Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January 5, 2024
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Note: If you feel like you're in immediate danger or know someone who is, please call emergency services or your local law enforcement.

 

When we hear the words “sex trafficking,” it’s easy for dramatic scenes of kidnapping by strangers and crossing international borders to come to mind, such as those in popular movies like “Taken” and “Sound of Freedom.” While sex trafficking can happen this way, it’s far more common to begin with subtle grooming, a form of emotional manipulation, by a person who claims to care for you. In 2020, 42% of victims were trafficked by a member of their own families, and 39% were recruited through an intimate partner or a marriage proposition. This tactic is even more insidious because the victim may not realize that they’re being trafficked for a very long time and even feel a sense of loyalty to their trafficker.

Our relationships should lift us up, not leave us vulnerable to manipulation and abuse. So, in honor of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we’re helping our readers spot the red flags that may mean your partner is using you for sex trafficking.

 

Decoding Manipulation

 

Traffickers often work to gain their victims’ trust, make them financially dependent, and convince them that sex work is normal and necessary. Once this dynamic is established, the victim ends up cooperating in their own exploitation, thinking they have made the choice to do so independently.

 

Emotional Manipulation: Your partner might use emotional tricks to keep you under their thumb. Look out for signs like extreme jealousy, guilt-trips that never end, or them trying to cut you off from friends and family.

 

Love Bombing: At the beginning of a relationship, some people go all-out with affection and gifts to make you feel like you need them in your life. This is a trick to make you bond with and trust them more quickly than you normally would.

 

Gaslighting: This is when they make you doubt your feelings and sanity. They might brush off your concerns or tell you you're "crazy" for suspecting them. We actually have an entire post about gaslighting, which you’re welcome to read here.

 

Spotting Signs of Sex Trafficking

 

Total Control: Traffickers want control over every bit of your life – your money, your routine, and who you see. You may feel like you have zero say in anything.

 

Isolation: Traffickers aim to cut you off from friends, family, and anyone who might help you. They might discourage you from seeing your loved ones or going to social events.

 

Pressured into Sex Work: You are being pushed or forced to work in the sex industry against your will. This could include escort services, prostitution, or other sex work. This may seem casual at first, where your partner may pressure you into performing sexual favors for his friends or say you must do this work to help financially support the two of you.

 

Finances: Traffickers usually have a tight grip on your earnings, making you dependent on them for survival. They may say that you owe them a debt or make up complex financial schemes that make it challenging for you to understand how much you owe.

 

Abuse: Victims often go through physical violence, emotional torture, and threats if they try to escape the situation.

 

Tattoos or “Branding”: Some traffickers use tattoos or marks to show that you're "theirs."

 

Seeking Support

 

Realizing you're in a manipulative or trafficking situation is a brave step towards taking your life back. You deserve a relationship that respects your freedom, safety, and happiness. If something feels off in your relationship, don't ignore that feeling. If your partner's actions make you uneasy, don't brush it aside. Share your worries with a close friend, family member, or counselor you're comfortable with for an outsider’s perspective. They can be a rock of support.1

 

Consider reaching out to a helpline or a local organization that's skilled in helping people in your situation. In the U.S., you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. These professionals can help you make a plan that keeps you safe.

 

Recognizing manipulation and sex trafficking in a relationship is incredibly difficult, but you're not alone. By understanding the signs, trusting your gut, and reaching out for help, you're taking control of your life and working toward a brighter, safer future. Remember, you deserve happiness and freedom, and there are people and organizations ready to help you reclaim your life.

September 30, 2026
If you took the first abortion pill, it’s possible to start wishing you hadn’t. The regret may have hit you immediately, or it might have taken a few hours to realize that you want to continue the pregnancy. Either way, there may still be something you can do: abortion pill reversal (APR) may be an option. The first drug used in the abortion pill regimen is usually mifepristone. If you have taken mifepristone but now want to continue your pregnancy, call the Abortion Pill Reversal Network at 1-877-558-0333 right away. Their Helpline is available 24/7 and can connect you with a medical provider who can administer APR. If You Have Only Taken the First Pill Mifepristone works by blocking progesterone. Progesterone helps maintain the lining of the uterus during pregnancy. When this hormone is blocked, the uterine lining thins, and the pregnancy ends. The second drug in the abortion pill regimen is misoprostol , which causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. Abortion pill reversal involves giving progesterone after mifepristone in an effort to allow the pregnancy to continue. Don’t Wait for Symptoms Before Calling You may wonder whether you should wait before deciding what to do. But if you want to try to continue the pregnancy, call first.  It’s critical to start the protocol as soon as possible, ideally within 24 to 48 hours of taking mifepristone. However, you should still call even when more time has passed; it may not be too late. A medical provider can determine whether APR may still be appropriate. Does Reversal Always Work? Abortion pill reversal cannot guarantee that the pregnancy will continue. One published study reported ongoing pregnancy rates of approximately 64% to 68% with certain progesterone regimens, but individual outcomes vary. The important thing is to get medical guidance quickly rather than trying to determine your chances on your own. What if You Already Took Misoprostol? If you have already taken misoprostol, contact a healthcare professional promptly and explain exactly what you took and when. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms that concern you or believe you may be experiencing a medical emergency. Make the Call Now Changing your mind after taking mifepristone can be frightening, especially when you’re unsure whether there is still time to act. You don’t need to figure that out yourself. Call the Abortion Pill Reversal Network at 1-877-558-0333 as soon as possible and tell them when you took mifepristone. They can explain whether abortion pill reversal may still be an option and connect you with an appropriate provider. You can also contact Collage if you need someone to speak with while you work through your next steps. We’re here to help you. *Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services. **All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
September 7, 2026
Seeing another positive pregnancy test after having had a past abortion may bring up memories or emotions from that experience. If you already know you don’t want another abortion, you may be wondering what other choices you have and whether either feels realistic for your life right now. You have time to learn about your options and the available support. Collage is here to give you a place to discuss your circumstances so you can decide what’s right for you. Schedule a no-cost appointment today to learn more about your pregnancy and what your next steps could look like. And read on to learn more about your pregnancy options besides abortion. Consider What Parenting Would Require You may want to parent but have concerns about whether you can make it work. Finances, housing, childcare, your relationship, work, or school can all influence how possible this option feels right now. Before deciding that those challenges make parenting unrealistic, it can help to identify your biggest concerns individually. Some of those concerns may have solutions you haven’t considered yet. Think about the support you already have, along with what you would need during pregnancy and after your baby arrives. Knowing where the gaps are can make it easier to find resources rather than trying to solve everything at once. Learn More About Adoption If you don’t want another abortion but aren’t ready to parent, adoption is another option. Today, a woman making an adoption plan can have a significant role in deciding what that plan looks like. Depending on the type of adoption, you may be able to choose an adoptive family and decide what level of contact you would like after placement. Open, semi-open, and closed adoption offer different levels of communication and privacy. Speaking with a licensed adoption professional can help you understand these differences, your rights, and what the process would involve before you make any commitments. Discuss Your Options in a Confidential Space Having had an abortion before does not mean you have to make the same pregnancy decision again. Your feelings, circumstances, priorities, or perspective may be different this time. If you know you don’t want another abortion, start by learning what parenting and adoption could realistically look like in your current situation. Collage provides a place to talk about your pregnancy and the concerns influencing your decision. We can also connect you with adoption agencies and community organizations that provide the support you’re seeking. Reaching out doesn’t lock you into a specific decision. Schedule a no-cost appointment with Collage today to get your questions answered and explore the options available to you. Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.
August 11, 2026
If your girlfriend is facing an unexpected pregnancy and considering the abortion pill, you're probably wondering about costs and whether insurance will cover it.
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