To get an abortion in England, you need to access care through a licensed abortion provider like MSI Reproductive Choices UK. If you have had a positive pregnancy test and no longer want to continue with the pregnancy, you can access abortion care. In England, abortion is funded by the NHS, but most services are delivered by independent providers rather than directly by the NHS. This means you can access free abortion care through providers like MSI Reproductive Choices.
In this blog you will find information about:
- How to get an abortion
- Abortion booking
- Things to know when accessing abortion care
- Where you can’t get an abortion
How to get an abortion
If you decide that abortion is the right option for you, you can access NHS abortion care from a provider in three ways:
- Self-referral: You can self-refer by contacting us directly on 0345 300 8090 or booking online.
- Ask your GP: You can speak to your GP and ask for a referral to MSI Reproductive Choices UK.
- Ask your sexual health clinic: You can contact a sexual health clinic and ask for a referral to MSI Reproductive Choices UK.
Please note: You do not need a GP or sexual health clinic referral to access abortion care, but GPs and sexual health clinics will be able to signpost you to a provider if you prefer to speak to them before reaching out to a provider directly.
Abortion booking
Contacting your abortion provider
There are often a number of ways you can get in touch with your provider to discuss your options and book an appointment.
At MSI Reproductive Choices UK, you can call us on 0345 300 8090 or book online. Once in touch with your provider, your next appointment will be booked – it might take place over the phone, or in one of our clinics. We will talk you through your abortion care options, book your treatment and let you know what to expect.
Find out more about the key steps involved in your abortion treatment process here.
Get in touch
You can access abortion care by contacting us directly on 0345 300 8090 or booking online.
Things to know when accessing abortion care
Your treatment options
There are two abortion treatment options available:
- Medical abortion (or abortion with pills) available up to 9 weeks and 6 days gestation.
- Surgical abortion, available from 6 weeks up to 23 weeks and 6 days gestation.
Most people having an abortion can choose how it will be carried out. Your choice will depend on your individual circumstances and how you feel about the different options. You can use our tool to compare medical and surgical abortion treatments here.
Your gestation
When accessing abortion care your gestation (how many weeks pregnant you are) will be calculated, as this influences the treatment options available to you. You can use our gestation calculator to estimate how many weeks pregnant you are, and see what your treatment options might be.
Your medical history
We will ask about your medical history to make sure that your chosen treatment is the best option for you. It is important that you tell us about any health problems you may have, as well as any drugs or medication you are taking.
Where you can’t get an abortion
The Abortion Act states that any abortion treatment needs to be authorised by two doctors, and it needs to be delivered by an official and approved abortion provider (like MSI Reproductive Choices UK, another independent provider or an NHS hospital).
Abortion pills cannot be bought from pharmacies, online or over the counter in England.
Fake abortion clinics
When looking for abortion services you may come across ‘crisis pregnancy centres’ that present themselves as offering impartial advice and support for anyone considering an abortion. But they will never provide or signpost to abortion services. Instead, they give out misleading, often medically inaccurate information and use fear, shame, and other emotions to discourage people from having an abortion.
A ‘crisis pregnancy centre’ is established by an anti-choice organisation with the aim of dissuading people from accessing abortion care.
When searching for abortion services online it’s important to check that an abortion clinic is legitimate. Read our blog for ways to check an abortion clinic is legitimate.
Get in touch
At MSI Reproductive Choices, we are here for you and there are a number of ways you can contact us.
You can always get in touch should you have any questions about our services, would like to book an appointment or you have had treatment with us and want aftercare support.
