Abortion

Abortion is also sometimes known as a 'termination' or a 'termination of pregnancy'.

Depending on how many weeks you have been pregnant, the pregnancy is ended either by taking medication or by having a surgical procedure.

Why an abortion may be needed

There are many reasons why a woman might decide to have an abortion, including a:

• health risk to the mother
• high chance the baby will have a serious abnormality - either genetic or physical

When an abortion can be carried out

Under UK law, an abortion can usually only be carried out during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy as long as certain criteria are met (see below).

The Abortion Act 1967 covers England, Scotland and Wales but not Northern Ireland and states:

• abortions must be carried out in a hospital or a specialist licensed clinic
• two doctors must agree that an abortion would cause less damage to a woman's physical or mental health than continuing with the pregnancy

There are also a number of rarer situations when the law states an abortion may be carried out after 24 weeks. These include:

• if it's necessary to save the woman's life
• to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman
• if there is substantial risk that the child would be born with serious physical or mental disabilities

Generally, an abortion should be carried out as early in the pregnancy as possible, usually before 12 weeks and ideally before 9 weeks where possible.

British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)

If you know you are pregnant and feel sure that an abortion is the choice you want to make then you don’t have to visit our clinic first. You can self-refer by calling the BPAS team on 03457 30 40 30 directy.

This service is free but you must be a Wirral resident and registered with a Wirral GP, otherwise there may be fees.

For more information visit bpas.org.uk.

Our team provides help and support to any woman who finds herself with an unplanned pregnancy. We understand it can be a very worrying time and deciding to end a pregnancy can be a very difficult decision.

If you need further advice or are unsure of your next steps you can book a confidential telephone consultation to speak to one of our team who can signpost you to the appropriate service.

Follow the link to book an advice call or you telephone us on 0300 123 5474

Looking after yourself following an abortion 

Your normal fertility returns almost immediately after an abortion. If you want to delay or avoid another pregnancy you should use start using contraception straight away.

How soon can I have sex again after an abortion?

You can have sex when you and a partner feel ready. You might have some bleeding and discomfort after your abortion and might prefer to wait until this stops.

When will my periods start again?

Your periods usually return 4–6 weeks after an abortion. You can get pregnant before your periods return because ovulation (releasing an egg) happens about 2 weeks before you get your period.

If you don’t have a period within 4–6 weeks of the abortion, see your doctor or clinic as sometimes the pregnancy can continue. This is not common.

Which contraceptive method will be suitable for me?

There are several options available to you. If you are not planning another pregnancy any time soon we always recommend one of our LARC methods. 

To discuss your options with one of our team book a telephone consultation or make a clinic  appointment online.