An Overview of Reproductive Coercion as Intimate Partner Violence

Reproductive coercion–when someone attempts to “exert control and power over their partner’s reproductive health choices”–is a type of intimate partner violence that is often overlooked. This article focuses on the experiences of teenagers, identifying different forms of reproductive coercion and their role in intimate partner violence.

“Reproductive coercion involves elements of ownership, control, and violence. This kind of abuse can take many forms, like poking holes in condoms, or pressuring a partner to become pregnant using threats of violence or other kinds of abuse. It can occur at any time in a relationship, and is sometimes classified as being ‘pre-intercourse,’ ‘during intercourse’ and ‘post-intercourse’ depending on where in a sexual interaction it falls.”