Reproductive coercion is the deception, lying, or deceit by one sexual partner of the other regarding the partners’ agreed birth control and sexually-transmitted-disease-protection practices. Reproductive coercion can take many forms, and may be perpetrated by women or men. For example, one partner may falsely represent to the other partner the use or continued use of birth control, or otherwise sabotage the partners’ agreed birth control practices. Although this behavior may result in nonconsensual sexual contact, the law generally does not recognize rape or fraud charges based on such behavior—due in part to the difficulty in proving such matters. And the allegation or proof of such behavior will not change a parent’s child support obligations.

In Massachusetts, reproductive coercion is not explicitly codified as a distinct offense under state law. However, certain aspects of reproductive coercion may intersect with existing legal frameworks, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, or harassment. For instance, if reproductive coercion involves physical harm or threats, it could potentially fall under domestic violence statutes. Despite this, the specific act of deceiving a partner about birth control or STD protection is not clearly addressed in Massachusetts criminal statutes, and proving such cases in court can be challenging due to the need for clear evidence of deceit and intent. Furthermore, if reproductive coercion results in pregnancy, the law maintains that both parents have financial responsibilities toward the child, and allegations of reproductive coercion do not exempt a parent from child support obligations. It's important to note that while the law may not specifically address all forms of reproductive coercion, victims may still seek help through support services and legal counsel to address their situation.