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xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 40 800" preserveAspectRatio="none"><text font-stretch="ultra-condensed" x="800" y="-15" text-anchor="end" transform="rotate(90)" font-size="18" letter-spacing=".1em">Next Page</text></svg></nav><nav id="jr-fip" class="hidden"><nav id="jr-fip-term-p"><input type="search" placeholder="search this page" id="jr-fip-term" autocorrect="off" autocomplete="off" /><a id="jr-fip-mg" class="wsprkl btn" title="Find"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 550 600" preserveAspectRatio="none"><path fill="none" stroke="#000" stroke-width="36" stroke-linecap="round" style="fill:#FFF" d="m320,350a153,153 0 1,0-2,2l170,170m-91-117 110,110-26,26-110-110"></path></svg></a><a id="jr-fip-done" class="wsprkl btn" title="Dismiss find">✘</a></nav><nav id="jr-fip-info-p"><a id="jr-fip-prev" class="wsprkl btn" title="Jump to previuos match">◀</a><button id="jr-fip-matches">no matches yet</button><a id="jr-fip-next" class="wsprkl btn" title="Jump to next match">▶</a></nav></nav></div><div id="jr-epub-interstitial" class="hidden"></div><div id="jr-content"><article data-type="main"><div class="main-content lit-style" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/CreativeWork"><div class="meta-content fm-sec"><div class="fm-sec"><h1 id="_NBK611897_"><span class="title" itemprop="name">Overview: Abortion in Germany</span></h1><p class="fm-aai"><a href="#_NBK611897_pubdet_">Publication Details</a></p></div></div><div class="jig-ncbiinpagenav body-content whole_rhythm" data-jigconfig="allHeadingLevels: ['h2'],smoothScroll: false" itemprop="text"><div id="n0004.introduction"><h2 id="_n0004_introduction_">Introduction</h2><p>There are a lot of different reasons for having an abortion. Some women decide very
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quickly that they want to end their pregnancy. This might be because they don’t
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want any more children or have never wanted children. Others find it very difficult to
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decide – perhaps because they're not sure whether their relationship is stable
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enough or whether they have enough energy for a child (again).</p><p>Women facing this decision can get help and advice from <a href="https://www.familienplanung.de/en/counselling/find-counselling-centre/" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">counseling centers</a> (Beratungsstellen). There you can find out what kind of
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financial support is available, for example. Talking can help you work through conflicting
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feelings and thoughts, leading to a decision that’s right for you. If you decide
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to have an abortion, you can consult a counseling center, gynecology practice or certain
|
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<a href="https://www.familienplanung.de/schwangerschaftskonflikt/schwangerschaftsabbruch/schwangerschaftsabbruch-praxen-kliniken-einrichtungen/schwangerschaftsabbruch-praxen-kliniken-einrichtungen-postleitzahl-00000-bis-099999/" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">websites</a> to find out where you can have it done.</p><p>Abortion is regulated by law in Germany, and women who choose this option must comply
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with certain legal requirements. It can either be done using medication or through
|
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surgery. Both of these approaches have pros and cons but they are similarly effective.</p><p>Roughly 100,000 abortions are carried out in Germany each year. Most of them take place
|
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within the first 12 weeks after the woman becomes pregnant. In other words, up until the
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end of the 14th week of pregnancy.</p></div><div id="n0004.ataglance"><h2 id="_n0004_ataglance_">At a glance</h2><ul><li class="half_rhythm"><div>In certain situations, abortion is allowed in Germany.</div></li><li class="half_rhythm"><div>Women can have an abortion within the first 12 weeks of becoming pregnant, as long as
|
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they have counseling at an approved counseling center before.</div></li><li class="half_rhythm"><div>The counseling can also provide important support for women who aren't sure whether
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they want to keep the baby.</div></li><li class="half_rhythm"><div>A pregnancy can be terminated (ended) using medication or surgery.</div></li><li class="half_rhythm"><div>Most abortions don't lead to any complications.</div></li></ul></div><div id="n0004.whenisabortionanopti"><h2 id="_n0004_whenisabortionanopti_">When is abortion an option?</h2><p>In Germany, there are three situations in which abortion is legal:</p><ul><li class="half_rhythm"><div><b>If it is carried out no later than 12 weeks after the pregnancy started</b>
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<b>(the end of the 14th week of pregnancy)</b> in accordance with the counseling
|
|
requirement (Beratungsregelung). This means that you must attend a special counseling
|
|
appointment at a government-approved unplanned pregnancy counseling center
|
|
(Schwangerschaftskonflikt-Beratungsstelle) at least three days before the abortion.
|
|
You also need a document from the center to prove you’ve had the counseling.
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|
If you’re on a low income, you can apply to your health insurer to have the
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|
cost of the abortion covered. Otherwise, you have to pay for the abortion yourself.
|
|
Medical examinations before and after the abortion are paid for by your health
|
|
insurer.</div></li><li class="half_rhythm"><div>I<b>f there is a medical reason for the abortion</b>: This is when the
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pregnancy would harm your physical or mental health and there is no other way to
|
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prevent that harm. One example could be the result of a test during pregnancy
|
|
(<a href="https://www.informedhealth.org/prenatal-testing.html" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">prenatal
|
|
test</a>). The doctor then has to establish that your physical or mental
|
|
health is at risk and advise you on what the abortion involves, the associated risks
|
|
and possible effects. There are no time limits for these types of abortions. Public
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|
health insurers cover the costs.</div></li><li class="half_rhythm"><div><b>If the pregnancy was caused by a crime</b>: If there is good reason to
|
|
believe that the pregnancy is a result of rape or sexual abuse, it can be terminated
|
|
within the first 12 weeks of becoming pregnant. A doctor must establish if this is the
|
|
case and advise you on what the abortion involves, the associated risks and possible
|
|
effects. Public health insurers cover the costs.</div></li></ul><p>These rules are set out in sections 218 to 219 of Germany’s Criminal Code (StGB).
|
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The <a href="https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/meta/en/publications-en/pregnancy-counselling-218-95930" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Act on Assistance to Avoid and Cope with Conflicts in Pregnancy</a>
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|
(Schwangerschaftskonfliktgesetz) lays down the rules for the counseling and other
|
|
aspects.</p><p>It is completely up to the woman whether she has an abortion or keeps the baby. Her
|
|
partner has no legal right to a say in the matter. No woman may be forced to have an
|
|
abortion.</p></div><div id="n0004.whatdoesanabortionin"><h2 id="_n0004_whatdoesanabortionin_">What does an abortion involve?</h2><p>The two main approaches used to terminate pregnancy are:</p><ul><li class="half_rhythm"><div><b>Medication abortion ("abortion pill")</b>: This involves using two
|
|
medications with a gap of 24 to 48 hours between them. They trigger bleeding in the
|
|
womb, which terminates the pregnancy. In Germany, these medications are approved for
|
|
use up until the 7th week (63rd day) after the start of pregnancy – in other
|
|
words, up until the 9th week of pregnancy. Medication abortion fails to work in 10 out
|
|
of 1,000 women. If this happens, the pills can be taken again or a surgical procedure
|
|
can be carried out to end the pregnancy.</div></li><li class="half_rhythm"><div><b>Surgical abortion with suction (vacuum aspiration)</b>: Here the doctor
|
|
inserts a plastic or metal tube into your womb. The tube is connected to a suction
|
|
device, which is then used to remove the lining of the womb and the embryo. The
|
|
procedure is usually done under a short-acting general anesthetic or, less often,
|
|
using a local anesthetic. Surgical abortion fails to work in 2 out of 1,000 women. If
|
|
this happens, it can be repeated.</div></li></ul><p>Most medication abortions and surgical abortions don't lead to complications like an
|
|
infection or heavy bleeding.</p><div id="n0004.abortionwithmedicati"><h3>Abortion: With medication or surgery?</h3><p>You can find out more about the pros and cons of the different approaches in this
|
|
<a href="https://www.informedhealth.org/decision-aid-abortion-in-germany-during-the-first-12-weeks-of-pregnancy-in-accordance-with-the-counseling-requirement-medication-or-surgery.html" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">decision aid</a>. It can help you to make an informed decision.</p></div><div id="n0004.abortionwithmedicati-a"><div class="h3"></div><p>Some doctors perform a procedure that involves scraping out the lining of the womb with a
|
|
scoop-like instrument called a curette. This approach is called “dilation and
|
|
curettage” or “D&C.” German medical guidelines no longer
|
|
recommend D&C because it is considered to be higher-risk than the suction
|
|
method.</p></div></div><div id="n0004.whereistheabortionca"><h2 id="_n0004_whereistheabortionca_">Where is the abortion carried out?</h2><p>Most abortions are carried out in doctors’ practices or outpatient clinics. Not
|
|
all hospitals perform abortions – and some only provide them if the abortion is
|
|
for medical reasons or the pregnancy is the result of a crime.</p><p>There are some cities and regions where it’s difficult to find an abortion
|
|
provider. Some areas don’t have (enough) doctors who carry out abortions. And not
|
|
every provider offers the whole range of approaches.</p><p>If you would like to find out where abortions are possible and what approaches are
|
|
offered there, you can contact a pregnancy counseling center or gynecology practice, for
|
|
example.</p><p>You will find a list of doctors, clinics and hospitals that perform abortions on the
|
|
websites of the <a href="https://www.familienplanung.de/schwangerschaftskonflikt/schwangerschaftsabbruch/schwangerschaftsabbruch-praxen-kliniken-einrichtungen/schwangerschaftsabbruch-praxen-kliniken-einrichtungen-postleitzahl-00000-bis-099999/" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA)</a> and the <a href="https://liste.bundesaerztekammer.de/suche" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">German Medical
|
|
Association</a> (Bundesärztekammer). But the list doesn’t include
|
|
all providers because it’s based on information that is given voluntarily. Many
|
|
doctors only perform abortions for their own patients or don’t openly provide any
|
|
information on this service.</p><div class="iconblock whole_rhythm clearfix ten_col boxed-text" id="fign0004info5"><a href="/books/NBK611897/box/n0004.info.5/?report=objectonly" target="object" title="Box" class="img_link icnblk_img" rid-ob="figobn0004info5"><img class="small-thumb" src="/corehtml/pmc/css/bookshelf/2.26/img/box-icon.gif" alt="Box Icon" /></a><div class="icnblk_cntnt"><h4 id="n0004.info.5"><a href="/books/NBK611897/box/n0004.info.5/?report=objectonly" target="object" rid-ob="figobn0004info5">Box</a></h4><p class="float-caption no_bottom_margin">There are various time limits for abortions. If you’re thinking about having
|
|
an abortion, it’s important to arrange an appointment with an approved
|
|
counseling center as soon as possible – and to apply to your health insurer if
|
|
you <a href="/books/NBK611897/box/n0004.info.5/?report=objectonly" target="object" rid-ob="figobn0004info5">(more...)</a></p></div></div></div><div id="n0004.whataboutaftertheabo"><h2 id="_n0004_whataboutaftertheabo_">What about after the abortion?</h2><p>Women can expect some vaginal bleeding in the first few days after the abortion. Pain
|
|
(similar to period pain) is also common, but painkillers help here. Both the bleeding and
|
|
the pain stop after 1 to 2 weeks. Abortions don’t usually cause complications like
|
|
an infection in the womb. Rest is recommended for the first few days. You can get a sick
|
|
note from the doctor for a few days. But if you feel ok, you can do whatever you want.</p><p>It is possible to become <a href="/books/n/pmh_iqwig/i2686/?report=reader">pregnant</a> again after just a few days. So it’s important to
|
|
sort out contraception quickly.</p><p>You don’t usually need a check-up after a surgical abortion. After a medication
|
|
abortion, you’ll need to make sure that the pregnancy actually has been
|
|
terminated. You can do this by having an ultrasound scan at the doctor's practice or doing
|
|
a special urine-based pregnancy test at home. If you have any problems, you can contact
|
|
your abortion provider at any time. If you’re finding it hard to cope mentally,
|
|
counseling centers can help.</p></div><div id="n0004.wherecanyougetadvice"><h2 id="_n0004_wherecanyougetadvice_">Where can you get advice?</h2><p>If you would like more information or advice, you can go to your gynecologist, family
|
|
doctor or a <a href="https://www.familienplanung.de/en/counselling/find-counselling-centre/" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">government-approved counseling center</a> (Beratungsstelle). They provide advice
|
|
for all women, especially those who aren't sure what to do. They will also help you to
|
|
find other assistance if you need it. They can let you know where you can have an
|
|
abortion, what time limits apply and what documents you will need too.</p><p>Approved counseling centers also provide the unplanned pregnancy counseling that is
|
|
required by law. They will give you a document to prove you’ve talked to them
|
|
(Beratungsschein). You will have to show this document to the doctor who does the
|
|
abortion.</p></div><div id="n0004.furtherinformation"><h2 id="_n0004_furtherinformation_">Further information</h2><p>The German Society for Family Planning, Sexual Education and Sexual Counselling (pro
|
|
familia) provides information about abortion on its website <a href="https://www.profamilia.de/en/topics/abortion" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">profamilia.de</a>.</p><p>General information on pregnancy and fertility programs is also available from
|
|
the<a href="https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/meta/en/pregnancy-and-the-desire-to-have-children-224060" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri"> Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
|
|
(BMFSFJ)</a>.</p></div><div id="n0004.sources"><h2 id="_n0004_sources_">Sources</h2><ul class="simple-list"><li class="half_rhythm"><p><div class="bk_ref" id="n0004.ref1.7">Bundesministerium für Familie,
|
|
Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ). <a href="https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/service/publikationen/schwangerschaftsberatung-218-81024" ref="pagearea=cite-ref&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Schwangerschaftsberatung § 218. Informationen über das
|
|
Schwangerschaftskonfliktgesetz und gesetzliche Regelungen im Kontext des §
|
|
218 Strafgesetzbuch</a>. 2022.</div></p></li><li class="half_rhythm"><p><div class="bk_ref" id="n0004.ref2.7">Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche
|
|
Aufklärung (BZgA). Familienplanung.de: <a href="https://www.familienplanung.de/schwangerschaftskonflikt/schwangerschaftsabbruch/" ref="pagearea=cite-ref&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Schwangerschaftsabbruch</a>.</div></p></li><li class="half_rhythm"><p><div class="bk_ref" id="n0004.ref3.7">Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche
|
|
Aufklärung (BZgA). <a href="https://shop.bzga.de/frauen-leben-3-13050600/" ref="pagearea=cite-ref&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">frauen leben 3 - Familienplanung im Lebenslauf. Erste Forschungsergebnisse zu
|
|
ungewollten Schwangerschaften und Schwangerschaftskonflikten</a>.
|
|
2013.</div></p></li><li class="half_rhythm"><p><div class="bk_ref" id="n0004.ref4.7">Deutsche Gesellschaft für
|
|
Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe (DGGG). <a href="https://register.awmf.org/de/leitlinien/detail/015-094" ref="pagearea=cite-ref&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Schwangerschaftsabbruch im ersten Trimenon (S2k-Leitlinie)</a>.
|
|
AWMF-Registernr.: 015-094. 2023.</div></p></li><li class="half_rhythm"><p><div class="bk_ref" id="n0004.ref5.7">Institute for Quality and Efficiency in
|
|
Health Care (IQWiG, Germany). <a href="https://www.iqwig.de/en/projects/v21-12.html" ref="pagearea=cite-ref&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Evidence report for the S3 guideline on abortion in the first trimester</a>;
|
|
Commission V21-12. 2023. [<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35133765" ref="pagearea=cite-ref&targetsite=entrez&targetcat=link&targettype=pubmed">PubMed<span class="bk_prnt">: 35133765</span></a>]</div></p></li><li class="half_rhythm"><p><div class="bk_ref" id="n0004.ref6.7">Pro Familia. <a href="https://www.profamilia.de/themen/schwangerschaftsabbruch" ref="pagearea=cite-ref&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Schwangerschaftsabbruch – Abtreibung</a>. 2024.</div></p></li><li class="half_rhythm"><p><div class="bk_ref" id="n0004.ref7.7">World Health Organization (WHO). <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240039483" ref="pagearea=cite-ref&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Abortion care
|
|
guideline</a>. 2022.</div></p></li><li class="half_rhythm"><p><div class="bk_ref" id="n0004.gi-sources-disclaimer"><p id="p-35">IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the
|
|
advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care
|
|
services.</p><p id="p-36">Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is
|
|
specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described
|
|
options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor.
|
|
informedhealth.org can provide support for talks with doctors and other medical
|
|
professionals, but cannot replace them. We do not offer individual
|
|
consultations.</p><p id="p-37">Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a
|
|
team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external
|
|
experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is
|
|
produced and updated in our methods.</p></div></p></li></ul></div><div id="bk_toc_contnr"></div></div></div><div class="fm-sec"><h2 id="_NBK611897_pubdet_">Publication Details</h2><h3>Publication History</h3><p class="small">Created: <span itemprop="datePublished">January 20, 2025</span>; Next update: 2028.</p><h3>Copyright</h3><div><div class="half_rhythm">© IQWiG (Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health
|
|
Care)</div></div><h3>Publisher</h3><p><a href="https://www.informedhealth.org/" ref="pagearea=page-banner&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=publisher">Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG)</a>, Cologne, Germany</p><h3>NLM Citation</h3><p>InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Overview: Abortion in Germany. 2025 Jan 20.<span class="bk_cite_avail"></span></p></div><div class="small-screen-prev"><a href="/books/n/pmh_iqwig/n0003.treatment-a/?report=reader"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none"><path d="M75,30 c-80,60 -80,0 0,60 c-30,-60 -30,0 0,-60"></path><text x="20" y="28" textLength="60" style="font-size:25px">Prev</text></svg></a></div><div class="small-screen-next"><a href="/books/n/pmh_iqwig/n0004.consideration-a/?report=reader"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none"><path d="M25,30c80,60 80,0 0,60 c30,-60 30,0 0,-60"></path><text x="20" y="28" textLength="60" style="font-size:25px">Next</text></svg></a></div></article><article data-type="boxed-text" id="figobn0004info5"><div id="n0004.info.5" class="box"><div id="n0004.info-sec.5"><h4>Good to know:</h4><p>There are various time limits for abortions. If you’re thinking about having
|
|
an abortion, it’s important to arrange an appointment with an approved
|
|
counseling center as soon as possible – and to apply to your health insurer if
|
|
you need help with the costs. </p></div></div></article></div><div id="jr-scripts"><script src="/corehtml/pmc/jatsreader/ptpmc_3.22/js/libs.min.js"> </script><script src="/corehtml/pmc/jatsreader/ptpmc_3.22/js/jr.min.js"> </script></div></div>
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