If a woman chooses to have an abortion in the United States, she is not required to tell or get permission from her boyfriend or sex partner. Many women do tell their partners, who might then go with them to offer support during the abortion procedure.

Some states have laws, though, that require a minor to tell her parents or get their permission before having an abortion. You should check the laws in your state before going ahead with an abortion. (To find out your state's laws, go to the Alan Guttmacher Institute's Web site.) Some states also require a woman to tell her husband before she gets an abortion.

For guys, it’s really important to know that, ultimately, the woman is the one who will decide the outcome of the pregnancy. Although it takes two people to create a pregnancy, legally the right to decide whether to have an abortion or not ultimately belongs to the woman. Both partners need to be aware of their legal rights so they can work actively to PREVENT a pregnancy if they are not ready to deal with this situation.