1 in 3
One in three women has at least one abortion in their lifetime
1 in 5
One in five of all pregnancies ends in abortion.
What % of the UK is pro-choice?
76 per cent of the UK population are pro-choice
Most abortions take place…when?
Around 91% of abortions take place in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy
UK abortion laws are restrictive
Abortion laws in the UK are more restrictive than in almost every other European country, where abortion on request is legal in the first three months of pregnancy
NI abortion laws are currently even more restrictive
Currently most NI residents must travel to another country, unless their life is at risk. As of 22nd October 2019, it will be decriminalised and means people will be able to request abortions for health, mental health, sexual crimes and serious foetal anomalies without putting themselves or medics at risk.
20 million unsafe abortions
Each year, 20 million abortions take place in unsafe conditions and as a consequence, an estimated 80,000 women die
1.25 billion cannot access abortion services
Over a quarter of the world’s population live in countries where abortion is entirely prohibited or only permitted to save a woman’s life
Late abortions are rare
Late abortions are extremely rare but necessary – less than 1 per cent are carried out after 22 weeks and get rarer with each progressive week.
Abortion is very safe
Abortion is very safe in Britain and is one of the most commonly performed gynaecological procedures. Complications are extremely rare; carrying a pregnancy to term is more risky.
Ten% of GPs
Ten per cent of GPs consider themselves to be conscientious objectors and refuse to grant women an abortion
Legal in Britain since 1967
Abortion has been legal in Britain since 1967, but only by permission of two doctors and in restricted circumstances
Abortion Travel for NI
During the time period 1970-2016 62,038 abortions were provided in England and Wales to Northern Ireland residents. There are 62000 people in Sammy Wilson’s constituency of East Antrim.
In the last reported year (2016) 724 abortions abortion were provided in England and Wales to Northern Ireland residents. Unknown numbers travel elsewhere in Europe.
No link to breast cancer
Contrary to assertions by the anti-choice lobby, medical research consistently shows that women who have had an abortion have no greater risk of breast cancer than those who have not.
A major ten-year study of 100,000 women published in 2007 in the US ‘Archives of Internal Medicine’ has concluded that neither induced nor spontaneous abortion was associated with the incidence of breast cancer. The research was conducted by researchers affiliated with the Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health

*Source of data for above image:

Summary of key data on abortions Abortions in Northern Ireland

 During the time period 2006/07 to 2015/16 a total of 368 abortions were carried out by the NHS in Northern Ireland.

 Over 10 years the average number of abortions carried out by the NHS in abortion Northern Ireland was 37.

 In the last reported year (2015/2016) 16 abortions were carried out by the NHS in Northern Ireland.

 Unknown numbers access abortions from the Marie Stopes Clinic in Belfast.

 Unknown numbers access the abortion pill from internet providers such as Women Help Women and Women on Web and self-abort at home. (Combined data for Ireland, north and south, is available from Women on Web. This indicates 5650 requests were made for at-home medical abortions during 2010-2015). Abortions obtained by those who travel outside of Northern Ireland

 During the time period 1970-2016 62,038 abortions were provided in England and Wales to Northern Ireland residents.

 In the last reported year (2016) 724 abortions abortion were provided in England and Wales to Northern Ireland residents.

 Unknown numbers travel elsewhere in Europe.