An abortion is the ending of a pregnancy. In an abortion, the embryo or foetus is removed from the women’s uterus. The embryo or foetus is what gradually develops into a baby.

An abortion is only done when the foetus is in the early stages of development. In an average abortion, the foetus is about 3cm long. Scientists tell us that the foetus has no awareness (including awareness of pain) until sometime after the 5^th month of pregnancy. However, other doctors and scientists say that a baby has slight sensation from as young as 6 weeks old. No one can be exactly sure.

• The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the woman or any existing children of her family.
• The termination is necessary to prevent permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the woman.
• The continuance of pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the woman, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.
• There is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.

Abortion is only legal if it is carried out by a doctor in approved premises and 2 doctors have certified the case. Abortion is illegal in Ireland due to the Catholic beliefs..