From accessing abortion care to understanding anti-choice language, here’s what every first-year university student should know before freshers’ week.
When you move to university, it’s important to know how to access reproductive healthcare in your new area. Many students relocate from across the UK or even from abroad, so services may be different from what you’re used to.
University can also be a place where you’ll encounter different views on abortion. Unfortunately, anti-choice groups are increasingly targeting university campuses, and some universities now have so-called ‘pro-life’ (anti-abortion) societies. It is important to be able to make informed decisions about your reproductive healthcare and know how to spot misinformation.
So, what should know about abortion before you start university?
1. Know your abortion options
Most people having an abortion can choose how it will be carried out. Your choice will depend on your individual circumstances, your gestation (how many weeks pregnant you are) and how you feel about the different options.
At MSI UK, we offer the following treatments:
- Medical abortion (abortion with pills): up to 9 weeks and 6 days gestation
- Surgical abortion: available from 6 weeks gestation, up to 23 weeks and 6 days gestation
You can work out your gestation here using our abortion gestation calculator.
2. Find your nearest abortion or sexual health clinic
MSI UK has a network of over 60 clinics across England. To find out if MSI UK is the commissioned NHS abortion provider in your area, you can use our eligibility checker here.
To explore our clinics and services offered across England, use our clinic map.
To find your closest sexual health clinic, and other useful sexual health resources, you can use Brook’s service finder tool here.
3. Know how to access abortion care on the NHS
In the UK, abortion is funded by the NHS. This means that there will be no cost to you for your abortion.
This is true whether you have a medical abortion (also known as ‘abortion pills’) or a surgical abortion, and if you have one abortion or more than one
At MSI UK, 98% of the clients we see have their treatment funded by the NHS. However, if you don’t qualify for NHS funding (for example, if you travel from overseas), you can also access private abortion treatment.
To get an abortion on the NHS, you can:
- Self-refer
- Ask your GP
- Ask your sexual health clinic
Watch the video below to understand how to access abortion care in England:
4. Know your abortion rights
If you’re located in the UK, you can legally have an abortion up to 23 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy, in line with the Abortion Act 1967.
If you’re living somewhere else where abortion care may be restricted, you can legally travel to receive treatment. We provide safe abortion treatment through our clinics across England.
To find out more about abortion legal requirements, visit our page abortion and your rights.
5. Be aware of anti-choice (anti-abortion) activity at your university
It’s important to be aware of anti-choice (anti-abortion) language and tactics that you may come across at university, sometimes for the first time. Some universities may have anti-choice societies that can use harmful and misleading language to enforce stereotypes about abortion and abortion care.
Read our blog on how to spot a fake abortion clinic online to learn more about anti-choice tactics and language, and how to know you can trust the information you find, both online and offline.
6. Know your contraception options
Before heading to university, you may also find it useful to consider your contraception options. From long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) like the implant or coil, to short-acting contraception like the pill or the patch, there are lots of choices out there.
To find out more and compare your contraception options, use our handy comparison table.
It can also be useful to know how to access emergency contraception (like the morning after pill or non-hormonal coil). In England, you can now access the morning-after pill for free in pharmacies. You’ll also be able to get it from most sexual health clinics and GP surgeries.
Find your closest sexual health clinic using Brook’s service finder tool here.
7. Stay updated on reproductive rights
Whilst you’re at university, you may come across or choose to study course material that discusses abortion. You may feel passionate about reproductive rights and join a pro-choice group on campus. You may make a friend that finds out they’re pregnant and needs to know where to look for advice and support.
MSI UK is here for you. You can stay updated with our advocacy work, find out how to access our services and learn more about reproductive rights on our website and social media channels.
To access services, please get in touch here.
