Press Release

New research study examining women’s experiences of late abortion underlines need to retain the current 24 week limit

A new research study which examines the reasoning, experiences and opinions of over 100 women who have recently undergone late abortion is published today by Marie Stopes International (MSI), the UK’s leading provider of abortion services.  MSI believes that this report presents a compelling case for retaining the current 24 week legal limit for abortion in the face of growing political, social and media pressure for a reduction.

Less than two percent of all abortions taking place in England and Wales annually are carried out after 20 weeks gestation, but MSI argues that a reduction in the limit would not reduce demand for later abortions, but merely increase the hardship and emotional suffering of women facing unplanned pregnancies who might be denied access if the law is changed.

Key findings from the study, which combined a series of face to face interviews and self completed questionnaires of over 100 women terminating pregnancies between 19 and 24 weeks gestation and was carried out in the first four months of 2005, include:

• For the majority of women taking part, signs and symptoms of pregnancy were not recognised until an advanced stage, making late abortion an inevitability rather than a conscious choice on their part

“I continued to have periods up ‘til I was four months, not knowing I was pregnant” (aged 27)

• A minority of women were aware of their pregnancy early on, but were either in denial or subsequently faced a significant change in circumstances that forced them to re-evaluate their pregnancy

“My partner is violent but when he found out I was pregnant he promised to get help….he then beat me with a baseball bat so I don’t think it’s right to involve a child in that” (aged 24)

• Most women thought long and hard about their decision, discussed it with people close to them and appreciated having time to consider their options

“It’s a very difficult decision to make.  The extra time is often needed.  Better that than an unwanted child” (no age given)

• Most women reported a combination of factors influencing their decision – every woman’s situation was unique and most felt that they were the only person capable of making the decision

“I never expected to find myself in this situation and now understand just how distressing it is and what a hard decision it is to make” (aged 37)

• Some women encountered delays accessing abortion services due to obstructive practitioners or administrative delays

“The first doctor I went to, she was just not willing to listen to a reason, she didn’t want to know why... at the end of the day, it’s our choice, they should be more sympathetic (aged 35)

• Women taking part in the study were clear about the strongly negative consequences on their lives should they have been refused access to abortion at later gestations

“I was getting low and I hated myself. And I wouldn’t have thought twice about taking my own life” (aged 23)

“In recent months it seems that everyone - from politicians and medical professionals to journalists and anti abortion advocates - has been allowed to speak out on the issue of late abortion, except for those for whom it is most important; the women who have experienced it,” said Liz Davies, Marie Stopes International’s Director of UK Operations.

“We feel that this study goes some way to redressing that oversight.  What emerges very clearly from this research is that no woman who opted for late abortion made the decision lightly.  To suggest otherwise is to do these women a great disservice.

“As a society we should be supporting women and respecting their right to choose what they consider to be in their own best interests and the interests of their existing families and their unborn child, not condemning them or calling for measures that would limit their options and cause real hardship.”

Ms Davies also welcomed the result of the recent British Medical Association debate on late abortion, where three out of every four doctors taking part voted to retain the current limit for abortion.

“Clearly the medical profession is strongly of the opinion that there is no case around foetal viability at 24 weeks or less to warrant a change to the current limit,” she said.

“We must recognise that there will always be a need for later terminations, as a proportion of women, through no fault of their own, either do not recognise symptoms of pregnancy or have no reason to suspect that they could possibly be pregnant at all if, for example, they are regularly using a modern form of contraception.”

“We could, however, at least assist in reducing the gestation at which some women present for abortion if we worked to remove some of the barriers to access which can cause unreasonable delays in obtaining abortion services. A useful start  would be the reform of the current legislation to remove the archaic requirement that women seek written permission from two doctors before any abortion may proceed and to compel doctors who hold a conscientious objection to abortion to immediately refer a woman on to someone who is willing to help her.”

A full copy of the report: Late Abortion: A research study of women undergoing abortion between 19 and 24 weeks gestation can be obtained by writing to

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