FAQs

The National Abortion Telehealth Service, DECIDE, is a Ministry of Health funded initiative, operated by Family Planning New Zealand and Magma Healthcare. Our service connects people anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand to abortion services.

Family Planning is New Zealand’s largest primary health care provider of sexual and reproductive health services and information. Operating since 1936, our range of services includes contraception, STI testing and treatment, cervical screening and abortion, as well as education and information. 

Visit Family Planning website

Magma Healthcare is an innovative provider of sexual and reproductive healthcare services. Since 2016, Magma has been providing abortion services throughout New Zealand. 

Visit Magma website (The Women's Clinic)

DECIDE is the brand name for the National Abortion Telehealth Service.

The best way to confirm if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are reliable and widely available. You can get a pregnancy test from a pharmacy, chemist or Family Planning. 

Am I pregnant?

Yes. At home pregnancy tests are reliable as long as you follow the instructions carefully. You can get a pregnancy test from a pharmacy, chemist or Family Planning. 

Wait at least a week after you’ve missed your normal period to take a pregnancy test. Do the test first thing in the morning, when your urine (pee/mimi) is most concentrated.

A positive pregnancy test means you are pregnant.

A negative pregnancy test means you are not pregnant.

If you returned a negative pregnancy test but still think you might be pregnant, contact Family Planning or your GP or health practitioner.

If the test result is negative and you don’t want to get pregnant, check out contraception options at Family Planning or with your nurse or doctor.

Contraception options

Abortion is a medical or surgical procedure to end a pregnancy. It is also called a termination of pregnancy. The two main methods of abortion used in Aotearoa New Zealand are medical and surgical abortion.

Abortion types

Yes. Any pregnant person in New Zealand has the right to have an abortion from a qualified midwife, nurse or doctor.

Abortion and your rights

No. You do not need a referral from your GP or health practitioner to have an abortion. This means you can contact an abortion provider directly to find out about abortion services that meet your specific needs. 

Any pregnant person of any age can seek or have an abortion in New Zealand.

Abortion and your rights

There is no time limit on having an abortion in New Zealand. Generally, the earlier the procedure, the less complicated it is. After 20 weeks of pregnancy your health practitioner will need to consult a second health practitioner, and decide whether an abortion is clinically appropriate. You may need to travel to another region for the abortion.

Abortion types

No. Your privacy is important. It is your choice who you tell about your pregnancy or abortion. No one will be told without your permission. Your abortion provider will discuss support you may need.

Abortion and your rights

No. It is your choice who you tell about your pregnancy or abortion. No one will be told without your permission. Legally, it is only YOU who makes the final decision whether or not to have an abortion.

If you are a young person, it is a good idea to talk to a parent or another trusted adult if you can. If you do choose to have an abortion, it is good to have adult support.  

Abortion and your rights

Abortion care is not just for cis women. Transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive people who were assigned female or intersex at birth can experience pregnancy and can decide to have an abortion. 

New Zealand citizen/resident

Abortion services are free for most New Zealand citizens and residents.

You may need to pay for prescription charges and ultrasound. 

Non-New Zealand resident

If you are not a New Zealand citizen or resident (non-resident), or on a minimum two year working visa you will likely have to pay for an abortion and any after care costs. Abortion costs for non-New Zealand residents vary between NZ$950 and $5,500, depending on the provider and type of abortion.

Contact your local abortion provider for information on their costs for non-New Zealand residents, or contact The Women's Clinic on 0800 226 784 for telemedicine costs for early medical abortion anywhere in New Zealand. 

If you are not a New Zealand citizen or resident (non-resident), or on a minimum two year working visa you will likely have to pay for an abortion and any after care costs. Abortion costs for non-New Zealand residents vary between $NZD950 and $5,500, depending on the provider and type of abortion.

Contact your local abortion provider for information on their costs for non-New Zealand residents, or contact The Women's Clinic on 0800 226 784 for telemedicine costs for early medical abortion anywhere in New Zealand. 

You can change your mind about having an abortion at any time before it takes place. Once you begin the process (take medication), you are unable to stop or reverse the abortion.

No. You do not have to have counselling to get an abortion. For some people it can be helpful to talk about their feelings with a professional counsellor. You can ask to have counselling before or after your abortion.

Unlike an abortion which ends a pregnancy, emergency contraception prevents a pregnancy from happening.

The Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP) (formerly known as the ‘morning after pill'), can be taken up to 72 hours after having unprotected sex (penis in vagina sex where you have not used contraception or it has failed).

You can get the ECP on prescription from Family Planning, your GP or health practitioner, or you can buy it from a pharmacy. It can be taken up to 72 hours after having unprotected sex (penis in vagina sex where you have not used contraception or if the contraception has failed).

There is no evidence that shows that having an abortion increases your risk of developing breast cancer.

If you are unsure, feel uncertain or find it hard to come to a decision, talk to us (the National Abortion Telehealth Service).

If your partner is in agreement you can have joint counselling through the abortion provider. This is generally free. There is no provision for free counselling for partners or whānau without the pregnant person.

There is no medical or legal restriction on the number of abortions someone can have.

Yes. It is safe to have an abortion if you are breastfeeding. Your abortion provider will discuss this with you.

No. But if you have any health conditions this may affect what type of procedure you can have.

Early medical abortion (EMA) is an option in the first ten weeks of pregnancy, which can be completed at home.

Medical abortion, is a later abortion procedure usually used after about 14 weeks of pregnancy. It is also called, second trimester medical abortion, labour induced abortion or induction of labour. It involves using medicines to start labour and delivery of the foetus. This procedure usually requires a hospital stay.

It will depend on on how many weeks pregnant you are (your gestation), your medical history, personal preference and circumstances, and services offered in your area. 

An option in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.

See medical abortion

It will depend on on how many weeks pregnant you are (your gestation), your medical history, personal preference and circumstances, and services offered in your area. 

An option usually used after about 14 weeks of pregnancy.

See medical abortion

It will depend on on how many weeks pregnant you are (your gestation), your medical history, personal preference and circumstances, and services offered in your area. 

An option usually used up to about 14 weeks of pregnancy.

See surgical abortion

It will depend on on how many weeks pregnant you are (your gestation), your medical history, personal preference and circumstances, and services offered in your area. 

An option usually used after about 14 weeks of pregnancy.

See surgical abortion

Abortion is a very safe procedure with fewer risks than pregnancy or childbirth and serious complications are very rare. It is more ideal to have an abortion before you are 12 weeks pregnant. 

• Most people have no complications during or after their abortion. However, as with any medical or surgical procedure, there are some risks.
• Rare problems can include bleeding too much (haemorrhaging), getting an infection or damage to the cervix and uterus. Your abortion provider will explain this to you and how to follow up. It is unlikely these will ever cause ongoing problems.
• The most likely risk is an infection in the two weeks after your abortion. You can lower the risk by following the instructions given to you by your abortion provider at the time of your abortion.
• There is no evidence that your fertility (ability to get pregnant) or future pregnancies will be affected by having an abortion. 

For most people, abortion procedures have at least some discomfort, usually similar to strong period pain. You will get more information about how to manage any discomfort or pain from your abortion provider.

• More information about what discomfort or pain to expect can be found under each abortion type.
• For early medical abortion, people can experience mild to strong cramping off and on throughout the abortion (commonly 1-4 hours but may be longer).
• For early surgical abortion, people can experience mild to strong cramping during the abortion (commonly a 5 to 10-minute period).

In most cases, abortion works and the pregnancy is ended.

• Very rarely the abortion may not end the pregnancy. This is more common with medical abortion. If this happens, your abortion provider will let you know what to do next.
• Usually between 90 to 99% of early medical abortions are successful. If it fails, a surgical abortion or further abortion medication will be necessary.
• Usually 99% of early surgical abortions are successful. If it fails it will need to be repeated.

For a surgical procedure, you will need to visit a clinic. For a medical abortion, most of the consultation can be done by phone but you will need to visit a clinic to pick up your medicines and you will need to get blood tests. 

You may be able to get a telemedicine early medical abortion if your pregnancy is under 10 weeks. Talk to your nearest abortion provider about this option.

Regardless of where you are going for abortion care, if you are harassed or intimidated, with signs or if someone tries to speak to you about abortion, you should report it to the abortion provider.

A law was recently passed that means Safe Areas can be created around abortion providers to prevent this behaviour.

Where an abortion provider has created a safe area around a service, it is illegal for anyone to harass you, intimidate you or try to talk to you about abortion when you are entering the service.

Talk to your abortion provider about what will meet your specific cultural needs.

You can go to your first abortion appointment on your own or bring your partner, a friend or whānau member. 

If you are having an early medical abortion, it is best to have a support person/tangata tautoko with you at home and access to a telephone and transport in case you need advice or help.

Normally with later medical abortions at a clinic, it is best if your support person/tangata tautoko is with you to support you through the procedure.  

Normally, for a surgical abortion, your support person/tangata tautoko is not allowed to be present during the actual procedure.

Taking the pregnancy remains (foetal tissue or ’products of conception’) home is an option that can be discussed with your doctor or nurse.

You might choose to bury the pregnancy tissue, returning the tissue and wairua to the whenua. Other options will be discussed with you. 

Most patients return to normal health within a day or so. Take it easy for several days after your procedure and avoid strenuous activity for two weeks.

Following an abortion you can go usually back to work, study or other normal activities the next day. Take it easy for several days after your abortion and avoid strenuous activity for two weeks.

Your abortion provider will give you instructions about how to care for yourself during the procedure and how to access care if you experience any complications after the procedure (post-abortion care).

What to expect after an abortion

To reduce the risk of infection after an abortion, use sanitary pads rather than tampons or a menstrual cup for at least two weeks.

In the two weeks after your abortion, do not use a swimming pool, spa or have a bath. Have a shower instead.

You are likely to get your next period 4 to 6 weeks after the abortion, and it may be heavier than normal.

It is best not to have sex for at least two weeks after the abortion. If you do, use a condom, with lube, to protect yourself from infection.

You can get pregnant two weeks after your abortion. You should discuss contraception with your abortion provider when you are going through the process.

Find out about contraception

You can get pregnant two weeks after your abortion.

• For oral contraception ('The Pill') it is recommended that you start the day after the abortion.
• For other forms of contraception (Depo Provera, IUD, Implant), you may be able to get these fitted by your abortion provider on the day of your surgical abortion. It should be in place before you start having sex.

Find out about contraception

There is no evidence that your fertility (ability to get pregnant) or future pregnancies will be affected by having an abortion.