Family Planning apply for Early Abortion Licence

11 March 2009

Family Planning to apply for Early Medical Abortion licence

Family Planning Council has decided to apply to the Abortion Supervisory Committee for a licence to provide an Early Medical Abortion service.

Family Planning President Linda Penno says the decision by the organisation’s governing body reflects its view that Family Planning plays a key role in advocating for better services for women and where appropriate, to be offering these services itself.

“Currently, New Zealand women have inconsistent access to abortion services and in many areas, limited choice about the method of abortion they can access. Safe and accessible abortion services are an integral part of good reproductive health care. Applying for this licence is consistent with that philosophy of access and choice,” Ms Penno says.”

Early Medical Abortion has made it possible to provide abortions, within the first 9 weeks of pregnancy, without surgery and outside a hospital environment. Family Planning is making the application within New Zealand’s current abortion legislation.

Family Planning provides sexual and reproductive health information, clinical services, education, training, advocacy and research throughout New Zealand. Its 30 clinics throughout the country are staffed by experts who provide treatment, advice and information.

Early Medical Abortion

Early Medical Abortion is the use of medication/pills to cause a miscarriage early in the pregnancy (a pregnancy with a gestation limit up to nine weeks).

Early Medical Abortion does not require surgery, therefore, for some women earlier and non surgical termination may be less stressful.

The treatment usually consists of swallowing one Mifegyne® (RU486) tablet containing 200mg of mifepristone, which blocks the effects of progesterone, a hormone which is needed for pregnancy to continue. This is followed 36-48 hours later by the insertion into the vagina of four tablets containing Cytotec (misoprostol). This is a different type of medication that helps to expel the pregnancy.

In surgical abortion, the embryo is removed from the uterus by suction. It may be done with a local or a general anaesthetic.

Abortion in New Zealand

Abortion is legal in New Zealand for women of any age, who meet the criteria set out in the Crimes Act 1961.

In the year to December 2007, 18,382 abortions were performed in New Zealand. This equates to around 20 abortions for every 1,000 women aged between 15 and 44. Most abortions are carried out using the surgical method.

The highest abortion rate is in the 20 – 24 year age group, with just over 37 abortions per 1,000 women.

All District Health Boards (DHBs) are required to provide abortion of pregnancy services for the women who meet the criteria provided by the Crimes Act 1961. Variations in how DHBs respond to this requirement, has resulted in differential access to abortion services throughout the country. Disparities in access potentially create delays and make it difficult for women who meet the criteria.

ENDS

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