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If you have had an unexpected positive pregnancy test, you may have mixed feelings about what to do next. If your pregnancy was planned, but sadly after antenatal screening you have been told of a serious feotal anomaly, we can talk you through all the options and will be there for you during this difficult time.
One in three women in the UK will have an abortion by the time they're 45.
Some women are very clear about wanting to have one. Others will want to talk it through in detail to help them arrive at their decision.
It can help to seek advice from trusted, specialist organisations. If you don’t feel able to talk to friends or family, you can speak to one of our counsellors or to your GP. Any conversation you have with us will be confidential.
We recognise that not all of our clients will identify as a woman. We welcome and support people of all gender identities to access abortion care services when they choose.
We can arrange a face-to-face counselling appointment in one of our clinics, or a phone appointment at a time that suits you. All NHS clients are entitled to free counselling sessions before or after having an abortion.
This booklet will answer any questions you have if you decide to proceed with abortion care. It is organised into 9 sections to be your guide throughout the process.
If you are pregnant, there are three options open to you:
If you know that you would like to continue the pregnancy, make an appointment with your GP as soon as you can. Your GP can refer you to a midwife to talk through prenatal and birthing plans with you, and can provide you with the necessary health checks and scans. Your GP can also give information on the local maternity services.
Maternity care and pregnancy support and information is available through the NHS website.
If you would like to continue with the pregnancy, but don’t want to raise a child, adoption is a way of giving a child a new legal family. Your midwife will be able to guide you through continuing with the pregnancy with a view to arranging adoption afterwards.
You can get expert advice on adoption from a number of sources:
If a close relative would like to be the adoptive parent, you can arrange this yourself, but the process will be supported by Social Services.
Preparations for adoption will happen before the birth, but nothing is made definite until after the birth when the application for an Adoption Order is made to the Court. Once an Adoption Order is granted, it is legally binding and can’t be undone.
Adoption support and information is available through independent adoptions agencies such as Coram.
If you decide ending the pregnancy is the best course of action for you, there are safe and legal options available. You are not alone and will be supported by a team of specialist experts. We provide specialist abortion care at our clinics all over England.
We can arrange abortion care for you if you're aged 13 and above.
We offer two types of abortion: medical abortion and surgical abortion. The method that’s right for you will depend on your gestation (how many weeks pregnant you are), your medical examination and history, and your personal choice.
What is the difference between a medical and a surgical abortions?
We offer a range of abortion care services and support through our network of our clinics. In this short video, Dr Yvonne Neubauer, MSI Reproductive Choices UK's Associate Clinical Director, explains the difference between the two methods of abortion and the treatment involved.
You are not alone in making this decision. We are here to talk it through with you and to help you access the care and support you need. Call us on 0345 300 8090 today to talk through your options.
Learn more about Medical Abortion Learn More about Surgical abortionMost clients 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.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NICE published two decision aid leaflets that can help you decide which option is best for you.
At MSI UK we offer the following treatments:
Decision Aid: Abortion before 14 weeks Decision Aid: Abortion from 14 weeks up to 24 weeks
There are pros and cons to each option, these may include practical things, for example, if you have to travel to the clinic or might need to attend more than one face-to-face appointment.
The two decision aid leaflets (above) will walk you through pros and cons with each of the treatment options, answering questions such as:
During your consultation with us we will walk you through the options and answer your questions, so that you can make an informed choice.
It's important to know the difference betweek the two pills, and recognise when you need one or the other, and where to find them.
The ‘morning after pill’ is an emergency contraceptive: though often called the morning after pill, it can actually be taken up to 96 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex to prevent a pregnancy. It is a progesterone-only hormone pill and works by delaying the release of an egg from an ovary, therefore preventing pregnancy. There is just one pill to take. The sooner you take the morning after pill, the greater the chances of avoiding pregnancy.
Read more about emergency contraception at this link.
A medical abortion (or “abortion pill” as it sometimes called) involves taking two different types of medicine - mifepristone and misoprostol - at different times, to end an existing pregnancy. At Marie Stopes UK you can use this method of abortion up to 9 weeks + 6 days of pregnancy.
Before deciding whether to go ahead with an abortion, it can help to be as informed as possible. We’ve collated some information about abortion we hope you’ll find useful here.
In England, Scotland and Wales, you legally have the right to an abortion up to 23 weeks and 6 days. If you live in Northern Ireland, you can also travel here for an abortion.
More than 95% of our clients have their abortion funded by the NHS. You can also pay to have one privately if you prefer, or if you’re not eligible for NHS funding.
If you’re a partner, friend or family member of someone having an abortion, here’s some advice on how you can support them.
