ISSUES
: Abortion
Chapter 1: Abortion facts
5
How long will I have to wait?
Waiting times vary around the
country, but, as a rule, you should
not have to wait for more than two
weeks from your initial appointment
to having an abortion.
Can I be refused an
abortion?
It’s rare for anyone to be refused an
abortion. A doctor may have moral
objections to abortion, but if that’s
the case they should refer you to
another doctor or nurse who can
help. It can be difficult to get later
abortions, so the earlier you seek
help the better.
By law, two doctors have to agree
that you can have an abortion.
Usually this is the first doctor you
see and a second doctor who will
perform the abortion, or one who
works at the contraceptive clinic or
hospital.
Will it be confidential?
Yes, all information is kept
confidential and nobody else
will know about it, not even your
partner or parents. You can also
ask the hospital or clinic not to
inform your GP.
If you are under 16, your doctor
does not have to mention it to your
parents. He or she will encourage
you to involve your parents or
another supportive adult, but you
don’t have to so long as the doctor
believes that you’re competent and
can make the decision yourself.
Can I choose where to have
an abortion?
Yes. You can ask to have the
abortion somewhere other than
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Percentage of women who had one, two and three or more previous abortions, by ethnic group, England and Wales, 2015
Percentage
Ethnic group
White
Mixed
Asian or
Asian British
Black or
Black British
Chinese
Any other
ethnic group
Not known/
not stated
All women
Source: Department of Health,
Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2015
27%
7%
3%
3%
11%
30%
25%
7%
2%
31%
11%
5%
24%
24%
23%
27%
8%
3%
2%
2%
2%
6%
7%
6%
One abortion
Two abortions
Three abortions
your local clinic or hospital if you
wish.
Can I get any counselling
before or afterwards?
Most abortion services offer
counselling if you feel you need help
with any worries or feelings you’re
having. It’s normal to experience a
range of emotions after an abortion,
such as relief, sadness, happiness
or feelings of loss.
Each woman’s response is unique.
To find out what support is available
in your area, ask your GP or a doctor
or nurse at your contraception
clinic.
Will having an abortion
affect my chances of having
a baby in the future?
If there were no problems with the
abortion, such as infection, then
it will not affect your changes of
becoming pregnant in the future,
although you may have a slightly
higher risk of premature birth.
5 November 2014
Ö
The above information is
reprinted with kind permission
from NHS Choices. Please
visit
for further
information.
© NHS Choices 2016
