Termination of pregnancy

white ceramic heart lying on its side on a cream surface against a wooden background — Termination of pregnancy

Termination of pregnancy

The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into Irish law on 21^st December 2018.

There are several different circumstances under which termination of pregnancy can be legally performed:

Section 12 allows termination of pregnancy to be carried out by medical practitioners up to 12 weeks’ gestation, once a minimum of three days has elapsed from the date of certification. The majority of terminations occur under this section of the legislation (98.6% in 2021).
Section 11 allows termination of pregnancy to be carried out in the setting of a fetal condition likely to lead to death in utero or within 28 days of birth
Sections 9 and 10 allow termination of pregnancy to be carried out in the setting of a risk to life or a risk of serious harm to the health of the pregnant person.

Termination of pregnancy can be medical or surgical, and can occur in primary (medical only) and secondary care settings. Complications can arise, though major complications are rare. Experiencing a crisis pregnancy can have significant psychosocial effects, and these can be exacerbated by experiencing further complications. A diagnosis of major fetal anomaly in pregnancy is usually unexpected, and causes grief and distress, which can be exacerbated by inadequate care and support.

Our research in this area

Complications of termination of pregnancy
Early pregnancy termination of pregnancy
Review of services / service evaluation
Staff knowledge and training
Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly

Key publications

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Category	Category	Keywords	Year	Title	Abstract	Actions
Report	Report	Early pregnancy / Early pregnancy loss, Ectopic pregnancy,Experience, Fatal fetal anomaly, First-trimester miscarriage, Molar pregnancy / Gestational Trophoblastic Disease, Second-trimester miscarriage, Termination of pregnancy	2024	PLACES \| Pregnancy Loss (under 24 weeks) in Workplaces: Informing policymakers on support mechanisms	A report submitted to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) in fulfilment of the requirements of the tender for the provision of a qualitative research study to examine the workplace experiences of people dealing with pregnancy loss.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Fatal fetal anomaly, Fetal anomaly, Termination of pregnancy, Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies	2023	The outcome of trisomy 18 pregnancies following the legalisation of termination of pregnancy	Our study of Trisomy 18 in pregnancy found that earlier referral to fetal medicine services enabled decision-making around whether to terminate or continue pregnancy. The findings support universal access to first trimester prenatal aneuploidy screening and both care options.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Audit / Service evaluation, Fetal anomaly, Termination of pregnancy, Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies	2023	Fetal anomaly diagnosis and termination of pregnancy in Ireland; a service evaluation following implementation of abortion services in 2019	Our service evaluation of fetal medicine clinics in two tertiary maternity hospitals between 2019-2021 emphasises the impact of legislative barriers to abortion care–and the need for policies and services that support women's access to termination of pregnancy–for major fetal anomalies.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Awareness / Knowledge, Termination of pregnancy	2022	Healthcare professionals and students’ knowledge on termination of pregnancy legislation and clinical practice: a systematic review	There is a widespread lack of knowledge of Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) legislation and clinical practice from healthcare students and staff, internationally. TOP training and education are still needed to ensure adequate care and high-quality TOP services.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Termination of pregnancy	2021	Termination of pregnancy services: a year in review in a tertiary maternity hospital	Audit of 1st year of TOP in a large maternity hospital shows variation in time between mife and misoprostol administration and inconsistent management of pregnancy tissue. Clear protocols and staff education vital to ensure high-quality service and welfare of staff and women.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Termination of pregnancy	2021	Termination of pregnancy: Staff knowledge and training	Study shows low levels of Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) knowledge in maternity staff. Training is required to ensure the provision of a safe and effective TOP service. Findings indicate that updated and clearer clinical guidance on TOP services is also needed.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Awareness / Knowledge, Fatal fetal anomaly, Perinatal palliative care, Termination of pregnancy	2023	Critical discourse analysis on the influence of media commentary on fatal fetal anomaly in Ireland	There are significant misrepresentations in the information being delivered to the public on fatal fetal anomalies. Healthcare professionals need to analyse information available to the public and engage in media literacy and to develop these skills in their patients.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Experience, Fatal fetal anomaly, Staff support, Termination of pregnancy	2021	Fetal medicine specialist experiences of providing a new service of termination of pregnancy for fatal fetal anomaly: a qualitative study	The implementation of termination services for fatal fetal anomaly is complex, challenging and requires institutional support.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Fatal fetal anomaly, Perinatal mortality	2020	The incidence of fatal fetal anomalies associated with perinatal mortality in Ireland	Only 42% of perinatal deaths could be classified as a fatal fetal anomaly in accordance with the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018 highlighting the complexity of these cases/multiorgan system anomalies.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Awareness / Knowledge, Fatal fetal anomaly, Termination of pregnancy, Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies	2019	Critical discourse analysis of the joint committee meetings on the eighth amendment of the constitution of Ireland	The framing of the discourse throughout the meetings of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution likely influenced members’ knowledge, perception, and understanding of key issues, consequently impacting the development of the legislation introduced in 2019.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Awareness / Knowledge, Fatal fetal anomaly, Termination of pregnancy, Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies	2019	An assessment of UCC students’ knowledge of fatal fetal anomaly and termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality	Our study highlights a gap in university student knowledge around fatal fetal anomaly (FFA) and termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality (TOPFA). More readily available, and accurate, public health and college education campaigns are needed.	More details Read publication
Journal Article	Journal Article	Awareness / Knowledge, Fatal fetal anomaly, Termination of pregnancy	2018	An assessment of the general public's knowledge of fatal fetal anomalies	There is a lack of accurate knowledge on fatal fetal anomaly, its classification, diagnosis, survival, and supports available following a diagnosis of fatal fetal anomaly among the general public. This highlights the need for improved health information about fatal fetal anomaly.	More details Read publication

Related policy briefs

Related projects

Experiences of pregnancy with major fetal anomalies