In Burkina Faso abortion is illegal and can only be performed if the life of a woman is at risk, or if the foetus is perceived as abnormal. If the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, the woman must request official court permission for an abortion to take place. The decision to have an abortion is probably one of the most difficult ones for any women, even in countries where the procedure is legal and accessible to women. In countries like Burkina Faso where abortion is illegal, such a decision involves taking both serious health and legal risks. This paper is a case study into the experience of one Burkinabé woman who chose a clandestine abortion as the way of dealing with an unwanted pregnancy. In particular, it explores the complex relationship of power and health. Based on participant observation, and supplemented by discussions with other women who have had or thought about having an abortion, I examine the steps involved in making such a decision and carrying it through. I contextualise these stories with the position of the gynecologists at government hospitals who operate on these women in case complications occur after such clandestine procedures. Furthermore I examine the reasons why on the one hand, the society seems to condemn the practice of abortions, while on the other hand, families often put pressure on unmarried young girls to undergo clandestine procedures to get rid of the unwanted pregnancies, before they bring shame to the family.