Terminations

A termination is a procedure to end pregnancy. The Isle of Man Abortion Reform Act 2019 makes it possible for women to have a termination within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, should they choose to do so. A termination can also take place during the 15-24-week period and after 24 weeks in very limited circumstances.

This page will provide you with useful information if you are considering having a termination.

How to get a termination

Terminations must be carried out by a licensed clinic and are usually free of charge. You can get a termination in one of 2 ways:

• You can self-refer by calling 01624 642521. Callers will be connected to a confidential telephone hotline which is managed by trained specialists from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS). Telephone lines are open Monday – Friday 7am -7pm, Saturday 8am – 4pm and Sunday 9.30am – 2.30pm. You can also request a call back via the BPAS confidential call back service on telephone: 03457 30 40 30. If you have requested a call back (please note that a call back can take up to 48 hours), but have not yet heard back from BPAS please contact 01624 650704. If your call is not answered, there is an answering machine where you can leave your first name and contact number for someone to call you back (office hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday – Friday).

• Or you can speak to a health professional for example, your GP, midwife, the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU), hospital outpatient department or a sexual health clinic such as Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) or Family Planning, to get information regarding a termination.

When a termination can be carried out

For pregnancies under 10 weeks

Women will be sent an appointment to attend a local clinic on the Isle of Man.

At this point the termination service will ask to perform an ultrasound scan to determine the length of your pregnancy. 

For pregnancies over 10 weeks

Women will be referred to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) or the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) as appropriate.

Some terminations for pregnancies over 10 weeks may be performed in the UK. Your health professional will assess your situation and advise on what’s right for you.

Where to get support

The decision to have a termination is yours alone. It may be a difficult decision to make which is why support is available to help you make your choice.

Impartial information and support is available from:

• Your GP
• The Family Planning Clinic or Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinic
• BPAS for pre and post termination support - Client Care Co-ordinators (CCC`s) provide support for women considering their options pre-abortion. Advice after treatment is also available from staff who are qualified in post-termination counselling. There is no expiration date on post-termination support so women can call at any time after their treatment.