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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="_NBK611898_"><span class="title" itemprop="name">Abortion in Germany: Learn More – Before an abortion</span></h1><p class="fm-aai"><a href="#_NBK611898_pubdet_">Publication Details</a></p></div></div><div class="jig-ncbiinpagenav body-content whole_rhythm" data-jigconfig="allHeadingLevels: ['h2'],smoothScroll: false" itemprop="text"><p>
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<b>In Germany, women who are considering an abortion have to comply with legal
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requirements. There are time limits for certain things so it’s important to make
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appointments and get the necessary documents in time. </b>
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</p><p>A woman can have an abortion if she has had counseling from a government-approved
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counseling provider at least three days before the abortion and if no more than 12 weeks
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have passed since she became pregnant. That means no later than the end of the 14th week of
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pregnancy, starting from the first day of her last period.</p><p>This article only covers abortions that fall under the counseling requirement mentioned
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above. Other rules apply if the abortion is <a href="https://www.informedhealth.org/abortion-in-germany.html#When-is-abortion-an-option" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">for medical reasons or the pregnancy is the result of a crime</a>.</p><div id="n0004.when-a.whatdoyouneedtoknow"><h2 id="_n0004_when-a_whatdoyouneedtoknow_">What do you need to know?</h2><p>In Germany, women must have counseling before they have an abortion. This counseling
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takes place in a government-approved center known as a
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"Schwangerschaftskonflikt-Beratungsstelle." The law states that the counseling must be
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neutral regarding the outcome. The center will give you a document (called a
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“Beratungsschein”) to prove that you’ve had counseling. You have
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to show this to the doctor that carries out the abortion. This regulation is referred to
|
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as the "Beratungsregelung," or “counseling requirement.”</p><p>Some doctors offer this counseling too and you can get the document from them. But
|
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they’re not allowed to carry out an abortion on someone who went to them for the
|
|
counseling.</p><p>The counseling appointment has to be at least three full days before the abortion takes
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place. If you’re on a low income, you can apply to have the costs of the abortion
|
|
covered. It is important to make sure your health insurer receives and approves your
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application before you have the abortion. You will usually hear back from them very
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quickly.</p><p>Many women realize they’re pregnant pretty soon after they’ve missed a
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|
period (roughly in the 3rd week after they become pregnant). If that happens, you still
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have a number of weeks if you’re thinking about ending the pregnancy. If you're
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not sure what you want to do, it's a good idea to contact a counseling provider as soon as
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|
possible. It might also take some time to find a doctor, clinic or hospital that will
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|
carry out the abortion. And there are fewer risks if the abortion is done early on.</p><div class="graphic"><img src="/books/NBK611898/bin/en_schwangerschaftsabbruch_anlaufstellen.jpg" alt="Illustration: Places women can turn to if considering an abortion" /></div></div><div id="n0004.when-a.howcanyoufindoutwhet"><h2 id="_n0004_when-a_howcanyoufindoutwhet_">How can you find out whether you're pregnant?</h2><p>You can do a store-bought pregnancy test at home. Women whose test result is positive
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often make an appointment with their gynecologist afterwards. The gynecologist usually
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|
does an ultrasound scan. They’ll be able to see the embryo if you’re more
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|
than 5 weeks pregnant.</p><p>To work out how many weeks pregnant you are, you will typically be asked when your last
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|
period started. In most cases, you will also have an ultrasound scan to measure the embryo
|
|
– for example, if your periods are very irregular or you’re not sure when
|
|
your last one started. </p><div class="iconblock whole_rhythm clearfix ten_col boxed-text" id="fign0004whenainfo6"><a href="/books/NBK611898/box/n0004.when-a.info.6/?report=objectonly" target="object" title="Box" class="img_link icnblk_img" rid-ob="figobn0004whenainfo6"><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.when-a.info.6"><a href="/books/NBK611898/box/n0004.when-a.info.6/?report=objectonly" target="object" rid-ob="figobn0004whenainfo6">Box</a></h4><p class="float-caption no_bottom_margin">If the pregnancy test you do at home is positive, you can make an appointment
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|
directly with the counseling center. If you want, you can ask a gynecologist to
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|
confirm the pregnancy first. </p></div></div></div><div id="n0004.when-a.whatdoesunplannedpre"><h2 id="_n0004_when-a_whatdoesunplannedpre_">What does unplanned pregnancy counseling involve?</h2><p>The goal of unplanned pregnancy counseling (Schwangerschaftskonflikt-Beratung) is to help
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|
you decide whether or not to continue the pregnancy. You can tell the counselor why you
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|
feel an abortion is or isn’t a good option for you, but you don’t have
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|
to.</p><p>If you wish, the counselor can give you advice on how to continue the pregnancy and how
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|
to prepare for life with a child. This includes information on financial support and
|
|
childcare. You can discuss why you think it would be difficult for you to have the child,
|
|
and talk to the counselor about possible solutions. Counseling centers can also provide
|
|
information on the possibility of giving the child up for adoption or giving birth in
|
|
secret (a "confidential birth").</p><p>If you like, you will be given information about where you can have an abortion and which
|
|
approaches the different providers offer.</p><p>The law states that the counseling must be neutral regarding the outcome. It should
|
|
encourage the woman to continue the pregnancy. But she mustn’t feel pressured into
|
|
a certain decision or like she has to justify herself. Whether she keeps the baby or not
|
|
is her decision alone. No matter what she decides after the appointment, she must be given
|
|
the document (Beratungsschein) that proves the counseling took place.</p></div><div id="n0004.when-a.isthecounselingfreeo"><h2 id="_n0004_when-a_isthecounselingfreeo_">Is the counseling free of charge and confidential?</h2><p>Yes. You can also have more than one counseling session. Your partner can attend as well,
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|
if you want, or they can make their own appointment. You can bring a close friend or
|
|
relative too, like your mother.</p><p>The counselors aren't allowed to tell anyone else about what you discuss. The counseling
|
|
can be done anonymously if you wish. Then someone else from the counseling center will
|
|
issue the document you have to show before you have the abortion.</p><p>The center keeps an anonymous record of certain details like age, ethnic background and
|
|
reasons for the abortion. This information is only used for reporting to the local
|
|
authorities.</p></div><div id="n0004.when-a.doallunplannedpregna"><h2 id="_n0004_when-a_doallunplannedpregna_">Do all unplanned pregnancy counseling centers issue documents to prove counseling has
|
|
taken place?</h2><p>No. Centers run by Caritas or the Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen (Catholic
|
|
women’s welfare service), for instance, offer counseling but they don’t
|
|
provide the required document. It is also important to be aware that only
|
|
government-approved counseling providers are allowed to issue these documents.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.familienplanung.de/en/counselling/find-counselling-centre/" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA)</a> has a list of government-approved
|
|
counseling centers on its website. If you select the “Counselling certificate
|
|
(Beratungsschein)" box, the list will only show centers that issue this document.</p></div><div id="n0004.when-a.whatcanhelpyoudecide"><h2 id="_n0004_when-a_whatcanhelpyoudecide_">What can help you decide?</h2><p>Many women who go to the counseling appointment are already sure they want to end the
|
|
pregnancy. But some find it harder to decide – either because they’re
|
|
unsure themselves or because, for example, their partner or family don’t want the
|
|
same thing as they do.</p><p>The counselors are very experienced in dealing with situations like this. They can tell
|
|
you about ways to help you make a decision that’s right for you. If necessary,
|
|
they can arrange for you to get further help too.</p><p>Some useful things to remember:</p><ul><li class="half_rhythm"><div>Don’t be pushed into a decision. Make use of the time you have to work
|
|
through your thoughts and feelings.</div></li><li class="half_rhythm"><div>Talk to people close to you and to the professional counselors.</div></li><li class="half_rhythm"><div>Work out what potential solutions there are for different problems. These could be
|
|
things like financial worries, lack of living space, or childcare.</div></li><li class="half_rhythm"><div>If you have any questions about how an abortion would be carried out, ask at the
|
|
counseling center or your doctor's practice.</div></li></ul><p>You don’t have to tell anyone else that you’re pregnant and thinking
|
|
about having an abortion. But many women do turn to their family or good friends for
|
|
support.</p></div><div id="n0004.when-a.whichdoctorscarryout"><h2 id="_n0004_when-a_whichdoctorscarryout_">Which doctors carry out abortions in Germany?</h2><p>The first place people contact to find this out is often their gynecologist or,
|
|
sometimes, their family doctor. If these doctors don’t carry out abortions
|
|
themselves, they can tell you where to find someone who does. The counseling centers
|
|
usually have lists of local doctors, clinics and hospitals that perform abortions.</p><p>Most abortions are carried out in doctors’ practices or outpatient clinics. Not
|
|
all hospitals perform abortions. Some only provide them if the abortion is for medical
|
|
reasons or the pregnancy is the result of a crime.</p><p>In some cities and regions it’s difficult to find an abortion provider. Some
|
|
places don’t have (enough) doctors that carry out abortions. And not every
|
|
provider offers the whole range of abortion approaches.</p><p>You will find a list of doctors and clinics 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 given voluntarily. A lot of
|
|
doctors only offer abortions for their own patients or don’t openly provide any
|
|
information on this service.</p></div><div id="n0004.when-a.whatarethedifferentt"><h2 id="_n0004_when-a_whatarethedifferentt_">What are the different types of abortion?</h2><p>There are two different approaches:</p><ul><li class="half_rhythm"><div><b><a href="https://www.informedhealth.org/medication-abortion-abortion-pill.html" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Medication abortion</a> ("Abortion pill")</b>: This involves using two
|
|
drugs with a gap of 24 to 48 hours between them. They trigger bleeding in the womb to
|
|
end the pregnancy. In Germany, these drugs are approved for use up until the 7th week
|
|
(63rd day) after the pregnancy starts – 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 you can have a surgical procedure to end the
|
|
pregnancy.</div></li><li class="half_rhythm"><div><b><a href="https://www.informedhealth.org/surgical-abortion.html" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Surgical
|
|
abortion</a> 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, the procedure can be repeated.</div></li></ul><p>Most medication abortions and surgical abortions don't lead to any complications.</p><p>Some doctors perform a procedure that involves scraping out the lining of the womb with a
|
|
scoop-like instrument called a curette (curettage or "D&C"). But this is
|
|
considered higher-risk than the suction approach, so it’s no longer recommended in
|
|
the German medical guidelines.</p><div id="n0004.when-a.abortionpillorsurgic"><h3>Abortion pill or surgical abortion?</h3><p>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> can help you weigh the pros and cons of medication vs.
|
|
surgical abortion before choosing the right approach for you.</p></div><div id="n0004.when-a.abortionpillorsurgic-a"><div class="h3"></div><p>Not every doctor or clinic offers both approaches, though. Sometimes you have to contact
|
|
several providers to get the type of abortion you would prefer.</p></div></div><div id="n0004.when-a.doyouhavetopayforana"><h2 id="_n0004_when-a_doyouhavetopayforana_">Do you have to pay for an abortion?</h2><p>Yes, if the abortion falls under the counseling requirement – unless you earn
|
|
less than 1,446 euros net per month (correct as at July 1, 2024) or claim welfare
|
|
benefits. Then the federal state pays. If there are children living in your home or your
|
|
monthly rent is more than 424 euros (correct as at July 1, 2024), the state will cover the
|
|
costs at a higher income threshold. Your partner’s income isn’t taken into
|
|
consideration. Information on the current income thresholds is available (in German) from
|
|
the <a href="https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/themen/familie/schwangerschaft-und-kinderwunsch/schwangerschaftsabbruch/schwangerschaftsabbruch-nach-218-strafgesetzbuch-81020" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=external&targetcat=link&targettype=uri">Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth</a>.</p><p>To have the costs of the abortion covered by your public (statutory) health insurer, you
|
|
have to submit the application to the insurer and have it approved by them before the
|
|
abortion is carried out. When you apply, you have to state how much you earn but the
|
|
insurer isn’t allowed to ask for proof. Women who are insured privately or do not
|
|
have health insurance can contact any local public health insurer. The abortion provider
|
|
will first have to see the document confirming that the costs will be covered.</p><p>Abortions cost about 350 to 650 euros. The actual figure depends on things like whether
|
|
you have it done as an inpatient or an outpatient and the region of Germany where
|
|
it’s carried out. Medication abortions usually cost less than surgical
|
|
abortions.</p><p>The health insurer or – in the case of people without health insurance –
|
|
the social welfare office (“Sozialamt”) pays for the talk with the doctor
|
|
before the abortion, examinations and additional medication before and after the abortion,
|
|
and treatment for any complications.</p></div><div id="n0004.when-a.gi-sources.16"><h2 id="_n0004_when-a_gi-sources_16_">Sources</h2><ul class="simple-list"><li class="half_rhythm"><p><div class="bk_ref" id="n0004.when-a.ref1.16">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.when-a.ref2.16">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.when-a.ref3.16">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.when-a.ref4.16">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.when-a.gi-sources-disclaimer"><p id="p-44">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-45">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-46">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="_NBK611898_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
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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-. Abortion in Germany: Learn More – Before an abortion. 2025 Jan 20.<span class="bk_cite_avail"></span></p></div><div class="small-screen-prev"><a href="/books/n/pmh_iqwig/n0004.involve-b/?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/n0005/?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="figobn0004whenainfo6"><div id="n0004.when-a.info.6" class="box"><div id="n0004.when-a.info-sec.6"><h4>Good to know:</h4><p>If the pregnancy test you do at home is positive, you can make an appointment
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directly with the counseling center. If you want, you can ask a gynecologist to
|
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confirm the pregnancy first.</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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