Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by a procedure that empties the contents of the womb.
In Australia abortion is allowed in all states under certain circumstances and when carried about by a registered doctor.
Most abortions occur in the first trimester of pregnancy (up to 12 weeks), although some are carried out later depending on the circumstances. It's very difficult to estimate how many abortions are carried out in Australia since an accurate number cannot be calculated using the current systems of statistical collection. However estimates put the number per year between around 70,000 and 90,000.
Unplanned pregnancies can occur for women in at any child-bearing age but there are some factors that make some women more likely to have an abortion. These include:
- Single and childless
- Aged 20-30
Research shows that half of all Australian women have experienced an unplanned pregnancy and of those 60 per cent were using some form of contraception at the time.