Abortion services

An abortion, or termination of pregnancy, is a procedure to end a pregnancy. It is ended either by taking medicines or having a surgical procedure. Abortions are safer the earlier they are carried out. Getting advice early gives you more time to make a decision if you’re unsure.

Abortion services in Northern Ireland

The type of abortion service available will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are.

Early abortion services for pregnancies less than 12 weeks are available.

Medical abortion is available for pregnancies up to 24 weeks (and over 24 weeks in limited circumstances).

Surgical abortion is available for up to 20 weeks. Work is ongoing to set up a service for pregnancies up to 24 weeks.

For abortion services that are not yet available in Northern Ireland, you can access free abortion care in Great Britain.

Deciding to have an abortion

The decision to have an abortion is yours alone.

Some women may be certain they want to have an abortion, while others may find it harder to make a decision.

You may want to speak to your partner, friends or family, but you do not have to. The decision is yours.

If you need support to help you understand your options, counselling is available at:

Pregnancy choices counselling
phone: 028 9031 6100

If you're under 16 years old, the doctor or nurse may encourage you to tell a parent, carer or other adult you trust, but they will not make you.

If staff think you are at risk of harm, they will talk to you about how best to address this.

How to get an abortion

Abortion care in Northern Ireland

Abortion services are available from the five Health and Social Care Trusts.

To get abortion care, you must contact the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) which offers advice, counselling and access to abortion services in Northern Ireland.

Request a consultation online
phone: 0345 730 4030

No independent clinics in Northern Ireland offer abortion.

Abortion services are not offered by GPs.

Abortion services in Great Britain

Where abortion services are not yet available in Northern Ireland, you can access free abortion care in Great Britain.

You will not have to pay for travel and accommodation.

To access these services in Great Britain, contact the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS):

Request a consultation online
phone: 0345 730 4030

Having an abortion

Before having an abortion, you'll have the chance to talk about your decision and what happens next.

You may be asked to get an ultrasound scan to work out how many weeks pregnant you are.

The length of pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period.

Whenever possible, you will be given a choice of how you would like the abortion to be carried out.

Abortion can either be medical or surgical.

Medical abortion

Medical abortion involves taking tablets, usually 24 to 48 hours apart, to end the pregnancy.

Medical abortion is available up to 24 weeks pregnancy.

Medical abortion over 24 weeks pregnancy is only available in limited circumstances, for example:

if your life is at risk
in cases of severe fetal impairment
in cases of fatal fetal abnormality

Surgical abortion

Surgical abortion involves a minor operation to end the pregnancy. The pregnancy is removed through your vagina, either by using gentle suction (vacuum aspiration) or specialised instruments (dilation and evacuation).

A surgical abortion does not involve any skin incisions or cuts.

The type of procedure depends on the stage of the pregnancy.

A regional surgical abortion service is available for pregnancy up to 20 weeks.

After an abortion

After an abortion, you should take things easy for a few days. It's likely you'll have some discomfort and vaginal bleeding for up to two weeks.

Risks of an abortion

Abortion is a safe procedure.

Abortions are safest and happen with less pain and bleeding, when carried out as early as possible in pregnancy.

Most women will not experience any problems, but there is a small risk of complications, such as:

infection of the womb (uterus)
some of the pregnancy remaining in the womb
excessive bleeding
damage to the womb or entrance of the womb (cervix)

If there are complications, you may need further treatment, including surgery.

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

You may get pregnant immediately after an abortion.

You should use contraception if you do not want to get pregnant.

Post abortion counselling

A pregnancy loss, or the circumstances that led to the decision to end a pregnancy, can have an impact on you or your family.

If you need support following an abortion, post pregnancy counselling is available at:

Pregnancy choices counselling
phone: 028 9031 6100

Contraception and advice

There are many different forms of contraception and different methods will suit different people.

Sexual and Reproductive Health clinics offer a full range of contraception. These include Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), such as coils and implants, which are the most effective types of contraception.

To find out what is available in your local HSC Trust area, visit the links below:

SH:24 offer online access to the combined contraceptive pill (‘the pill’) and the progesterone-only pill (‘mini pill’).

Common Youth offer advice and contraception to young people aged under 25.

GP practices can prescribe contraception, with some practices providing a full range of contraceptive services.

Emergency contraception (‘the morning after pill’) can also be accessed free through community pharmacies in Northern Ireland.

Community pharmacies can offer advice, support and, if clinically appropriate, emergency hormonal contraception to women who request emergency contraception under Pharmacy First.

To see a map of participating pharmacies, visit:

Pharmacy First EHC service providers

Progesterone only pills (Hana and Lovima) are available to buy in pharmacies and online without prescription.

Safe access zones

Safe access zones are in place at health care premises providing lawful abortion services.

It is illegal for women accessing these services and staff working at the premises to be impeded, recorded, influenced or to be caused harassment, alarm or distress within the safe access zone areas.

There are eight safe access zones in Northern Ireland.

The zones are:

Southern Trust - Craigavon Area Hospital - 100 m
Southern Trust - Daisy Hill Hospital - 130 m
Belfast Trust - College Street - 130 m
Belfast Trust - Bradbury Wellbeing and Treatment Centre - 150 m
Northern Trust - Causeway Hospital - 100 m
Western Trust - Altnagelvin Hospital - 100 m
South Eastern Trust - Lagan Valley Hospital - 100 m
South Eastern Trust - Ulster Hospital - 100 m

Further information is displayed at the protected premises and on the Department of Health and HSC Trust websites.

Safe access zones

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