The Planned Parenthood of Australia Group

Continuing a tradition of caring for women

FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ABORTION

The Law
The laws regarding abortion differ from state to state. All Australian states and territories have legislation restricting abortion. The legislation derives from the English Offences Against the Person Act of 1861. Each state has a clause specifying when abortion is lawful. The law in Queensland is unclear. In New South Wales abortion is legal to preserve the mothers physical or mental health, on reasonable grounds - economic, social or medical (Levine ruling 1971). In Victoria the grounds are to preserve the mother's life or physical or mental health (Menhennit Ruling 1969). In South Australia with two doctors opinions, two months residency and hospitalisation abortions can be done on most grounds affecting women (Reformed laws 1969 ) In the Northern Territory the law is exactly the same as in South Australia. In Western Australia the law is exactly the same as in Queensland but abortion is available almost on request. In Tasmania the law allows for abortion to preserve the women's physical or mental health.

Safety
Legal abortion is a safe procedure. It is now one of the safest surgical procedures available. Legal abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy is considerably safer than bearing a child. It is nine times safer for a teenager in terms of life or death and 39 times safer for a woman aged 40 to 44, than carrying the pregnancy to childbirth. First trimester terminations are three times safer in terms of deaths than tonsillectomies and 200 times safer than appendicectomies. Abortion has not always been so safe. Before abortion was legalised many women died or had serious medical problems after attempting to induce abortions on themselves or going to untrained practitioners who performed abortions in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Since legal abortion, women have benefited from significant advances in medical technology and greater access to high quality abortion services. Women rarely die from legal abortions. According to the most recent statistics available in Australia there have only been 3 abortion related deaths in the last 15 years. That is 3 in over 1.2 million patients. Abortion is a simple procedure. The abortion is done by inserting an instrument called a speculum into the vagina so that the doctor can see the cervix. The doctor will then widen the cervical opening by using a series of sterile metal dilators, increasing the size until the cervical opening is 6 -9 mm. After the cervix is dilated, a sterile tube that is attached to a vacuum aspirator is inserted into the uterus. The foetal tissue and some of the lining of the uterus is removed. The whole procedure is simple and rapid taking 3 to 10 minutes.

Religion
Many women have had abortions in Australia and many men and women despite their religious beliefs, support a woman's right to choose. Many Catholic women have abortions: One study showed one in four abortion patients in Australia are Catholic. In America, there is a large pro choice Catholic organisation called " Catholics for a free Choice" and we have some of their literature at every Planned Parenthood of Australia clinic.

Can I become pregnant again?
YES. With the advent of the use of safer methods, staff training, modern technology and better overall care and facilities, the risks of abortion have lessened enormously. The risk of subsequent fertility problems is extremely low. All patients are prescribed post operative antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection and are advised to have a check up with either their local Doctor or to return to the clinic. Hence if infection, which is the major risk to future fertility occurs, it is diagnosed early and treated. This greatly minimises the chance of future problems. We strongly emphasise the use of contraception at all of our clinics and our counsellors and doctors are happy to advise you on what is best suited to your needs. At Planned Parenthood of Australia we believe that all women have the right to safe, legal supportive abortion care. We are committed to providing the best possible services for women.





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