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Reproductive Coercion
Learn what reproductive coercion is, how it affects survivors, and what support is available.
What is Reproductive Coercion?
Reproductive coercion is a form of controlling behaviour where someone interferes with your ability to make decisions about your own body, especially regarding pregnancy, contraception, and sexual health. It is often hidden, misunderstood, and under-reported – but it is a serious form of abuse.
This behaviour can include:
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Pressuring or forcing someone to have sex without contraception.
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Damaging or removing condoms (also known as “stealthing,” which is classified as rape under UK law).
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Hiding, withholding, or sabotaging contraception (like birth control pills).
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Forcing someone to become pregnant or preventing them from doing so.
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Pressuring or forcing someone to terminate a pregnancy against their will.
How Common Is It?
Despite its prevalence, NHS and police forces do not yet routinely record data on reproductive coercion.
However, a BBC Radio 4 and Savanta ComRes poll (2022) of 1,000 UK women aged 18–44 found:
50%
had experienced some form of reproductive coercion.
1 in 3
felt pressured to have sex without contraception.
1 in 10
had experienced sabotage of contraceptives.
1 in 10
had experienced stealthing.
15%
had been pressured to terminate a pregnancy they wanted to keep.
Why It Matters
Reproductive coercion is not only emotionally and physically damaging, it can also put survivors at risk of long-term trauma, financial dependence, sexual violence, and chronic health issues. It is a form of coercive control, which has been illegal in England and Wales since 2015 under the Serious Crime Act.
Research shows that reproductive coercion often exists alongside other forms of abuse, such as emotional manipulation, physical assault, and sexual violence. Survivors may not even recognise it as abuse – especially if it’s disguised as “just a preference” or dismissed as a misunderstanding.
What Does The Law Say?
Under the Serious Crime Act 2015, coercive or controlling behaviour in intimate relationships is a criminal offence. This includes:
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Controlling access to contraception.
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Forcing or manipulating pregnancy or termination decisions.
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Isolating survivors from healthcare access or reproductive choices.
Stealthing, or the removal of a condom without consent, is now recognised as rape under UK law following legal updates in 2022.
You may be experiencing reproductive coercion if your partner:
Pressures or forces you to have sex without contraception.
Tells you not to use condoms because they “don’t fit” or “don’t feel right.”
Hides or throws away your birth control.
Pressures you to become pregnant or have an abortion.
Controls your access to reproductive healthcare or goes with you to appointments to monitor what you say.
How Safeline Can Help
At Safeline, we believe everyone has the right to make choices about their own body—free from pressure, fear, or control. Our services are free and confidential, and we never judge or tell you what to do. We’re here to support you.
We offer:
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Specialist support services for survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
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Trauma-informed counselling and emotional support.
References
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Miller, E., Decker, M.R., McCauley, H.L., et al. (2010). Pregnancy coercion, intimate partner violence and unintended pregnancy. Contraception, 81(4), 316–322.
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Grace, K.T., & Anderson, J.C. (2016). Reproductive coercion: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 19(4), 371–390.
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BBC News (2023). Reproductive coercion: Half of young UK women say they’ve experienced it. File on 4 & Newsbeat, BBC.
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Chamberlain, L., & Levenson, R. (2012). Addressing reproductive coercion in health settings. Futures Without Violence.
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Savanta ComRes for BBC (2023). Survey of reproductive coercion among women aged 18-44.