An abortion is the medical process of ending a pregnancy so that it does not result in the birth of a baby.
The pregnancy is ended either by taking an abortion pill or by having a surgical procedure, depending on how many weeks pregnant you are (see How it is performed for more information).
Sometimes, healthcare professionals may refer to an abortion as a 'termination of pregnancy' or 'termination'.
An abortion is different from a miscarriage, where the pregnancy ends without medical intervention (although medical treatment may be needed after a miscarriage).
A difficult decision
There are many reasons why you might decide to have an abortion – for example, because of your personal circumstances, because your health may be at risk, or there is a high probability that the baby will have a medical condition.
The law in the UK makes it legal to have an abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy so long as certain criteria are met (see below).
There are also a few situations when the law states that an abortion may be carried out later (see Abortion - when it is carried out).
The Abortion Act 1967 covers the UK mainland (England, Scotland and Wales) but not Northern Ireland. The law states that:
- abortions must be carried out in a hospital or a specialised 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
NHS abortions
If you want to have an abortion on the NHS, you might find it beneficial to discuss options with a health professional. You will need a referral from two doctors who have to agree that the requirements of the Abortion Act 1967 have been met.
Usually, the first doctor is your GP and the second is a doctor who works at the hospital or clinic where the abortion will take place.
If you do not want to ask your GP to refer you for an abortion, you can go to your local family planning clinic or genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic. Some doctors at these clinics can refer women for an NHS abortion, but if they cannot, they must refer you to another doctor.
The law states that a doctor can refuse to certify a woman for an abortion if they have a moral objection to abortion. If this is the case, they should recommend another doctor who is willing to help.
In some areas, women are able to refer themselves to the local Pregnancy Advisory Service, without first getting a referral from a local doctor. It does, however, help to talk to other health professionals such as your GP or contraception clinic nurse as well. You can self-refer for an NHS-funded abortion by calling the BPAS Actionline 08457 30 40 30.
Funding of NHS abortion services differs in various parts of the country. The level of NHS provision ranges from more than 90% of local demand to less than 60%.
In some areas, the NHS will pay for abortions at private clinics, but in other areas you may need to pay for an abortion in a private clinic.
Private abortions
You can contact a private abortion clinic without being referred by a doctor. However, the NHS may not pay for this, and the agreement of two doctors is still required. The clinic will make the arrangements. Costs for abortions in private clinics vary and depend on:
- which organisation or company carries out the abortion
- the stage of pregnancy (earlier abortions are usually less expensive)
- whether an overnight stay is needed
- the method of abortion used
If you are considering having an abortion, it is important to talk to somebody about it as soon as possible.
