An abortion is the medical process of ending a pregnancy so it does not result in the birth of a baby.
It is also sometimes known as a ‘termination’ or a ‘termination of pregnancy’. Depending on how many weeks you have been pregnant, the pregnancy is ended either by taking medication or by having a surgical procedure.
Read more about how an abortion is performed.
An abortion is not the same as a miscarriage, where the pregnancy ends without medical intervention (although medical treatment may be needed after a miscarriage).
You can self-refer for a NHS-funded Termination of Pregnancy by contacting the central booking number 0845 365 0207 or contact the below organisations directly:
- the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) on 08457 30 40 30 – or email them at info@bpas.org
- Marie Stopes International on 0845 300 8090 (open 24 hours) – or email them at services@mariestopes.org.uk
