Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH)
Including the Human Reproduction Special Programme (HRP)
About

Abortion

Unsafe abortion occurs when a pregnancy is terminated either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment that does not conform to minimal medical standards, or both. Safe abortions are those performed in accordance with WHO guidelines and standards, thus ensuring that the risk of severe complications is minimal.

The rate of unsafe abortions is higher where access to effective contraception and safe abortion care is limited or unavailable. Life-threatening complications that may result from unsafe abortion include haemorrhage, infection, and injury to the genital tract and internal organs.

In addition to the deaths and disabilities caused by unsafe abortion, there are major social and financial costs to women, families, communities and health systems.

Almost every abortion-related death and disability could be prevented through sexuality education, use of effective contraception, provision of safe and legal induced abortion, and timely care for complications.

Publications

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Abortion care guideline, 2nd ed
24 August 2025

Abortion care guideline, 2nd ed
In this guideline, recommendations are presented across three domains that are essential to the provision of abortion care: Law and policy, Clinical services...
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A step-by-step guide to South-South learning exchanges
3 December 2024

A step-by-step guide to South-South learning exchanges

This guide focuses on interactive learning exchanges with stakeholder teams exchanging knowledge and experience to help one or both of the teams work...

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Potential for strategic purchasing to promote person-centred provision of sexual and reproductive health services in low- and middle-income countries
31 December 2023

Potential for strategic purchasing to promote person-centred provision of sexual and reproductive health...

This brief examines the relevance of strategic purchasing in optimizing person-centred approaches to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and...

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Documents

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6 January 2025

Identifying and removing barriers to self-managed abortion in Zambia

6 January 2025

Introducing safe uterine evacuation products to markets in Central America

6 January 2025

Ensuring that choice of abortion method includes surgical and legally permissible second-trimester services

Research articles

2024

Karna P, Sharma KA, Grossman A, et al. Landscape assessment of the availability of medical abortion medicines in India Reprod Health. 2024;20(Suppl 1):193. Published 2024 Jun 5. doi:10.1186/s12978-024-01774-5

Upadhyay MT, Fusire T, Loi UR, et al. Strengthening regional commitment to ensuring access to medical abortion medicines in WHO's South-East Asia region: report of a participatory assessment and workshop. Reprod Health. 2024;20(Suppl 1):191. Published 2024 May 17. doi:10.1186/s12978-024-01791-4

2023

Sorhaindo AM, Castle S, Flomen L, et al. Adaptations to comprehensive abortion care during the COVID-19 pandemic: case studies of provision in Bolivia, Mali, Nepal, and the occupied Palestinian territory. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023;31(1):2249694. doi:10.1080/26410397.2023.2249694

Rehnström Loi U, Sorhaindo A, Embo M, Kabra R, Kiarie J, Ganatra B. Aligning health worker education and learning approaches with population health needs: WHO's Family Planning and Comprehensive Abortion Care Toolkit for the primary healthcare workforce. BMJ Glob Health. 2023;8(Suppl 4):e013256. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013256

Footman K, Goel K, Rehnström Loi U, Mirelman AJ, Govender V, Ganatra B. Inclusion of abortion-related care in national health benefit packages: results from a WHO global survey. BMJ Glob Health. 2023;8(Suppl 4):e012321. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012321

Chakravarty D, Mishtal J, Grimes L, et al. Restrictive points of entry into abortion care in Ireland: a qualitative study of expectations and experiences with the service. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023;31(1):2215567. doi:10.1080/26410397.2023.2215567

Macleod CI, Reuvers M, Reynolds JH, Lavelanet A, Delate R. Comparative situational analysis of comprehensive abortion care in four Southern African countries. Glob Public Health. 2023;18(1):2217442. doi:10.1080/17441692.2023.2217442

Grossman A, Prata N, Williams N, et al. Correction: Availability of medical abortion medicines in eight countries: a descriptive analysis of key findings and opportunities. Reprod Health. 2023;20(1):160. Published 2023 Oct 26. doi:10.1186/s12978-023-01691-z

Lal BK, Pandav RS, Hyder MKA, et al. Policy change to improve access to safe abortion care in federal Nepal. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2024;164 Suppl 1:61-66. doi:10.1002/ijgo.14729

Grimes L, Mishtal J, Reeves K, et al. ‘Still travelling’: Access to abortion post-12 weeks gestation in Ireland. Women's Studies International Forum, Volume 98, 2023, 102709, ISSN 0277-395, doi:10.1016/j.wsif.2023.102709

Ambast S, Atay H, Lavelanet A. A global review of penalties for abortion-related offences in 182 countries. BMJ Glob Health. 2023;8(3):e010405. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010405

Mahipala PG, Afzal S, Uzma Q, et al. An assessment of facility readiness for comprehensive abortion care in 12 districts of Pakistan using the WHO Service Availability and Readiness Assessment tool. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023;31(1):2178265. doi:10.1080/26410397.2023.2178265

de Londras F. Corrigendum to 'The Impact of 'Conscientious Objection' on Abortion-Related Outcomes: a synthesis of legal and health evidence'. Health Policy. 2023;131:104757. doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104757

Rehnström Loi U, Prata N, Grossman A, Lavelanet A, Williams N, Ganatra B. In-country availability of medical abortion medicines: a description of the framework and methodology of the WHO landscape assessments. Reprod Health. 2023;20(Suppl 1):20. Published 2023 Jan 24. doi:10.1186/s12978-022-01530-7

2022

de Londras F, Cleeve A, Rodriguez MI, Farrell A, Furgalska M, Lavelanet A. The impact of criminalisation on abortion-related outcomes: a synthesis of legal and health evidence. BMJ Glob Health. 2022;7(12):e010409. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010409

Sorhaindo A, Rehnstrom Loi U. Interventions to reduce stigma related to contraception and abortion: a scoping review. BMJ Open. 2022;12(11):e063870. Published 2022 Nov 17. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063870

Cassinath N, Titulaer P, Läser L, et al. Disruptions to the procurement of medical abortion medicines during COVID-19: a scoping review. BMJ Open. 2022;12(10):e064848. Published 2022 Oct 27. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064848

Cecatti JG, Bahamondes L, Ali M, et al. Issues related to pregnancy, pregnancy prevention and abortion in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a WHO qualitative study protocol. BMJ Open. 2022;12(10):e063317. Published 2022 Oct 6. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063317

Sorhaindo AM, Lavelanet AF. Why does abortion stigma matter? A scoping review and hybrid analysis of qualitative evidence illustrating the role of stigma in the quality of abortion care. Soc Sci Med. 2022;311:115271. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115271

de Londras F, Cleeve A, Rodriguez MI, Farrell A, Furgalska M, Lavelanet A. The impact of mandatory waiting periods on abortion-related outcomes: a synthesis of legal and health evidence. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):1232. Published 2022 Jun 21. doi:10.1186/s12889-022-13620-z

Duffy D, Mishtal J, Grimes L, et al. Information flow as reproductive governance. Patient journey analysis of information barriers and facilitators to abortion care in the republic of Ireland. SSM Popul Health. 2022;19:101132. Published 2022 May 19. doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101132

de Londras F, Cleeve A, Rodriguez MI, Lavelanet AF. The impact of 'grounds' on abortion-related outcomes: a synthesis of legal and health evidence. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):936. Published 2022 May 10. doi:10.1186/s12889-022-13247-0

Mishtal J, Reeves K, Chakravarty D, Grimes L, Stifani B, Chavkin W, Duffy D, Favier M, Horgan P, Murphy M, Lavelanet AF. Abortion policy implementation in Ireland: Lessons from the community model of care. PLoS One. 2022 May 9;17(5):e0264494. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264494. PMID: 35533193; PMCID: PMC9084516.

Mishtal J, Reeves K, Chakravarty D, et al. Abortion policy implementation in Ireland: Lessons from the community model of care. PLoS One. 2022;17(5):e0264494. Published 2022 May 9. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0264494

de Londras F, Cleeve A, Rodriguez MI, Farrell A, Furgalska M, Lavelanet AF. The impact of provider restrictions on abortion-related outcomes: a synthesis of legal and health evidence. Reprod Health. 2022;19(1):95. Published 2022 Apr 18. doi:10.1186/s12978-022-01405-x

Bearak JM, Popinchalk A, Beavin C, et al. Country-specific estimates of unintended pregnancy and abortion incidence: a global comparative analysis of levels in 2015-2019. BMJ Glob Health. 2022;7(3):e007151. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007151

Kouanda S, Qureshi Z. Quality of care for abortion-related complications: Insights from the WHO Multi-Country Survey on Abortion-related Morbidity across 11 African countries. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2022;156 Suppl 1:4-6. doi:10.1002/ijgo.14079

2021

Burris S, Ghorashi AR, Cloud LF, Rebouché R, Skuster P, Lavelanet A. Identifying data for the empirical assessment of law (IDEAL): a realist approach to research gaps on the health effects of abortion law. BMJ Glob Health. 2021;6(6):e005120. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005120

Rossier C, Marchin A, Kim C, Ganatra B. Disclosure to social network members among abortion-seeking women in low- and middle-income countries with restrictive access: a systematic review. Reprod Health. 2021;18(1):114. Published 2021 Jun 7. doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01165-0

Gill RK, Cleeve A, Lavelanet AF. Abortion hotlines around the world: a mixed-methods systematic and descriptive review. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2021;29(1):1907027. doi:10.1080/26410397.2021.1907027

Kim C, Nguyen AT, Berry-Bibee E, Ermias Y, Gaffield ME, Kapp N. Systemic hormonal contraception initiation after abortion: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Contraception. 2021;103(5):291-304. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2021.01.017

Qureshi Z, Mehrtash H, Kouanda S, et al. Understanding abortion-related complications in health facilities: results from WHO multicountry survey on abortion (MCS-A) across 11 sub-Saharan African countries. BMJ Glob Health. 2021;6(1):e003702. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003702

2020

Tufa TH, Prager S, Lavelanet AF, Kim C. Drugs used to induce fetal demise prior to abortion: a systematic review. Contracept X. 2020;2:100046. Published 2020 Nov 9. doi:10.1016/j.conx.2020.100046

Bearak J, Popinchalk A, Ganatra B, et al. Unintended pregnancy and abortion by income, region, and the legal status of abortion: estimates from a comprehensive model for 1990-2019. Lancet Glob Health. 2020;8(9):e1152-e1161. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30315-6

Abubeker FA, Lavelanet A, Rodriguez MI, Kim C. Medical termination for pregnancy in early first trimester (≤ 63 days) using combination of mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprostol alone: a systematic review. BMC Womens Health. 2020;20(1):142. Published 2020 Jul 7. doi:10.1186/s12905-020-01003-8

Gambir K, Kim C, Necastro KA, Ganatra B, Ngo TD. Self-administered versus provider-administered medical abortion. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;3(3):CD013181. Published 2020 Mar 9. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013181.pub2

 

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