP, or PrE-Exposure Prophylaxis, is a pill that is taken once a day to prevent an individual from contracting HIV. A common misconception is that HIV only affects men who have sex with men and transgender women. In reality, PrEP is for individuals of any sexual orientation or gender identity.  

 

PEP 

PEP, or Post Exposure Prophylaxis, is a pill that protects individuals from HIV after they have had a high-risk sexual encounter. Indvidual’s must obtain this 28-day regimen within 72 hour (3 days) after exposure. PEP is available at most emergency rooms, medical facilities, STI/HIV testing centers etc. 

 

HIV related care 

Although there’s no cure for HIV, there are medicines that help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. HIV is not a death sentence. 

HIV treatment called antiretroviral therapy (ART) lowers the amount of virus in your body. This does two things:  

• Slows down the effects of HIV in your body, which keeps you healthy.  
• Lowers or even stops your chances of giving HIV to sexual partners.  
• Some people on ART have such a small amount of virus in their body, they can’t transmit HIV to their sexual partners at all.  

Learn more about preventing the spread of HIV with PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) by clicking the button below.

Birth Control 

Some birth control may be more difficult or impossible for a sexual partner to detect or tamper with including: 

• IUD 
• The Ring 
• The Implant 
• Morning After Pill 

Learn more about different types of birth control that are available to you by clicking the button below.