Alyssa Milano has opened up about two abortions that she chose to have more than 25 years ago.
The 46-year-old actress has spoken about her experiences in her podcast, Alyssa Milano: Sorry Not Sorry, and said that she chose to have the abortions as she was “not equipped to be a mother.”
The Charmed star said that it happened twice within months of each other in 1993.
In an honest look back at her 21-year-old self, Alyssa said: “I knew at that time, I was not equipped to be a mother, and so I chose to have an abortion.
“I chose. It was my choice. And it was absolutely the right choice for me.”
(Image: FilmMagic)
Alyssa went on to have a daughter Elizabeth, now four, and a son, Milo, seven with husband Dave Bugliari – but she spoke about that time in the early 90s, saying: “It was not an easy choice.
“It was not something I wanted, but it was something that I needed, like most healthcare is.”
Abortion is a hot topic in the United States at the moment, with a number of restrictive laws against abortion being passed in certain states.
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This has prompted celebrities to share their own abortion stories in the hope of breaking down the stigma attached to the decision.
Speaking on her podcast, Alyssa said that she was in a ‘serious relationship with her boyfriend’ and was on birth control when she found out she was pregnant.
She said: “I was in love for the first time, in the breathless way you can only be in love when you are young.
“It was huge, overwhelming even. It filled every part of living. And it was a joyful and exciting and powerful time in my life.”
(Image: Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA)
Despite this, Alyssa said that the was “was not ready to be a parent,” as she was still developing as an actress and within a year, she would star in Who’s The Boss, which catapulted her in to the big time.
Explaining why she chose to have an abortion, she revealed: “I had a career and a future and potential.”
It was not an easy decision to come to and Alyssa said that it tore her apart, deciding to have the abortions.
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She continued: “It was devastating. I was raised Catholic and was suddenly put in conflict with my faith.
“A faith I was coming to realise empowered only men to make every single decision about what was allowed and what was not allowed.”
It was far from the end of the relationship with her boyfriend though, and Alyssa said that she continued “to enjoy a sexual relationship with the man I loved” because “sexually connecting with my partner gave me pleasure.”
Speaking about how the scales are balanced in favour of men, Alyssa said: “Nobody will say that he was at fault for enjoying sex with me, but you can be damned sure that the men enacting these laws think less of me for deriving the same pleasure from him.”
(Image: AFP)
Just a few months after the first abortion, she found that her birth control had let her down again and Alyssa was pregnant once again.
Speaking about that time, Alyssa said: “I had done what I knew to do to prevent pregnancy and was still pregnant, so once again I made the right decision to end that pregnancy.”
Looking back, Alyssa believes that without making those tough life decisions then, she wouldn’t be in her ‘fortunate position’ now.
(Image: Reuters)
She continued: “I would not have my children, my beautiful, perfect, loving, kind and inquisitive children who have a mother who was so very, very ready for them.
“I would not have my career. I would not have the ability or platform I use to fight against oppression with all my heart.
“I would never have met my amazing husband, David, whose steadfast and immeasurable love for me sustains me through these terrifying times.”
Alyssa Milano: Sorry Not Sorry releases new episodes every Monday.
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