"Until recently, the era of illegal abortion has been a 'sealed chapter' in U.S. women's history. The aura of shame surrounding unwanted pregnancies and abortion before Roe v. Wade kept most women from ever admitting that they had had illegal abortions - an experience which many had faced, but about which few ever spoke. Women suffering complications from back alley or self induced abortions risked arrest if they admitted what they had done; doctors were often left to guess the source of severe infections and hemorrhages. Because of this fear and ignorance, many women died. Produced with KTEH-TV.

WHEN ABORTION WAS ILLEGAL: UNTOLD STORIES illuminates this largely undocumented era, revealing the physical, emotional, and legal consequences of when abortion was a criminal act. Women speak frankly about their own experiences, some for the first time. Doctors and health care workers describe the challenges they faced trying to save women suffering from botched abortions. Friends and family members share their personal remembrances. This poignant oral history, which weaves together the untold stories of women caught in difficult circumstances and those who tried to help them, reveals the brutal tragedies, as well as the courage and heroism, of a shrouded time." -Concentric Media