Note that the stage of pregnancy is calculated from the first day of the woman's last period. Note also that different apply outside England, Wales and Scotland.
How can a woman get an abortion?
To get an abortion on the NHS, a woman needs to be referred by a doctor. This can be her own GP, or a doctor at a local family planning clinic or Centre (for under 25s).
If a doctor has a moral objection to abortion, s/he does not have to be involved. However, s/he should explain this to their patient and make arrangements for her to see another doctor.
It is important to act quickly. The earlier a woman decides to have an abortion, the easier it is to get a free abortion on the NHS. Although the normal legal limit for abortion is 24 weeks, it is usually easiest to get an abortion on the NHS if a woman is under 12 weeks pregnant. There is an average of 2-4 weeks waiting time on the NHS, so it is easier if a woman is under 8 weeks pregnant.
Women can refer themselves for a private abortion. Early abortions start from around £350 and go up to £750 or above in the later stages. For more information on private abortions, visit our section.
Once referred for an NHS or private abortion, the woman will need to attend a consultation at the clinic. Her medical history will be taken and a nurse or doctor will discuss what will happen.
Under 16s
A young woman under 16 can have an but special rules apply about consent. Centres are used to seeing young people under 16 and can provide confidential help.
How are abortions carried out?
There are two main early abortion methods:
- Medical abortion (known as 'the abortion pill')
Medical abortion can be performed in the first 9 weeks of pregnancy. It does not involve any surgery. The woman is given a pill (mifepristone) and 36 to 48 hours later, a tablet (prostaglandin) is placed in her vagina. These two drugs end most early pregnancies within the following four hours. It feels like having a heavy and rather painful period.
This method is not available everywhere. Women should check with the referring doctor whether this method is available on the NHS in their area.
- Vacuum aspiration (known as 'the suction method')
This method is available up to 13 weeks of pregnancy. For this procedure the woman has either a general or local anaesthetic. The abortion is carried out through the vagina and there is no wound or stitches. The cervix (the entrance to the womb at the top of the vagina) is gently stretched to allow a tube to pass through it into the womb. Once the tube is inserted, it only takes a minute to remove the pregnancy by suction. Healthy women take only an hour or so to recover and most go home the same day.
Methods used for later abortions will depend on the stage of pregnancy. The exact procedure will be explained by a doctor or nurse before the abortion goes ahead.
Having an abortion shoul d not affect a woman's ability to have a child in the future.
After an abortion
The woman will experience some bleeding for a few days after the abortion and may have pain like "period pains". Advice will be given on how to reduce the risk of infection. If bleeding or pain is severe, or she has a raised temperature or unusual vaginal discharge, she should see a doctor as soon as possible as this could mean that she has an infection which needs treatment.
The woman will need to see a doctor about one to six weeks after the abortion to make sure all is well.
It is possible to become pregnant again as soon as 7 days after an abortion. So the woman needs to think about future .
