If you’re pregnant and thinking about having an abortion, you’re not alone. 1 in 3 women in the UK will have an abortion by the time they are 45 years old.  
You can have an abortion free of charge on the NHS. It can be a confusing and emotional choice, but it’s one you should try to make as soon as possible.

The earlier in a pregnancy an abortion happens, the safer it is. Getting advice early on can also give you more time and space to think.

You may want to speak to your partner, friends or family, but you do not have to. If you decide to go ahead with an abortion and do not tell others, your details will be kept confidential.

An abortion is the medical process of ending a pregnancy. It’s sometimes called a termination. 

The pregnancy is ended by taking medication or having a surgical procedure. Often, you can choose which method is used. However, your doctor may recommend one method over another based on how many weeks pregnant you are or your medical history. 

The legal limit for abortion is 24 weeks. An abortion can only very rarely be carried out after 24 weeks. This might be because your life is at risk or your child would be born with a severe disability.

If you are thinking about having an abortion, you have several options:

  1. Self-Refer to an Abortion Service:
  2. GP or Specialist Referral:
    • Request a referral from your GP, community midwife, or the Gynaecology Assessment Unit at Royal Derby Hospital.
    • We can also refer you from one of our sexual health clinics.
  3. Private Clinics:
    • You can opt for a private clinic if you prefer. Costs will vary depending on how far along the pregnancy is and the method used by the clinic.

Before your abortion, you will have an appointment to talk about your decision and what happens next. You will be offered support from a trained counsellor. 

After your appointment, you'll be asked to sign a consent form and the clinic or hospital will arrange a date for the abortion.

You can change your mind at any point up to the start of the abortion.

You should be given a choice of how you would like the abortion to be carried out:

  • Medical abortion (abortion pill) – you take 2 medicines, usually 24 to 48 hours apart, to end the pregnancy. If you are less than 10 weeks pregnant, you may be allowed to take the second dose at home. 
  • Surgical abortion – before 14 weeks, you can have a vacuum aspiration where suction is used to remove the pregnancy. After 14 weeks, you would need a procedure called dilation and evacuation (D&E). Both procedures are carried out under local anaesthetic, sedation or a general anaesthetic.

After an abortion you will need to take things easy for a few days. You may get stomach cramps and vaginal bleeding for about 2 weeks. Painkillers can help.

Abortions are very safe and most women will not have any problems. There is a small risk of complications, such as:

  • infection of the womb (uterus)
  • some of the pregnancy remaining in the womb
  • vaginal bleeding that does not get better
  • damage to the womb or to the entrance of the womb (cervix)

If complications do happen, you may need further treatment, such as surgery.

Having an abortion will not affect your chances of becoming pregnant again and having normal pregnancies in the future.

You may be able to get pregnant straight after an abortion. You should use contraception if you do not want to get pregnant.

The choice to have an abortion is one that only you can make. It is normal to feel a range of emotions.  If you need to talk to someone, your abortion service or a GP will be able to help you.