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An abortion is a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy on purpose. In Australia, having an abortion is safe and common. Sometimes abortion is called a termination of pregnancy (TOP).
Having an abortion is your choice. You can have an abortion even if the man or other person involved in the pregnancy does not know about the pregnancy.
There are different types of abortion. The gestation of the pregnancy and your individual health will affect the type of abortion you have and which doctor or service you can go to. Gestation means the amount of time you have been pregnant.
Gestation is calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period. You can estimate the gestation of the pregnancy by using this calculator (you will need to scroll down the page).
Use the calculator to estimate the gestation and the options you may have, but remember it is not exact.
It’s OK if you’re not sure about when your last period was. Your doctor will refer you for tests to confirm the gestation.
Yes, in the ACT it is legal to end a pregnancy with an abortion at any gestation.
Even though it is legal at any gestation, sometimes you can only have an abortion until 16 weeks gestation. This is because there are not always services that can provide an abortion after 16 weeks available.
If the gestation is 16 weeks or more, sometimes you can have an abortion at the Canberra Hospital. Otherwise, you will need to travel interstate to Sydney or Adelaide to access abortion. These services may not be free.
If the gestation is 16 weeks or more, we recommend calling SHFPACT Pregnancy Options Counselling Service for information about your options and support to access them. It is important to know that law about gestational limits (how late in a pregnancy you can have an abortion) are different in other States/Territories.
Everyone has the right to know about their options and how to access safe and effective abortion care.
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