What time frame can you get an abortion

It can also be difficult to know when you had the sex that led to conception, even if you do know when you were ovulating. The egg is available for about 24 hours, but sperm can survive for five days or more.

Any sex you had in the week before ovulation could therefore be responsible for the pregnancy. The first day of your period is considered the first day of your cycle. The first day of the period before you conceived is also considered the first day of your pregnancy. By the time you miss your first period, you will therefore be about 4 weeks pregnant. However, there is a way you can find out for sure how far along you are.

When you visit a private abortion clinic , the doctor can perform an ultrasound scan to check on the pregnancy. The scan can confirm that you are pregnant, rule out issues such as ectopic pregnancy, and give you an accurate date for the pregnancy.

Even if you know when your last period started, it can still be a good idea to get confirmation from the scan. Abortions can be carried out as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. In most cases, this will be after your first missed period at 4 weeks. However, many women wait a little longer before taking a pregnancy test or visiting the clinic.

Once you have seen the doctor, you can have the abortion very quickly. Print Share. Share this story. Home News How late can you have an abortion in UK?

Get in touch for info: we have same day appointments available. What do official abortion statistics tell us about abortion in England and Wales? The vast majority of abortion treatments in the UK are medical. How to get an appointment for an abortion? How to choose an abortion clinic? They can be carried out after 24 weeks in very limited circumstances — for example, if the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability.

Most abortion services will ask to perform an ultrasound scan to work out how many weeks pregnant you are. The length of pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last period. Abortions are safer the earlier they're carried out. Getting advice early on will give you more time to make a decision if you're unsure. Some women may be certain they want to have an abortion, while others may find it more difficult to make a decision.

All women requesting an abortion can discuss their options with, and receive support from, a trained pregnancy counsellor if they wish. You may also want to speak to your partner, friends or family, but you do not have to. They do not have a say in your decision. If you do not want to tell anyone, your details will be kept confidential.

If you're under 16, your parents do not usually need to be told. The doctor or nurse may encourage you to tell a parent, carer or other adult you trust, but they will not make you. There are organisations, usually known as crisis pregnancy centres, that offer counselling around pregnancy. They do not refer people for abortion, and may not offer balanced or accurate advice.