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What is the legal time limit for abortion?
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Abortion is legally available up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. It is safer when it is carried out in early pregnancy. Also, it can be difficult to get an abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy so it’s important to seek advice quickly even if you’re not sure you want an abortion.
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The majority of abortions (about 90%) are carried out before 13 weeks, and almost all (98%) before 20 weeks. The law says that abortion is legal after 24 weeks:
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Abortion after 24 weeks is extremely rare. Weeks of pregnancy are usually worked out from the first day of your last normal menstrual period. When the stage of pregnancy is not clear, it can be checked using an ultrasound scan.
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Is abortion painful?
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Whatever method of abortion is chosen, you will have some period-type pain or discomfort.
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You should be offered and advised about appropriate painkillers for this.
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Is abortion safe?
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For most women an abortion is safer than having a baby. Abortion is not entirely risk-free, but problems are less likely to occur when abortion is performed early in pregnancy, when local anaesthetic is used and steps are taken to reduce the risk of infection. You should be advised of any possible complications relating to the type of abortion you will have and the stage of pregnancy you have reached.
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Are there risks at the time of abortion?
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Problems at the time of the abortion are not very common but are more likely to occur the later in the pregnancy you have an abortion.
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Excessive bleeding (haemorrhage) happens in around 1 in every 1,000 abortions.
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Damage to the cervix happens in no more than 10 in every 1,000 abortions.
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Damage to the womb at the time of surgical abortion happens in up to 4 in every 1,000 abortions.
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Damage to the womb happens in fewer than 1 in every 1,000 medical abortions done between 12 and 24 weeks (a time known as mid-trimester).
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Are there risks aftert the abortion?
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Infection is the most common problem after abortion. Usually this is caused by a pre-existing infection. You are most likely to get an infection in the two weeks after the abortion. Taking antibiotics at the time of the abortion helps to reduce this risk.
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Most infections are easy to treat. If not treated, you could get a more severe infection of the reproductive organs (pelvic inflammatory disease or PID) which could lead to infertility in the future and ectopic pregnancy (a dangerous pregnancy outside the womb, usually in the fallopian tube).
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In some cases the abortion may fail to remove the pregnancy. This isn’t harmful, as long as it is recognised at the time, it just means that you will need further treatment. This is more common with medical abortion or very early surgical abortion (less than seven weeks).
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The doctor or nurse will tell you what symptoms to look out for after the abortion. You should see your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you have any of the following as they may be symptoms of an infection or suggest that the abortion has failed:
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pain in your lower abdomen
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vaginal discharge, particularly if it is abnormal or smells
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persistent bleeding
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feeling unwell
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a temperature or fever.
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How will I feel?
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Women can experience many feelings after an abortion.
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You may feel relieved, have mixed feelings or feel sad. These are natural reactions. Only a few women experience any long-term psychological problems and those women who do have often had similar problems before pregnancy. A lot depends on the circumstances, the reasons for having the abortion and how comfortable you are with your decision.
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Does abortion cause breast cancer?
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Current research shows that having an abortion does not increase your risk of developing breast cancer.
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Will abortion affect my chances of having a baby in the future?
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Having an abortion will not affect your chances of becoming pregnant in the future if there are no problems with the abortion such as injury to the womb or serious infection. These problems are not common. There is some evidence that if you have had an abortion there may be a small increased risk of miscarriage or early birth if you get pregnant again.
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How soon after the abortion should I start to use contraception?
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You can get pregnant within two weeks of having an abortion so you need to make sure you have thought about contraception. You can begin to use contraception immediately after your abortion. If you use contraception immediately you will be protected against pregnancy straight away.
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Source
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familydoctor.org
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www.fpa.org.uk
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www.familyplanning.org
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www.who.int/reproductive-health/family_planning/index.html
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www.womenshealth.gov
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