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Find out moreAbortion
I’m pregnant and am not ready for a baby, what can I do?
If you are pregnant you may be feeling confused about what to do. You might be considering an abortion, or termination. This is a medical procedure where your pregnancy is ended.
How do I decide?
Finding out you are pregnant can be scary and you will probably be feeling a range of emotions. You might not feel ready to have a baby or your pregnancy may have happened by accident. On the other hand, maybe you would like to go ahead with your pregnancy but feel worried about how your family will react.
One idea is to think through the impact a baby will have on your life. Will you have to give up school or work, will your family and friends be supportive and will the baby’s father be involved? Where will you live and will you have enough money to live on?
You may find the information from Education for Choice useful.
Who can I talk to?
Having an abortion is a big decision and can be very emotional, so it is important to talk to someone. You could talk to a close friend or trusted family member. Or you could talk things through with a nurse or counsellor at a young person’s or family planning clinic. You can speak in complete confidence to one of our mentors or counsellors or talk to THT Direct.
Time
The earlier in your pregnancy you have an abortion the better. This is because it’s better for your health and you will have a wider choice of procedures. Depending on where you live in the UK and how old you are, there are legal time limits to consider too.
How can I arrange to have an abortion?
You have to be referred by a doctor, this could be your GP or a doctor at a family planning or young person’s clinic. You may wait two to four weeks for an abortion through the NHS. If you go privately, for example with Marie Stopes or the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, there will be a shorter waiting time. If you have an abortion with the NHS is it free, and privately it can cost between £450 to £1,775. You can look here to get an idea of what you might pay.
What happens?
There are several different abortion procedures depending what stage your pregnancy is at. Some involve taking medicine which will cause the abortion, these are known as medical abortions. There are also three procedures which can end your pregnancy surgically, these are known as surgical abortions. You can usually go home the same day as your abortion although you may need to stay in overnight if you have a medical abortion after the ninth week of pregnancy.
You can read about the different types of abortion here.
Afterwards
Physically, you may have pain similar to when you have your period. There is also a small possibility of infection, but most women have no problems after an abortion. You can discuss your concerns and any possible side-effects with your doctor.
You may feel emotional after your abortion so it is important to get support when you need it. This could be from the people who supported you when you were making your decision or you may choose to confide in someone else like a Talksafe Peer Mentor or Counsellor. Either way, try to take the time to look after yourself and your emotional needs.
Links
British Pregnancy Advisory Service: Young People
Marie Stopes: Young People's Services
Last review: 18/05/11 - Next review: 18/05/13
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