October 11, 2024, 8:59 am | Read time: 4 minutes

Former GNTM winner Stefanie Giesinger talks about a very personal topic for the first time in her podcast: she had an abortion last year. With her open manner, she now wants to encourage other women to talk about difficult decisions.

“If the topic is close to your heart, don’t listen to the episode alone or not at all,” Giesinger warned her followers on Instagram beforehand. It was among her most emotional recordings, demanding considerable courage and strength.

Stefanie Giesinger made a conscious decision to have an abortion

About a year ago, Stefanie Giesinger became pregnant unintentionally. “I didn’t want to become a mother at that time,” she explains in her Instagram post in addition to her podcast. She describes the weeks following the positive pregnancy test as a difficult time full of emotional challenges.

Giesinger also describes how her decision to terminate the pregnancy was not taken seriously by others. A gynecologist played down her situation, and the mandatory consultation with “Pro Familia” was also stressful. “My heart was beating fast, and the nausea came up,” the influencer recalls of the counseling situation.

The decision to have an abortion led Giesinger into an exhausting waiting period. She was required to continue the pregnancy for six weeks until the procedure could be legally performed. “It was a battle against my own body,” she says. “Shame, fear, grief, confusion, pain, and uncertainty made life difficult for me. My body was changing; something was growing inside me, and I didn’t want it.” The abortion itself took place under general anesthesia. “My uterus was evacuated,” Giesinger explains, detailing the medical procedure. She describes the weeks that followed as a dark phase: “The abrupt hormonal changes, feelings of guilt, and intense stress led to a profound emotional downturn.”

Model found support in her environment

Stefanie Giesinger emphasizes how important the support of those around her was for her during this time. “I wouldn’t have got through this time on my own,” she admits in her emotional post. She thanks the people who stood by her and is grateful for the privilege of being able to make decisions about her own body. A right that, even in 2024, women in many countries still lack.

With her story, Stefanie Giesinger wants to help break the taboo surrounding abortions. She shows that the decision is not an easy one but a deeply emotional process. “I hope that one day we will live in a society in which women are not judged for their decisions,” she says at the end of her podcast episode.

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This is how abortion works

A medical abortion is possible up to the 63rd day after the last menstrual period. Under medical supervision, a medication is taken to dissolve the corpus luteum, followed by prostaglandin, which contracts the uterus and triggers abortion bleeding. The process can take several days and is associated with side effects such as abdominal cramps, nausea, and headaches. The procedure is 95 percent effective and should follow a medical consultation.

A surgical abortion like Stefanie Giesinger’s – also known as an aspiration – is possible up to the 10th week and is usually performed on an outpatient basis. The contents of the uterus are removed with a tube, which may be followed by a curettage. After the procedure, there is abortion bleeding, which is usually less heavy but longer than menstruation. Physical rest is recommended following the procedure. Discussing one’s emotions post-abortion can also be beneficial.

The cost of an abortion is between 200 and 600 euros. Health insurance coverage is limited to specific medical conditions.