End the pregnancy now by having an abortion
What is abortion?
Abortion means the termination of a pregnancy before birth.
How many abortions take place?
In 2003, 181,600 abortions were undertaken in England and Wales, often because the pregnancy is unplanned and unwanted. Unintended pregnancies can be experienced by any sexually active woman whether she is married or single, young or older.
When can an abortion be carried out?
Abortion is currently legal up to 24 weeks, though most abortions take place much earlier. Only on very rare occasions is abortion legal after 24 weeks, usually only if the woman's life is in very serious danger or when the foetus is severely abnormal.
Of the abortions that take place each year in England and Wales, approximately:
- 87% are performed before week 13
- 11% are performed between week 13 and week 19
- 2% are performed after week 20.
If you decide to have an abortion, the sooner you arrange it the simpler and easier the process will be.
Where can a woman go for an abortion?
Abortions can be carried out at NHS hospitals. This is free, but you need a referral and two doctors are required to give consent for an abortion. Referrals can be obtained from a doctor, some family planning clinics, or young peoples' clinics, some GUM (Genito-Urinary Medicine) Clinics. It is usually easiest to get an abortion on the NHS if you are under 12 weeks pregnant. There is an average of 2-4 weeks waiting time on the NHS.
Alternatively, you can refer yourself to a private service (e.g. bpas or Marie Stopes) for an abortion. Although this is sometimes quicker than the NHS, you will have to pay fees from around £450 to £750 (for late abortions, this figure can rise to £1,200).
What happens when a woman goes to see somebody about an abortion?
The exact process may differ depending on where you go. Generally, in the first place steps will be taken to establish that you are pregnant (either a urine test, ultrasound scan or internal examination). When your pregnancy has been confirmed the doctor will want to talk to you about the abortion and why you want it. Two doctors are normally required to give consent for an abortion and you yourself will be required to complete some simple paperwork. Then a separate appointment will probably be made to carry out the abortion itself.
What different abortion methods are there?
The method of abortion depends on the length of your pregnancy. A doctor will establish this by calculating the time since the first day of your last period.
- Medical abortion (sometimes called the 'abortion pill')
Can be performed in the first 9 weeks of pregnancy. The woman is given a pill which blocks the actions of the hormones which sustain the pregnancy. 36 - 48 hours later a vaginal pessary (tablet) is put into her vagina to cause the womb to expel the pregnancy. The pregnancy is usually expelled during the next 6 hours, feeling similar to a heavy and rather painful period. The woman will then be required to attend a follow-up appointment 1-2 weeks later to ensure the process is complete. This method is not available everywhere - check with your referring doctor. - Vacuum aspiration (sometimes called the 'suction method')
Can usually only be performed up to the 12th week of pregnancy. The procedure is usually carried out under general or local anaesthetic, though it does not require any cutting. The cervix (the entrance to the womb at the top of the vagina) is gently stretched and opened to allow a suction tube to pass through it into the womb. Once the tube is inserted, the pregnancy is removed from the womb by suction. The procedure takes 10-15 minutes and the woman usually goes home the same day. - Surgical dilatation and evacuation ('D & E')
Can be performed between the 15th and 19th week. The woman is given a general anaesthetic. The doctor then gently stretches the passage through her cervix until it is wide enough for narrow forceps to be used to remove the pregnancy in fragments. Any remaining tissue in the uterus will be removed using a thin, round ended plastic tube attached to a vacuum pump. The procedure takes 10-20 minutes and an overnight stay is not usually required.
Contacts
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With thanks to bpas for their assistance with this section.
