Abortion

In the Netherlands it is allowed to terminate a pregnancy up to 24 weeks. This is done in special clinics or hospitals that have a permit for this.

There are two reasons to terminate a pregnancy.

  • The pregnancy is unwanted, and the woman wishes to terminate her pregnancy.
  • The child has (serious) abnormalities and the parents have decided to terminate the pregnancy in consultation with the doctor.

If a woman wishes to terminate her pregnancy, a statutory cooling-off period of 5 days applies. After these 5 days, the clinic or hospital will make an appointment with you about when the termination will take place and how.

METHOD

There are different ways of terminating a pregnancy.

  • Overdue treatment
  • abortion pill
  • Suction curettage
  • Late termination of pregnancy

How the termination of pregnancy is carried out depends mainly on the duration of the pregnancy.

OVERDUE TREATMENT

The overdue treatment takes place if you are at least 10 days and at most 16 days late. You do not need a referral letter from a doctor during this period. The ultrasound checks whether you fall within this period. Treatment may consist of the abortion pill or curettage. There is no cooling-off period of 5 days for this treatment.

ABORTION PILL

The abortion pill is used at a gestational age of up to 8 weeks. The 2 different types of drugs you receive ensure that the amniotic sac releases and is expelled from the uterus. You take the medicines 8 to 72 hours apart. There is a 1-4% chance that the treatment will not work, in which case a curettage must still take place.

CURETTAGE

The suction curettage can take place until up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. The treatment is done by a doctor and usually takes place under local anesthetic, but you can also opt for a sedation. The treatment lasts about 15 minutes, and you will stay for a while to rest, but then you can go home the same day.

LATE TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY

If you are more than 13 weeks pregnant, the method of termination will be chosen in consultation with the doctor:

  • The fetus is surgically removed from the uterus. This method is often used in an abortion clinic in the event of an unwanted pregnancy.
  • The pregnant woman is induced with medication (Misoprostol) so that she will give birth. This method is often used by the gynecologist in a termination of pregnancy due to fetal abnormalities.

After the procedure, you may still have bleeding that lasts a little longer than a normal period. The procedures are safe and there are few complications. An abortion generally does not affect the course of subsequent pregnancies.

PSYCHE

Choosing an abortion and undergoing a termination of pregnancy is a difficult and/or emotional process for many women. It is often helpful to seek professional support for psychological processing, for example through the general practitioner or midwife. If necessary, he/she can refer you to someone who can help you with this. You can also contact the FIOM yourself, this is an organization that offers help with an unwanted pregnancy. Look on www.fiom.nl.