This is a qualitative study of decision making in accepting and terminating unwanted pregnancies. The study was conducted in two villages in central Uttar Pradesh. In all, 132 women were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. From among women who reported they had wanted, attempted or had an induced abortion, 35 were followed-up for detailed qualitative information. Out of the 170 unwanted pregnancies reported by these women, majority (121) were accepted, while in 49 pregnancies, women wanted to get an abortion. Of these, in 34 cases, women first informed their husbands, mostly to get their consent. The husband’s consent was a major factor in the decision to seek abortion. Other family members had very little role in influencing the decision. In 10 pregnancies the husbands refused consent out right and the women had to accept the pregnancy. In 15 cases women attempted abortion without informing or consulting their husbands, mainly out of the fear that they would not consent. The pregnancies in which induced abortion was attempted (39) women relied more on methods like herbal concoctions, medicines, injections, inserting objects (sticks) and unsafe providers like traditional birth attendants and untrained medical practitioners. Only 20 of the 39 attempted abortions reported in the study were successful.