Abortion
© Love Matters | Rita Lino

What is Abortion?

If you’re pregnant and you don’t want to stay pregnant, you can consider having an abortion.

The law in a nutshell

Before deciding to have an abortion, it’s important to be aware of what’s legal and what’s not – when it comes to abortion, there are huge legal variations from country to country.

When abortion is legal, that doesn’t mean you can decide to have one at a late stage of the pregnancy. The limit varies, so in some countries you can have an abortion until you’re 28 weeks pregnant. In others the limit can be as low as 12 weeks.

In some countries the law only lets you have an abortion in certain circumstances, for example if you have physical or mental health problems, you’ve been raped, you can’t afford to look after the baby properly, or there’s something wrong with the foetus.

India is one of the earlier countries to have a law on abortion, as early as 1971. The law upholds the right of every woman to access safe and affordable abortion services in any government hospital, clinic or approved facility. While the law does not permit an abortion simply because the woman doesn’t want to have the baby, but abortion is legal if:

  • It will help the woman’s physical or mental health
  • For economic or social reasons
  • If the pregnancy is a cause of contraception failure
  • To save the woman’s life
  • If there’s a problem with the foetus
  • In cases of rape, incest.

In any case, it must be done during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, and after the 12th week you need the opinion of a second doctor except in an emergency.

The abortion must be performed by a registered doctor in a government hospital or other approved facility. The pregnant woman must give permission for an abortion, and also requires the consent of her parents if she’s still a minor.

You can check where the law stands on abortion where you live here.

If you're in India (where abortion is legal), you can contact Love Matters' partner FPA India for advice, information and safe abortion.

You can also visit Women Help Women's website to access resources and information on safe abortion.

What happens when you have an abortion?

There are two ways to have an abortion. On is called a ‘medical abortion’, the other is a ‘surgical abortion’. With a medical abortion you take drugs, with a surgical abortion you have an operation.

It depends on where you live which method is most commonly used. It’s also important how long you’ve been pregnant. You can only have a medical abortion in the first eight weeks of pregnancy.

Between 2 and 6 million women have illegal abortions in India every year. In many cases they would be entitled to a legal abortion, so why not go to a registered doctor? Some don’t realise that abortion is legal, and don’t know what the options are. Other women just don’t have access to health care, particularly in rural areas. Or they may want to keep it secret, and worry about the lack of anonymity at public health centres.

But if you choose to have an illegal abortion, you’re taking a serious risk: unsafe abortions account for around 20% of maternal deaths in India.

It’s important to have a safe and legal abortion. There are two types of safe abortion, medical and surgical abortions. The most suitable one for you depends on how many weeks pregnant you are (calculated from the first day of your last period).

How do you feel emotionally after an abortion?

How you feel after an abortion depends on why you chose to do it. Most women don’t need psychological help after an abortion, and they often feel relieved. There is absolutely no shame in feeling relief. You made the best decision under the circumstances. And you’re not alone - millions of women have abortions every year.

Of course, nobody can dictate how you feel. Feelings of guilt, sadness or grief are also common, but they are emotions that don’t last forever. In countries like India, where abortion is taboo, it might be harder to overcome these emotions.

It’s always best to talk your decision through with someone you trust. The surer you are of your decision, the better you will feel afterwards. Make sure you are the one who makes the decision to have an abortion, or not to have it. Don’t let anyone pressure you into a decision you don’t feel comfortable with.

After an abortion your hormones are returning to the way they were before your pregnancy, which may also leave you feeling emotional. If any of this is the case, talk to a close friend or family member who can comfort and support you.

And don’t worry: if you had a safe abortion there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get pregnant again.

In very rare cases, women become very depressed after an abortion. Depression is serious, and if you think you are depressed, you might consider talking to a professional about it.

Did you find this useful?

Comments
Plzz help 2 minut ke liye bina protection ke kiye the but uske bad protection lga liye kya pregnant hone ke chance h kyuki last ka pani protection pe gya plzz help 1 din period late hai
Yaad rakhiye chahe ling ka Sirf thode se samay ke liye yoni mein pravesh hua hao, bina condom ke wo unsafe hai kyunki pregnant hone ke liye ek shuranu bhi kaafi hota hai. Ab jaldi se ek home pregnancy test lo ya Phoren kisi vishagya ya achche panjikrit doctor se milo, aur dekho kya ho sakta hai. Madad ke liye Yeh bhi padho: https://lovematters.in/hi/resource/unplanned-pregnancy Yadi aap is mudde par humse aur gehri charcha mein judna chahte hain toh hamare discussion board “Just Poocho” mein zaroor shamil hon! https://lovematters.in/en/forum
April se mere ko period nhi hui phire June ke last week me hui hmne protection use kiya tha phire aisa q hua lkn ab mere ko kmr me bht drd or weekness lg rha h kya me pregnant hu
Anya bête, ek baar aap pregnancy test lijiye or is kamar dard ke liye aap ek pnjikrit doctor se salaah le . Yadi aap is mudde par humse aur gehri charcha mein judna chahte hain toh hamare discussion board “Just Poocho” mein zaroor shamil ho! https://lovematters.in/en/forum
Mene surgical abortion kraya tha may 5 ko usk bad mere period hue fir bnd hue brown discharge bhi aya bahut bt ab 1 months se jyda ho rha h lekin period ni aya hmne unprotect sex kiya or chek krne pr bhi negetive result h kya kru??pls help
Ab kya sthiti hai bete? Agar period nahi aaya ho aur pregnancy test se bhee pata na chal pa raha ho toh kisi vishagya ya achche panjikrit doctor se mill lijiye. Madad ke liye Yeh bhi padh lijiye: https://lovematters.in/hi/resource/unplanned-pregnancy https://lovematters.in/hi/pregnancy/unsure-about-being-pregnant/unsafe-sex-missed-period-am-i-pregnant https://lovematters.in/en/pregnancy/being-pregnant/if-you-have-a-miscarriage Yadi aap is mudde par humse aur gehri charcha mein judna chahte hain to hamare disccsion board “Just Poocho” mein zaroor shamil ho! https://lovematters.in/en/forum
plz help main mera 2 baby tha main girwa di dawa khaa k doc se lekin dusra baby jo giraye wo sahi se gira nhi thora sa reh gaya or hmko 4 month tak blooding huwa phir achi doc ko dikhaye to wo tk ki phir 5 month tak jaise period ata h waisa hi aya phir 2 mahina period nhi huwa abhi doc dikhayi to wo dawa fi phir period huwa to kya maim me phir se pregnent ho sakungi ya nhi maim plz help
Shabana beta pehle toh doctor se milkar yeh Nishchint kar lijiye ki yaadi sab theek hai toh aap try kar sakti hain,Lekin Jab aap tayyar feel karein, ready hon, koi dard ya takleegf mein naa hon. Aur jaldi pregnancy ke tips yaha pdhiye: https://lovematters.in/hi/resource/tips https://lovematters.in/en/pregnancy/being-pregnant/if-you-have-a-miscarriage Yadi aap is mudde par humse aur gehri charcha mein judna chahte hain to hamare disccsion board “Just Poocho” mein zaroor shamil ho! https://lovematters.in/en/forum
Beta pehle toh doctor se milkar yeh Nishchint kar lijiye ki yaadi sab theek hai toh kuch sawadhaniyo ka istemal kartey huay aap try kar sakti hain,Lekin Jab aap tayyar feel karein, ready hon, koi dard ya takleegf mein naa hon. https://lovematters.in/hi/news/sex-after-pregnancy-how-can-i-tell-him-im-not-ready Yadi aap is mudde par humse aur gehri charcha mein judna chahte hain to hamare disccsion board “Just Poocho” mein zaroor shamil ho! https://lovematters.in/en/forum
Monu bete is tarah bina check kiye ya bina doctor ke salah ke kisi bhee dawa ka istemaal karna swasth nahi hota hai aur emergency pills mahila ke maasik dharm par asar kar sakti hai. Aap kuchh din dekh lijiye aur agar period nahi aaya toh ek Home pregnancy test lijiye aur sthiti ko nischit kijiye. PLEASE in goliyon ko laparvahi se istemaal mat keejiye. Safe sex ke liye condom ka istemal kiya jaata hai naa ki emergency pills ka bete, yaha padhiye zara: https://lovematters.in/hi/resource/safe-sex https://lovematters.in/hi/birth-control/top-10-facts-about-emergency-contraceptive-pills Yadi aap is mudde par humse aur gehri charcha mein judna chahte hain to hamare disccsion board “Just Poocho” mein zaroor shamil ho! https://lovematters.in/en/forum
Hlo mam, actually mujhe MC 31 st jan ko hua tha. Hmne 5 th feb ko unprotected relation banaya. Aur 6 th ko me unwanted 72 Medicine ke liya. Aur fir se mujhe 14 th feb ko periods aa gya. To kya me pregnant ho skti hun?? Avi 12 th march ho Gye h.periods v nhi aya. Mujhe thoda dar lag rha h. Mene test v nhi kiya.
Rani bete is goli ko lene ke baad pregnancy ke chances bahut kam ya na ke barabar rah jate hai. Unwanted ek emergency goli hai jo ki unsafe sex ke 72 ghanton ke andar hee lee jaati hai, lekin yeh mahila ke masik dharm par asar kar saktee hai jo ho bhi raha hai. Aap kuhh din aur dekh lijiye fir kisi panjikrit doctor se mill lijiye. PLEASE in goliyon ko laparvahi se istemaal mat keejiye. Safe sex ke liye condom ka istemal kiya jaata hai naa ki emergency pills ka bete, yaha padhiye zara: https://lovematters.in/hi/resource/safe-sex https://lovematters.in/hi/birth-control/top-10-facts-about-emergency-contraceptive-pills Yadi aap is mudde par humse aur gehri charcha mein judna chahte hain to hamare disccsion board “Just Poocho” mein zaroor shamil ho! https://lovematters.in/en/forum
Amrita bete agar aapne yeh dawai khud lee hai, bina ek panjikrit doctor ki salah ke toh please phoran kisi ek achche panjikrit doctor se miliye, unki is bare mein salah lijiye. In goliyoun ko na hee is sthithi ko laparwaahi se handle mat kijiye bete, yeh aapke swaasth ki baat hai. Kuch kehna chahte hain toh DB par likhiye. https://lovematters.in/hi/resource/safe-sex https://lovematters.in/hi/birth-control/top-10-facts-about-emergency-contraceptive-pills Yadi aap is mudde par humse aur gehri charcha mein judna chahte hain to hamare disccsion board “Just Poocho” mein zaroor shamil ho! https://lovematters.in/en/forum
maine aaj sex kiya with condom but at the end the condom was stuck in her vagina with sperms in it later i pulled it out is there any chances of pregnancy ???
It was unsafe sex, so the chances of pregnancy may be there. Take a home pregnancy test at the earliest. Then consult a registered doctor and see what can be done. Also, you can contact FPAI clinic information about which you can get at their website. https://lovematters.in/en/resource/unplanned-pregnancy https://www.fpaindia.org/ If you would like to join in on a further discussion on this topic, join our discussion board, "Just Ask” https://lovematters.in/en/forum
A. Kumari
Sun, 02/23/2020 - 11:19
Mai 3.5 month ki pregnant hu. Aisa report aaya hai Altrasound me mujhe ye baby nahi chahiye Mai kiya karu. Bahut dar lag raha hai mujhe kiya Mai akele ja sakti hu abortion ke liye haha rukna to nahi hoga
Listen Please quickly meet an expert or a doctor who can be a registered and see what can happen. There is not much time, you can ask for MTP, get the opinion of a trustworthy doctor in any clinic and don't come to the words of a quack or chemist at all- DOCTOR ONLY https://lovematters.in/hi/resource/unplanned-pregnancy You can also contact fpai clinic, which you will find on its website. https://www.ippf.org/about-us/member-associations/india If you would like to join in on a further discussion on this topic, join our discussion board, "Just Ask” https://lovematters.in/en/forum
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