CHILDREN BY CHOICE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

Abortion

When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, it can be extremely difficult for some women to decide what is best for themselves and those around them. For other women, the circumstances of their lives and the pregnancy make the decision more straight forward. For some women, abortion may be one option that they are seriously considering.

Almost half of all unplanned pregnancies in Australia end in a termination of pregnancy (abortion). Almost one in three Australian women (29%) will choose abortion in their lifetime. In 2009, approximately 15000 abortions occurred in Queensland, according to Medicare item rebates.  This is an estimated figure which includes curettage procedures following miscarriage, but excludes non-Medicare cardholders and public hospital terminations.  No standard statistics on abortion are collected across Australia, but the most common estimate of the annual abortion rate is approximately 16-20 per 1000 women aged between 15-44.  Abortion is the most common gynecological procedure in Australia, and when performed in medical clinics, abortion is a very safe procedure with an estimated complication rate of less than 2%.

As these numbers show, there are many women who decide that a termination is the best option in their circumstances. These women include religious women, mothers, grandmothers, young women, older women, single women, married women, unemployed women, employed women, and women who were against abortion before they knew they were pregnant. None of these women make this decision lightly, they make this decision as the expert in their own life, considering their situation carefully and understanding what will be the best decision for them at this point in their life.

If you decide that abortion could be an option for you, it may be helpful to have as much information as possible to assist you in making this decision. For information on the clinic procedure, costs, clinic locations, what happens on the day, and coping afterwards, you can contact one of the counsellors at Children by Choice to ask questions or discuss how you are feeling.