A Cork woman who had an abortion at 19 says Irish people do not understand it "as a life-changing experience".

Bernadette Goulding says she grew up in a strict household, but her life changed when she moved to England.

"My parents were quite strict when we were young...deterrence through fear was the strategy my father would have used to deter us from going astray, if you like", she told the Pat Kenny Show.

"I travelled to England and this newfound freedom was all very new to me".

"The end result was that I became pregnant - and of course I was full of fear...I felt that I'd never be able to return home".

While she was in hospital recovering from dehydration, Bernadette says a doctor suggested a termination to her.

"I felt 'I'm living in England, my parents will never find out and my life will get back to normal'".

But she says that was not the case.

"I began to get nightmares, I suffered from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, self-hatred, low self-esteem, you name it".

But she says she did not talk to anybody about her experiences as "abortion is a big secret".

"I never told anyone for years and years...I couldn't even say the word 'abortion'".

It was not until she met her husband that she first spoke of her ordeal.

On campaigns to repeal the 8th amendment, Bernadette says: "We debate about abortion, we pass laws about it...but we don't understand it as a life-changing experience".

"I wouldn't be in favour of any change in our laws".

Listen to her full interview below:

Bernadette Goulding is the director of Rachael's Vineyard Ireland and co-founder of womenhurt.ie