Introduction
An abortion is the medical process of ending a pregnancy so it does not result in the birth of a baby.
It 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.
An abortion is not the same as a miscarriage, which is where the pregnancy is lost or ends naturally. The
loss starts without medical intervention, although medical or surgical treatment may be needed after a
miscarriage has started to help empty the womb.
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.
NHS abortions
If you want to have an abortion through the NHS, you'll usually need to be referred to a specialist service that
deals with abortion.
You can ask your GP to refer you or you can go to your local family planning clinic or genito-urinary medicine
(GUM) clinic. Use the post code search facility to find your nearest sexual health clinic.
The law states that any doctor with a moral objection doesn't have to certify a woman for an abortion. But they
must recommend another doctor who is willing to help.
Before an abortion can proceed, two doctors must ensure that the requirements of the Abortion Act are fulfilled,
and they must both sign the relevant certificate.
This will often – but not always – be your GP and the doctor at the clinic where the abortion will take place.
Although it's often very helpful to talk through the options with your GP or a family planning nurse before
being referred, it's possible to refer yourself for an NHS abortion in some parts of the country.
You can self-refer for an NHS-funded abortion by contacting:
the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) on 03457 30 40 30 – or email them at info@bpas.org
Marie Stopes UK on 0345 300 8090 (open 24 hours) or request a confidential call back via their online
form
the Pregnancy Advisory Service on 0845 359 6666 – alternatively, individual clinics also have their own
local numbers you can call, or you can fill in a confidential enquiry form on the PAS website.
Please note that these telephone numbers are not necessarily free to call and can be particularly expensive if
called from a mobile.
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 to
have an abortion at a private clinic.
Private abortions
You can contact a private abortion clinic without being referred by a doctor. However, the NHS will not usually
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 will depend on:
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.
Risks
No clinical procedure is entirely risk free, but abortion poses few risks to a woman's physical health,
particularly when carried out as early as possible in the pregnancy (preferably during the first 12 weeks).
Having an abortion will not usually affect your chances of becoming pregnant and having normal pregnancies
in future.
The risk of problems occurring during an abortion is low. However, there are more likely to be problems if an
abortion is carried out later in a pregnancy.
The risks associated with abortions are:
hemorrhage (excessive bleeding) – occurs in about one in every 1,000 abortions
damage to the cervix (the entrance of the womb) – occurs in no more than 10 in every 1,000 abortions
damage to the womb – occurs in up to four in every 1,000 abortions during surgical abortion, and less
than one in 1,000 medical abortions that are carried out at 12-24 weeks
After an abortion, the main risk is infection in the womb, which is usually caused by failing to completely
remove all of the foetus and associated tissue.
You can reduce the risks of infection by using sanitary pads until the bleeding stops. It is best to avoid using
tampons until your next period. You should also avoid having sex until the bleeding has stopped.
If you have an infection after an abortion, you may bleed heavily from your vagina and have some period-like
pain. Antibiotics are usually used to treat the infection.
If an infection is not treated, it could lead to a more severe infection of your reproductive organs, such as pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause infertility or ectopic pregnancy (where a fertilized egg implants
itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes). However, the risk of an infection can be
reduced by taking antibiotics at the time of the abortion.
Repeated abortions can cause damage to your cervix and increase the risk of late miscarriages.
After having an abortion, you may experience some period-type pains and some vaginal bleeding, which should
gradually improve after a few days. Most women are able to return to their usual activities within a day or so.
However, you should seek medical attention if:
you have severe pain
the bleeding becomes very heavy
the bleeding has not stopped after 14 days
You will usually be advised not to have sex for up to two weeks, or until the bleeding has stopped. Seek advice
from your GP, a family planning clinic or a pregnancy advisory service if you experience physical or emotional
problems after having an abortion.
Post-abortion counselling
Women vary greatly in their emotional response to having an abortion. You may experience a number of
different feelings and emotions.
However, research suggests that having an abortion does not lead to long-term emotional or psychological
problems.
If you need to discuss how you are feeling after having an abortion, you can contact a post-abortion counselling
service.
It is recommended you seek advice and counselling from a recognized counselling provider, such as the British
Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas).
Marie Stopes UK also offer pre- or post-abortion counselling as well as grief, pregnancy, self-esteem and
relationship counselling.
Find NHS counselling services near you.
When you go for your first appointment, you should be given the opportunity to talk about your situation. You'll
be informed about the different methods of abortion, and which method is suitable for your stage of pregnancy.
You will also be advised about any related risks and complications.
The doctor or nurse will take your medical history to make sure the type of abortion you are offered is suitable
for you.
You'll have a blood test to find out your blood group to see if you're anemic.
You should also be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and may be given antibiotics to stop an
infection developing after the abortion.
Before having an abortion, you may also need to have:
an ultrasound scan (if there is any doubt about how many weeks pregnant you are)
a vaginal (internal) examination
a cervical screening test for infections (if appropriate)
If you have never had a vaginal examination before, the healthcare professional examining you will be aware
you are anxious and will be as careful as possible. You should let them know if you are anxious and have not
been examined internally before.
You may also be given information and advice about which method of contraception to use after the abortion.
Finally, before having the abortion, you will be given a consent form to sign.
Methods of abortion
There are a number of different methods of abortion. The method recommended for you will depend on how
many weeks pregnant you are. This is usually calculated by counting the number of weeks from the first day of
your last period.
Broadly speaking there are two types of abortion – medical and surgical. A medical abortion is carried out using
medication while a surgical abortion involves a minor operation.
The methods of abortion are described below.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Abortion/Pages/Introduction.aspx
[1] In 2005, there were some 400,000 to 500,000 abortions in the Philippines. The World Health
Organization estimate puts the figure at nearly 800,000, one of the highest rates of unsafe abortions in Asia.
[2] Seventy percent of unwanted pregnancies in the Philippines end in abortion, according to the WHO.
Pro-Life Philippines, an anti-abortion group, says that one of four pregnancies in the Philippines end in
abortion.
[3] According to the Department of Health, nearly 100,000 women who have unsafe abortions every year end
up in the hospital.
[4] As many as 17 percent of all unsafe abortions are done on teenage or young mothers, according to the
DOH.
[5] The national abortion ratio in 2000 was 18, meaning that 18 of every 100 pregnancies (live births and
abortions) ended in abortion; the low estimate is 16 and the high estimate is 21.
[6] Manila has the highest proportion of pregnancies ending in abortion (one in three), compared with
about one in five in the rest of Luzon and about one in eight in Visayas and Mindanao.
[7] 36 percent of Filipino women become pregnant before marriageand 45 percent of all pregnancies are
either unwanted or ill-timed, according to the World Health Organization.
[8] About 4 in 5 abortions in the Philippines are for economic reasons, according to a survey by the
University of the Philippines. In many cases, said Jocelyn Pacete, a spokeswoman for Likhaan, a women's
health group based in Manila, "the mother can't afford another child, so ends up choosing her five living
children over the fetus in her womb."
[9] Doctors who perform abortions clandestinely in clinics typically charge 2,000 to 5,000 pesos, or $37 to
$93, according to one report.Many Filipinos cannot afford such fees, so they turn to Quiapo Church or to one
of several other churches around the country near which abortifacients are sold.
[10] In Quiapo, the best-selling abortifacient is Cytotec, a drug for ulcers. Before it was banned largely through
the lobbying efforts of Pro-Life Philippines, Cytotec could be bought over the counter for 20 pesos. Today, it
sells on the black market for 50 to 120 pesos per tablet. Most of the Cytotec now circulating is smuggled in
from South Korea and Bangkok
These facts and statistics are from Philippines abortion crisis; Religious women turn to illegal procedures, by
Carlos H. Conde, International Herald Tribune, Asia-Pacific, May 16, 2005, and from The Incidence of Induced
Abortion in the Philippines: Current Level and Recent Trends, by Fatima Juarez, Josefina Cabigon, Susheela
Singh and Rubina Hussain; International Family Planning Perspectives, Volume 31, Number 3, September
2005.
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, specifically, Sec. 12, Art. II, pronounces that “the State shall
equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.”
Decades before the 1987 Constitution, the New Civil Code of the Philippines contained provisions protecting
the unborn. These provisions are:
Art. 40. Birth determines personality; but the conceived child shall be considered born for all purposes that are
favorable to it, provided it be born later with the conditions specified in the following article.
Art. 41. For civil purposes, the fetus is considered born if it is alive at the time it is completely delivered from
the mother’s womb. However, if the fetus had an intra-uterine life of less than seven months, it is not deemed
born if it dies within twenty four hours after its complete delivery from the maternal womb.
The Revised Penal Code has several provisions penalizing abortion. These are:
Subsequently, Hippocrates wrote what was to become part of the healer’s oath: 'I will follow that method of
treatment which according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain
from whatever is deleterious and mischievous…… While I continue to keep this oath unviolated may it be
granted me to enjoy life and practice the art, respected by all men at all times but should I trespass and violate
this oath, may the reverse be my lot.' At present, the primary objective of the medical profession is the
preservation of life and maintenance of the health of the people.”
Inter-generational responsibility; implications on the sanctity of life
In the landmark case of Oposan vs. Factoran, the Supreme Court recognized the concept of inter-
generational responsibility.Essentially, the principle means that the present generation holds the natural
resource treasures of the earth in trust for the benefit, enjoyment and use of the generations of
humankind yet to come. It is therefore a trust endowed upon the present generation as trustee and depository
to use and enjoy. While the present generation has the right to use the earth’s resources, as a trustee and
depository, it is also duty bound not to misuse or exhaust it, so that those of our species to come in much later
years will still have something to use.
In this case, the petitioners, all minors, sought the help of the Supreme Court to order respondent factoran, then
Secretary of DENR, to cancel all existing Timber License Agreement (TLA) in the country and to cease and
desist from receiving, accepting, processing, renewing or approving new TLAs. They alleged that the massive
commercial logging in the country was causing vast abuses on rainforest. They furthered the rights of their
generation and the rights of the generations yet unborn to a balanced and healthful ecology.
Among other things, the Supreme Court justices said that they found no difficulty in ruling that the
minors can, for themselves, for others of their generation and for the succeeding generations, file a class
suit. Their personality to sue in behalf of the succeeding generations can only be based on the concept of
inter-generational responsibility insofar as the right to a balanced and healthful ecology is concerned.
While the case revolved the issue of massive deforestation brought about by logging, ecology and the
preservation of natural resources, the Court (to my mind)was in effect ruling on the sanctity of life. It
would be absurd for our judicial system to uphold the right the people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature without recognizing the sanctity of life,
especially of the unborn.
House Bill 3227 or "The Safe Haven Act or The Moses Law" (authored by Rep. Eduardo Zialcita) permits
parents to entrust the custody of their babies, who are up to two months old, to any hospital, medical emergency
facility, police or fire station and other government agencies.
The "unwanted" babies will then be taken into the custody the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD). The parents will not be required to give their names to the recipient of the child, and will be protected
from arrest. Rep. Zialcita said he filed the bill "to address the moral degeneration of society as a result of the
tragedies caused by abortion, child abuse, neglect and other forms of anti-life and anti-child acts."
Psalm 139 is perhaps the Bible’s most eloquent statement against abortion. The psalm goes like this:
http://famli.blogspot.com/2008/04/laws-facts-and-statistics-on-abortions.html
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill
Abortion Worldwide
Annually, 46 million babies die from abortion worldwide. That’s approximately one baby being aborted every
two seconds.
Abortion in the United States
An estimated 48 million babies have been aborted since 1973. Approximately 24% of all U.S. pregnancies end
in abortion.
Characteristics of Women Having Abortions
Over half (56%) of all women having abortions between 15-44 are in their 20’s.
Nearly eight in 10 U.S. women obtaining an abortion report a religious affiliation.
43% are Protestant
27% are Catholic
8% are other religions
41% of women having abortions are white, 32% are black, and 20% are hispanic.
Black and Hispanic women have higher abortion rates than non-Hispanic white women. Black women’s
abortion rates are 49 per 1,000, Hispanic women’s are 33 per 1,000 and non-Hispanic white women’s
are 13 per 1,000.
According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, the most recurrent characteristics of women having
abortions over time are nonwhite, poor and unmarried.
http://voiceofrevolution.askdrbrown.org/2009/01/18/abortion-statistics/