Abortion support and care for under 18s
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone I spoke to. Everyone was so understanding and supportive and made me feel so comfortable.
BPAS client
At BPAS, we have been providing abortion care and support since 1968. We help thousands of women with NHS-funded unplanned pregnancy counselling and abortion treatment every year. We can help you too.
We place your needs first, which is why our clients rate our services so highly.
We are proud of our high quality of care before, during and after treatment - and make sure that every woman has enough support to make the decision that is best for her.
We understand that you might have a lot of questions, but our compassionate, non-judgmental staff are here to support you every step of the way.
Do my parents need to know?
- Although we won’t talk with your parents against your wishes, we will encourage you to involve a parent or trusted adult who can support you
- In most cases, you will need an adult to support you with travel, to come with you to your appointments with you, and to be with you after the abortion
- If you don’t have a parent or trusted adult you feel safe to tell, please be honest about this and make us aware as soon as possible
- We can work with you to help you to get support and treatment. This could include telling a safe adult on your behalf, finding a professional who can support you, such as a teacher or school nurse
- If you attend your appointment without a supportive adult, and you didn’t make us aware of this beforehand, this may stop us from giving you the treatment you want on that day
- We will never refuse you treatment- but we want to make sure that you are safe throughout your journey with BPAS
Can anyone under-18 consent to their own treatment?
- Our staff will talk to you to make sure you are fully aware of what's involved with an abortion
- If you are sure it’s what you want to do and you understand the procedure, the possible risks and complications of treatment, you can agree to the treatment yourself
- Doctors, nurses and health workers cannot share your information without your permission unless they think you or another person is in serious danger (this applies to everyone, at all ages)
- In these exceptional cases, they would try to discuss it with your first before telling anybody else
- More information about your health records.
Do I have to tell the "father"?
- If you choose to have an abortion you don’t need agreement from the "father" - however, some partners want to share in the decision and can be supportive
- It is up to you whether to involve him, but he has no legal right to be informed or consulted
Who should I bring with me to my appointment?
- A safe adult (aged 18 or over) of your choice can stay with you throughout your treatment and you need an adult to take you home afterward
- It's not possible for a male to accompany you as closely as a female support person because we need to protect the privacy of our other clients too
- Whoever accompanies you will need to be aware that they will need to be patient and wait while we carry out all the checks and medical tests
- There will be different BPAS healthcare staff members who will support you throughout your journey, this includes nurses, doctors and support staff
- You can also have a BPAS support person with you throughout treatment if you prefer, and we will keep your own support person up to date with your progress
Our experienced advisors are ready to help you
Our service is respected for its quality of care, delivered by highly trained staff who are sensitive and non judgemental.
Phone lines are open 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm on Saturdays and 9.30am to 2.30pm on Sundays.
