Choice Ireland

Irish Medical News
20th July 2009
by Nick O'Donoghue

Immigrants who have crisis pregnancies are travelling to their countries of origin for terminations, while reports suggest some Irish women have travelled long distances for abortions.

The Well Woman Centre's 2008 Annual Report noted Irish women who have had unplanned pregnancies "may have had terminations as far afield as America, Australia or India".

The Report noted the growth in numbers of immigrants using the centres' services has led to the need to publish information regarding crisis pregnancies in eight languages outlining a woman's right to travel for an abortion and Ireland's position on terminations.

"Well Woman has noted that women who opt for abortion are not just traveling to the UK to access services, but worldwide, and especially to the Netherlands.

"Many immigrant women living in Ireland tend to return to their home countries for a termination," a spokesperson said.

Well Woman Head of Counselling Services Ms Linda Wilson-Long said the number of women attending post-termination counselling sessions was low.

"Women do not avail of post-abortion services in the numbers we would hope to see, despite a high-profile campaign during 2008 by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency to make them aware that support services are available to them," she said.

The Report also revealed information on the use of long-acting reversible contraceptive products, with women in the 20s opting to use the new Implanon implant, which lasts for three years, while women in their early 40s were more likely to use the Mirena intrauterine system.

Well Woman also highlighted that amongst its patients the rate of abnormal smear results which required further investigation was disproportionately higher in medical cardholders.