FAQs: Abortion decriminalisation position statement

1 in 3 women in UK will need to have an abortion in their lives and over 220,000 women have an abortion in England and Wales every year. It is one of the most common gynaecological procedures and is safe and effective.

In 2023, an independent UK YouGov poll found almost two thirds (64%) of women under 40 believe that women should not be prosecuted. Only 21% of the public believed women should face prosecution for having an abortion beyond the legal time limits. 

The RCOG, along with over 40 other medical, legal and public health bodies and experts, are calling for Parliament to protect women’s essential reproductive rights by decriminalising abortion. This group includes five other Royal Medical Colleges, the British Medical Association, abortion providers like MSI and BPAS and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health. For more information, please read the full joint statement on decriminalising abortion.

We also know that there is growing cross-party support among MPs to remove women from the criminal law related to abortion. Over 80 MPs have signed onto the amendment laid in the name of Tonia Antoniazzi MP (as of 21st May 2025). We urge all MPs to take this opportunity to vote in favour of the amendment.

According to the Centre of Reproductive Rights, over the past 30 years more than 60 countries and territories have liberalised their abortion laws. This includes in countries such as Northern Ireland, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Increasing numbers of women are being prosecuted for ending their pregnancies in the UK outside the grounds of the current legislation. Six women have appeared in court in England over the past two years charged with ending their own pregnancy. Prior to this, there had been only three reported convictions for illegal abortion since the current law was introduced – in 1861.

Under the current laws, women who have experienced unexplained pregnancy loss may also be vulnerable to criminal investigation, and health professionals placed under unacceptable and unwarranted scrutiny. Worryingly, the fear of being investigated by the police may deter women from seeking urgent medical attention.

We believe this is not in the public interest and that these women should be treated with care and compassion, without judgement or fear of imprisonment.

There has been a surge in the number of investigations of women suspected of an illegal abortion, including after premature labour and miscarriage. Many cases do not proceed to a prosecution but it can take years before the case is dropped. Even if charges are not brought, the impact of the investigation is profound and causes life-changing harm to women and their families.  

No. Decriminalising abortion does not mean deregulation. The current 24 week time limit, along with the seven legal criteria, requirement for two doctor’s signatures, and location requirements for having an abortion, would remain unchanged. Abortion would still be subject to regulatory and professional standards like other medical procedures. 

The current time limit would remain in place if abortion was decriminalised. These limits are based on the latest scientific evidence and should remain as they are. 

The current legal limit for abortion is 24 weeks of pregnancy. Women can access an abortion beyond 24 weeks if there is evidence of a fatal fetal abnormality or a risk of significant harm to a woman’s health if she continues the pregnancy. 

There is no evidence to indicate that women would want to have terminations later in pregnancy if abortion was decriminalised. 

Data shows that most women make a decision and access abortion care very quickly after finding out about a pregnancy, with 89% of abortions taking place before 10 weeks. This suggests that there is not a large cohort of women delaying their decision to access care under the current rules, and there is no reason to assume this would change with decriminalisation.  

Only one per cent of abortions happen after 20 weeks and only 0.1% of abortions take place after 24 weeks . These are often undertaken for complex reasons, for example, if significant fetal anomalies are detected or because of serious maternal health issues. 

There are also other complex and difficult cases– for example women being in denial, being too frightened due to an abusive relationship, or not knowing they were pregnant.

Criminalising the rare women who obtain abortions after the term limit is unlikely to deter such cases. These women are often in vulnerable situations and should be treated with care and compassion, not public shaming, trial and prison. However, it may deter them – and other women who have acted near the term limit or have miscarried naturally – from seeking medical help.

In a poll conducted by YouGov (2019) only 14% of the general population said they were aware of the current abortion law. A law can only act as a deterrent if people know about it, so it is safe to assume that many women ending a pregnancy outside of the current law will not realise they were doing so or risking prosecution and imprisonment. 

Currently, women in the UK are able to access medical abortions in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy through medication taken at home. This pathway is sometimes referred to as ‘telemedicine’ and will still be available if abortion is decriminalised. 

The abortion telemedicine pathway allows women to access the first pill used for an early medical abortion (mifepristone) at home, following a virtual consultation with a qualified nurse or midwife. 

No. We strongly push back against suggestions that the increase in cases is directly linked to telemedicine. 

The telemedicine pathway has removed barriers to allow women to access an essential form of sexual and reproductive healthcare, reducing inequalities for many, including those who live in rural and isolated areas and rely on public transport, women with disabilities, and those who fear detection by a coercive partner or family member. 

A study of more than 50,000 abortions before and after the change in England and Wales, published by the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, concluded that telemedical abortion provision is ‘effective, safe, acceptable, and improves access to care’. The data showed that the mean waiting time for treatment declined from 10.7 days in the traditional pathway to 6.5 days after telemedicine had been introduced. The mean gestational age at treatment also declined resulting in 40% of abortions performed at 6 weeks’ gestation or less versus 25% in the traditional cohort, and efficacy increased with 98.8% of abortions ending successfully after administration of medication . These findings have been replicated in other international studies.  
Abortion that happens outside of the regulations generally involves extremely vulnerable women, including victims of domestic abuse, women with a history of mental health problems, women not registered with a GP, and women who are socioeconomically disadvantaged or have difficulties accessing the health system. All of these women can face insurmountable barriers to accessing the healthcare they need.