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Abortion
Women's Health Information Package
Definition
Abortion is the term used to describe the ending of a pregnancy prior to the age of viability i.e. 20-24 weeks gestation dependent on local guidelines. The issue of induced abortion, or termination of pregnancy, is currently of high prominence in the political arena and in the media. As a Victorian state-wide women's health promotion organisation we advocate for women's right to control our own bodies in every aspect of health care.
In relation to abortion, Women's Health Victoria specifically advocates for:
- Unbiased, relevant and accurate information and support for women experiencing an unwanted pregnancy
- More thorough and inclusive sex education in schools based on a social model of health
- Increased access to, and counselling on, appropriate contraceptive choices
- Protecting privacy of medical records, particularly for young people
- Maintenance of affordable contraception
- Protecting access to over the counter emergency contraception and making it available in a variety of settings.
About
the information resources
Access to reliable and credible information ensures that women have the capacity to make informed choices about their health care options.
This information package does not focus on spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). Information on this topic is available from the WHV Clearinghouse Resource Centre. References included in this resource focus on therapeutic abortion, commonly referred to as termination of pregnancy (TOP). The resources relate to induced termination of pregnancy and were compiled following an extensive search of Women's Health Victoria's (WHV) Clearinghouse Resource Collection database.
Included are details of relevant books, journal articles and web sites that have been independently reviewed by health professionals. Community based resources are also listed. The emphasis is on the Australian situation, a social model of health and feminist approach providing the framework within which information is provided. Where possible, illustrations of women's experiences are provided.
All of these resources and a range of others (not listed here) covering many topics and therapy perspectives are available from the WHV Clearinghouse Resource Centre.
Women's Health Victoria would like to thank the staff at the Royal Women's Hospital, Pregnancy Advisory Service and Geraldine McDonald - Women's Health Researcher, who reviewed and contributed to this women's health information package.
A description of how Women's Health Information packages are developed and resources chosen is
available here.
General
information
1. Abortion issues paper
Rice, K. Melbourne : Women's Health Victoria, November 2004
Full text available here.
This paper gives a clear picture of WHV's position on abortion. The statistics are up-to-date, it is easy to read, and well referenced. There is also a useful list of text and web resources. The paper will be regularly updated via the WHV web site.
2. How many abortions are there in Australia? : a discussion of abortion statistics, their limitations, and options for improved statistical collection
Pratt, Angela, Amanda Biggs and Luke Buckmaster. Parliamentary Library Research Brief no.9, 14 February 2005
Full text available here .
The research brief discusses the existing statistics on abortion in Australia, their limitations for accurately quantifying how many abortions take place each year, and some options for improving Australian data on abortion numbers.
3. A woman's choice
Sparrow, Margaret June. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, April 2004; 44(2):88-92
A New Zealand doctor advocates for individual choice and argues for more training and research on abortion.
4. Choices : the unplanned pregnancy kit
Loddon Mallee Women's Health and Community Health Bendigo. Bendigo, Vic :2002
The kit comes in two parts - a choices section which considers the issue of unplanned pregnancy and the options available to women and a directory of termination services available in Melbourne. The directory has detailed information about each service, including cost, waiting times, the service's brochure and referral form. Also included is a quick reference guide to these services as of April 2002.
5. Supporting her decision
Children by Choice Association. Queensland : 2004
Full text available here.
Short and easy to read fact sheets covering an aspect of abortion for which there is limited information: supporting a woman considering abortion. Practical and good information that acknowledges the support person's feelings while reaffirming that it is the woman's choice to have an abortion. This organisation provides several information sheets on various aspects of abortion. See listing under web sites.
6. Late abortion : a review of the evidence
Pro-Choice Forum. London : Pro-Choice Forum, October 2004
Full text available here.
UK statistics, trends, and legal position. Interesting sections on if and how the foetus may experience pain, viability and antenatal screening.
7. Girls own 4: a guide to your legal rights
Foster, Allyson, Oonagh Baron, Debbie Smith, et al. Melbourne : Women's Legal Service Victoria, 2002
Clear, accurate, girl-focused information about unwanted pregnancy options.
8. The melting pot : ingredients for decision making
Teng C. Paper presented at the New Zealand Abortion Providers Conference, Auckland : 6 October 2000
An interesting paper that addresses some fairly contentious issues relating to abortion such as spirituality and morality. Its focus is the difficulties involved in the decision making process. Generally easy to read, although perhaps more useful for professionals than consumers.
9. Abortion facts and feelings : a handbook for women and the people who care about them
Stotland, N. Washington : American Psychiatric Press, 1998
This book is aimed at consumers, their support people, partners and health professionals. The author is a psychiatrist whose interest is her discipline's interaction with gynaecology. It is a very practical and easy to read book, and provides an 'ABC' guide to decision-making. The information is in-depth and is able to take women through the decision-making process. Women who have had an abortion and want to do more thinking about it will also find this resource useful. It reinforces women's right to choose and acknowledges that different women in different situations make different decisions.
10. Study refutes abortion and breast cancer link
James, Tony. Australian Doctor, 2 April 2004
Clear explanation and review of the research. Cites original article.
11. The gynaecological sourcebook (4th ed)
Rosenthal, Sara. New York : McGraw-Hill, 2003
Though written for a USA audience, offers a very clear, no-nonsense description of both medical and surgical abortions.
Specific
situations
12. Pregnancy termination : information for country women
Women's Health Grampians. Ballarat : Women's Health Grampians, 2007
Full text available here .
This booklet provides practical information on procedural aspects of abortion, including cost. It is aimed at women living in the country, specifically those in the Grampians, Wimmera and Ballarat areas and addresses issues specific to rural women (e.g. confidentiality, transport, costs, where to stay in Melbourne). Simple, plain language is used which makes it easy to read. The advantage of this resource is that it is written to a specific audience (rural women), whose greater difficulties experienced in accessing abortion services are well documented.
13. Young women's experiences with unplanned pregnancy and abortion
Hardiman, Annarella. RWH Pregnancy Advisory Service (PAS), RWH Absolutely Women's Health Forum 17.09.03
Full text available here .
A paper delivered at the Young Pregnant and Parenting forum aimed at professionals and others in the community to reduce the dissemination of misinformation about the issues confronting young women making decisions about unplanned pregnancy.
14. In/different health: rethinking gender, disability and health
Meekosha, Helen. Australian Women's Health Conference, February 2001
Full text available here.
Amidst discussion of other aspects that impact on health issues for women with disabilities, a clearly articulated view gleaned from members of Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) about Prenatal Testing and Selective Abortion.
15. Women and HIV fact sheet 5 - pregnancy
FPA Health. Ashfield, NSW : FPA Health, 28 March 2001
Full text available here.
Although this is NSW-based it provides clear, straightforward information with suggestions to assist decision-making and where to go for further information and support.
16. Post abortion grief ... the grief following abortion for foetal abnormality
Lastman, Anne. National Association for Loss and Grief (Vic) Newsletter, March 2004
In depth examination of the complexity and range of emotions that can be present after termination for foetal abnormality. The case study is a useful way to help the reader understand how responses can vary from one person to another and how this is often dependent on past experiences of loss.
Women's
experiences
17. Counselling and unplanned pregnancy...my experience
Anonymous. HealthSharing Women, November 2000
Full text available here .
Easy to read article, written anonymously by a woman who has had an abortion. The author shares her reflections and also her experiences of counselling in a positive light.
Web sites
Children by Choice is a Queensland based organisation committed to providing unbiased information on all unintended pregnancy options to women and their families. This website has a very good range of articles including information on Australian law, practical and emotional aspects of abortion, decision making and ethical dimensions as well as providing numerous useful links to other websites.
The BetterHealth Channel provides information on numerous health topics. This link takes the reader directly to some information on abortion in Australia. At the bottom of this page are links to other abortion specific information on counselling, procedural information, services in Victoria and throughout Australia as well as a link to signs and symptoms of pregnancy.
The Public Health Association have written this quality document which contains a number of factsheets on abortion from a public health perspective.
Information including recent data.
Languages other than English
If you are looking for information on a variety of health topics in languages other than English try searching:
Some
services available in Victoria
Pregnancy Advisory Service, Royal Women's Hospital: A state-wide public hospital based service that provides a range of services including counselling, information, referral and clinical and surgical services, within the RWH public and private systems, to women with an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.
Phone: (03) 9344 2259; Hours: 9.00am-4.45pm Mon-Fri
Family Planning Victoria: Provides services/information on sexual and reproductive health at a number of sites throughout Victoria. Please note that the Action Centre is a youth centre however it does see women over 25 years of age on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings.
Phone: (03) 9257 0100 (Box Hill); Hours: Mon & Wed 9.00am-9.00pm; Tues, Thurs,& Fri 9.00am-5.00pm
Action Centre: (03) 9654 4766 (Melbourne) or toll free 1800 013 952; Hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.00pm
Other abortion providers in Victoria
Abortions in Victoria can be provided by both public hospitals and private clinics.
Some public hospitals in Victoria provide terminations of pregnancy as part of their health and medical services fully funded by Medicare. This means there is no cost to women who have a Medicare Card. There are also a number of private health services, which provide terminations of pregnancy. Women using private clinics will be charged certain additional costs that are not covered by Medicare.
All Victorian services work according to the Victorian legal context of abortion, which describes the circumstances under which abortion is lawful.
Royal Women’s Hospital
Pregnancy Advisory Service
132 Grattan Street
Carlton VIC 2053
Main phone number: 9344 2259 for all referrals
Fax number: 9344 2879
Web address: http://www.rwh.org.au/wellwomens/
Sunshine Hospital
Furlong Rd St Albans
All referrals are made via the RWH Pregnancy Advisory Service
Main phone number: 9344 2259 (RWH)
Contraceptive and Counselling Clinic- Monash Medical Centre
246 Clayton Rd Clayton
Main phone number: 9594 2952 only available for referral Mondays 3–4.30pm (strict criteria)
Family Planning Centre
171 Berkeley Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Main phone number: 9347 7036
Other phone number: 9347 7275
Country callers: 1800 815 794
Fax number: 9349 3283
Web address: http://www.gynpages.com/fpc/
Marie Stopes International
338 Dandenong Rd East St Kilda
Main phone number: 1800 003 707
Monash Family Planning
252 Clayton Road Clayton
Main phone number: 9544 9902
The Hampton Park Women's Health Care Centre
2 Warana Drive
Hampton Park VIC 3058
Main phone number: 9799 2817
Web address: http://www.hpwh.com.au
Fertility Control Clinic
118 Wellington Parade
East Melbourne VIC 3002
Main phone number: 9419 2922 (all hours)
Free call: 1800 809 013
Fax number : 9417 6739
Email address: mailto:clinic@iprimus.com.au
Web address: http://www.fcc.com.au
Womens Clinic & Family General Practice on Richmond Hill
366 Church Street
Richmond VIC 3121
Main phone number: 9427 0399
Fax number: 9428 6317
Email address: info@womensclinic.com.au
Web address: http://www.womensclinic.com.au
Abortion Advice and Counselling Centre of Melbourne -The Croydon Day Surgery
411-415 Dorset Rd Croydon
Main phone number: 9724 9377
Fax number: 9724 9533
Web address: http://websites.golden-orb.com/plannedparenthood/100062.php
Barwon Health Choices Clinic
Geelong Hospital Ryrie Street Geelong
Requires a GPs referral
Bookings made through Social Work Department
Phone: 5226 7525
Reviewed March 2005
For details on how to locate any of this information or to confidentially discuss any of this information, contact your local Women’s Health Service or the RWH Women's Health Information Centre phone line, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm on (03) 9344 2007;
Country Callers:
1800 442 007; or email.
Health professionals and other service providers wishing to access the services of the WHV Clearinghouse contact us by phone:
(03) 9662 3755, fax: (03) 9663 7955; or email.
Other resource information on various health topics can be accessed via the Clearinghouse Resource Collection database. Online access is available here.
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YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT TO US
We would encourage you to take a moment to email
our Health Information Officer at clearinghouse@whv.org.au
and let us know:
- if you found this information useful
- if you have read any of the books or pamphlets
listed
- if, after reading our women's health information packages, you would try to find any of the books or
articles listed
OR
- if you have read anything on a particular topic
not included in our women's health information packages
that you think should be included.
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