bpas: What do you call a woman who’s had an abortion?
bpas: What do you call a woman who's had an abortion? Mother. Daughter. Sister. Friend.
Recent comments by ministers and an upsurge in protests outside clinics show we cannot take for granted the women we know will always have access to the care they need
One in three women will have an abortion, and most of us will know a woman who has decided to end a pregnancy. But 45 years after abortion was made legal in this country, stigma still surrounds this fundamental aspect of reproductive healthcare and myths continue to be perpetuated about the kind of women who have abortions. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) is launching the No More Names campaign to emphasise that we all know the kind of women who have faced unwanted pregnancy and decided abortion is right for them, for reasons as individual as they are. They are mothers, daughters, sisters and friends – and they must be able access the care they need, when they need it.
The campaign will run on billboards around the country, while more than 1m emails will be sent nationwide. Click here for the digital version of the campaign.
bpas will always work to ensure all women can make decisions about their pregnancy free of judgement, stigma or harassment. In the recent past there has been an upsurge in anti-abortion activity, both at the political level and outside abortion clinics across the country by those who show little understanding or empathy for women or respect for their decision-making. We live in a country in which the majority support women’s choice when faced with an unwanted pregnancy. bpas does not want to see women’s ability to access the care they need undermined by a minority who take a different view.
Ann Furedi, bpas chief executive, said: “Abortion is a fundamental aspect of reproductive healthcare than enables all women – mothers, daughters, sisters, friends – to make decisions about themselves and their families when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.
"Unwanted pregnancy affects women of all ages, in all sorts of circumstances. There are many reasons why a woman may find herself with an unintended pregnancy, from contraceptive failure to misconceptions about her own fertility, and many sad cases where a much wanted pregnancy can no longer be carried to term. Women need to be able to make these decisions without banners being waved in their faces, or being made to feel that they are thoughtless, immoral or selfish. Politicians should understand that women themselves are the ones who are best placed to make the choice that is right for them and their families. Mothers, daughters, sisters and friends – the women in all our lives deserve nothing less.”
Key facts:
One in three women will have an abortion in her reproductive lifetime·
65% of women having abortions are in relationships or married
More than half of women who have abortions are already mothers·
More than half of women contacting bpas are using contraception when they become pregnant
There were nearly twice as many abortions last year to women over 35 as those under 18
Abortion rates in this country are similar to those in countries such as France and Sweden
For more information please contact the bpas press office on 0207 612 0206 or 07788 725185 or email press@bpas.org
About bpas:
bpas supports reproductive choice and health by advocating and providing high quality, affordable services to prevent unwanted pregnancies with contraception or end them by abortion. We also offer a range of other reproductive health services.
bpas is Britain's largest single abortion provider, caring for around 55,000 women each year. It provides pregnancy testing, counselling, STI screening, contraception, sterilisation, vasectomy and vasectomy reversal through 36 consultation centres and 19 clinics located throughout the UK.
bpas is a charity and limited company registered in England and Wales.
Company limited by Guarantee No: 1803160, registered Charity No: 289145 as British Pregnancy Advisory Service
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