62

Based on two qualitative surveys combining interviews with women who have had an abortion abroad and observations of women’s trajectories as they seek to terminate a pregnancy beyond France’s time limit for abortion, this article reveals the various sequences and dimensions of the pains women must take to end a pregnancy once the threshold laid down by the law has been passed: the work of informing themselves about the legal framework for abortion in France and abroad, and the places and conditions in which such procedures can be carried out; the work of collecting the money involved for the procedure and any necessary travel; the cognitive work they undergo; and the emotional toll they must inevitably work through. This article outlines the mechanisms, actors, and tools that facilitate or hinder women’s reproductive autonomy in France, and reveals the little-known realities of cross-border abortion experiences.