Abortion services

An abortion (also known as a termination) is a procedure to end a pregnancy. Abortions can only be carried out in Northern Ireland under the care of one of the five Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts and are free if you live in Northern Ireland.

How to get abortion care in Northern Ireland

The only way to get abortion services in Northern Ireland is by contacting British Pregnancy Advisory Services (BPAS):

Request a consultation online
phone: 0345 730 4030

They offer free advice and counselling.

If you decide to have an abortion, they will refer you to one of the five Health Trusts.

You do not need to contact your GP.

GP practices do not offer abortion services, but can offer additional support or information.

There are no regulated private or independent clinics in Northern Ireland that offer abortion services.

Unregulated private clinics

Private clinics, also known as pregnancy crisis or pregnancy choice clinics, are unregulated.

While these clinics can offer some services, such as a scan, they cannot refer you to abortion services.

Abortion services offered in Northern Ireland

Abortion services are provided by HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland.

BPAS will refer you to your local Trust for a consultation to discuss your options.

The pregnancy is ended either by:

taking medicines
having a surgical procedure

This will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and where possible, which you would prefer.

Abortions are safer, the earlier they are carried out.

Getting advice early gives you more time to decide, if you're unsure.

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 21 weeks and six days.

If you are between 22 and 24 weeks pregnant and you need a surgical abortion, you can get one free in England.

You will not have to pay for travel and accommodation.

This will be arranged through a HSC Trust and will be discussed at your consultation.

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 decide.

You can talk to your partner, friends or family, but you do not have to. The decision is yours.

If you need help to 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 this.

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 want to have the abortion.

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 21 weeks and six days.

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 reasons why you ended a pregnancy, can impact you or your family.

If you need support after an abortion, you can get counselling at:

Pregnancy choices counselling
phone: 028 9031 6100

Safe access zones

There are safe access zones at health care premises providing lawful abortion services.

Within a safe access zone, it’s illegal to try to influence, record, harass, or prevent anyone from accessing or providing abortion services.

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

Contraception and advice

There are many different types 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’)
the progesterone-only contraceptive 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.

You can also get advice, support and emergency hormonal contraception (‘the morning after pill’) free at community pharmacies, under Pharmacy First.

To see a map of participating pharmacies, visit:

Pharmacy First for emergency hormonal contraception

Progesterone only contraceptive pills (Hana and Lovima) are available:

to buy in pharmacies
online without prescription

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