Terminating a pregnancy (abortion) - Réfugiés.info

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Terminating a pregnancy (abortion)

Proposed by Réfugiés.info Updated on il y a 2 mois

Abortion, also called voluntary termination of pregnancy (VTP), is a medical procedure to end a pregnancy before delivery. It is a solution for women who become pregnant but do not want to have a child.

In France, abortion is permitted by law up to 14 weeks of pregnancy (that is, 16 weeks after the start of the last period).

All women who wish to do so can have an abortion in France. French nationality is not required.

Abortion is free: it is 100% covered by the French national health insurance (Assurance Maladie). Even without a health insurance card (Carte Vitale) or state medical aid (AME), you can have a free abortion at a hospital or sexual health center.

You have the right to remain anonymous and keep the secret: you do not need to give your name.

If you are under 18, you can have a free and anonymous abortion without parental consent. You simply need to be accompanied by a trusted adult.
This could be a friend, someone in your family, an adult from your school, or a professional from Planned Parenthood .

If you are not sure if you are pregnant, you can take a pregnancy test first.
Read: the Refugees.info fact sheet "Taking a pregnancy test".

How to do it?

The doctor calculates the length of the pregnancy from the first day of your last menstrual period. Healthcare professionals call this calculation "weeks of amenorrhea (SA)". Try to find this date.

If you don't remember the date, that's okay. The doctor will perform an ultrasound (medical examination) to determine exactly how far along you are in your pregnancy.

There are two methods for abortion:

  1. the drugs
  2. medical intervention (surgery).

The method depends on the number of weeks that have passed since the first day of your last period :

  • Less than 9 weeks: you have the choice between medication and medical intervention (surgery).
  • Between 9 and 16 weeks: you can only have an abortion through medical intervention (surgery).

You can make your first appointment with a doctor or midwife:

  • in a doctor's office, a health center or at the hospital (for example on Doctolib).
  • at a sexual health center. These are places where doctors and social workers offer advice on topics related to sexuality. A list of all sexual health centers in France is available on this website.
It is very important to find an appointment quickly, because after 14 weeks of pregnancy (that is, 16 weeks after the start of your last period), it is no longer possible to have an abortion in France.

During this appointment:

  • The doctor or midwife will explain the procedures to you. They will give you a prescription for an ultrasound (to date the pregnancy) or a blood test.
  • They offer you a consultation with a psychologist. This consultation is not mandatory, unless you are under 18 years of age.
  • You decide with the doctor on the method of abortion (medication or surgery), and you give your consent (that is, your agreement) in writing.
  • At the end of the appointment, the doctor will give you a certificate. Keep this document safe for future reference.
If you need time to think about your abortion, it is possible to do these steps over several different appointments.

The doctor you saw offers you an appointment to have the abortion, or gives you the name of a doctor who can perform it.

The procedure for your abortion depends on the method used:

With medication

  • You have 2 medications to take: you take the first one, then the second one between 24 and 48 hours after the first.
  • You can take these medications at home, at a doctor's office, or at a midwife's office.
  • The medication causes bleeding and pain similar to a heavy period. The doctor or midwife will give you pain medication.

With medical intervention (surgery)

  • The doctor or midwife administers anesthesia (local or general).
  • The doctor or midwife aspirates the contents of the uterus with a small tube.
  • The procedure only takes a few minutes (5 to 15 minutes). If you have general anesthesia, you will stay in the hospital for a few hours.
  • The procedure takes place in a health center or hospital . With general anesthesia, it must be performed in a hospital.

It is very important to make another appointment with a doctor between the 14th and 21st day after your abortion or before if you feel unwell.

This appointment ensures that the abortion was successful and that you do not have any health problems.

What happens next?

If you want to use or change your contraception (pill, implant, etc.), you can talk to the doctor or midwife you saw for the abortion.

See also: the Refugees.info fact sheet "Choosing contraception"

An abortion can have consequences for your mental health.
If you feel unwell, don't hesitate to talk about it and you shouldn't stay alone.

You can:

  • consult a psychologist
  • call the national abortion information hotline: 0 800 08 11 11 (free, anonymous, available every day except Sunday)
  • contact the online chat service on the national website ivg-contraception-sexualites.org (anonymous, free). The chat connects you directly with a qualified person who can answer your questions.
  • contact a doctor at a Family Planning center (you can go there for free, and you don't need permission from your parents).
    You can find one near you on this website.
  • contact an association.

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