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There's been an update on at-home abortion rules during coronavirus

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Cosmopolitan

With the coronavirus pandemic taking up much of the NHS' capacity and resource, other healthcare services are having to temporarily fall by the wayside (for example, some non-emergency procedures have been postponed, as staff are redeployed to other wards). One other such area is abortion, with numerous questions recently being asked about how women might go about terminating a pregnancy during this period of crisis.

Generally, the rules regarding medical abortions for pregnancies terminated within the first 10 weeks are as follows:

  • Women take two abortion pills in total

  • The first must be taken in a clinic, under the supervision of a medical professional

  • The second pill should be taken 24-48 hours after the first, but this can be done at home without supervision

The policy on abortion has already changed numerous times throughout the pandemic, but it's now been decided by the government that women in England may take two pills at home, to end a pregnancy. Meaning there's no need to leave their homes to travel to a clinic (pregnant women were placed in the vulnerable group on 16 March, where the advice urges them to self-isolate as a precaution).

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) announced the confirmation of at-home abortions in a series of tweets. The first of which read: "We are pleased to announce that the Government has reinstated the use of a telemedical abortion service that will now protect women across the country!"

BPAS followed with, "From now on, women [in England] will be able to access safe and effective abortion care while also following the advice relating to Covid-19. This is the best way to protect our clients, our staff and ensure we can still provide a service for every woman who needs us."

It is already legal for women in Wales and Scotland to take both the pills required to terminate a pregnancy from home. Campaigners are now hoping Northern Ireland will allow women the same rights, too.

Photo credit: Innocenti - Getty Images
Photo credit: Innocenti - Getty Images

Jonathan Lord, Medical Director at Marie Stopes UK, said that "the decision shows they [the government] value both women’s health and that of hardworking abortion care staff, who have continued to deliver essential healthcare, despite a global health pandemic."

He continued on to say, "We now stand in full solidarity with women and girls in Northern Ireland seeking the same protection."

Photo credit: CosmopolitanUK
Photo credit: CosmopolitanUK

In Northern Ireland, following years of campaigning, laws were changed last October allowing abortion in any circumstance at up to 12 weeks. However, due to the pandemic, these changes (which were due to be implemented in April) have yet to come to fruition and women are still travelling to England, via ferry, for an abortion.

BPAS say, "It is medically unnecessary to be forcing women to make trips to England via ferries to access basic healthcare."

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