Unplanned Pregnancy

1. Pregnant persons must seek counseling at a state-approved “Schwangerschaftskonfliktberatungsstelle” (pregnancy crisis counseling center) three days before the procedure.

   Although the counseling is intended to “encourage the continuation of the pregnancy,” the decision is ultimately up to the pregnant person.

   There must therefore be at least 3 days' “reflection period” between the counseling and the termination.

2. A certificate attesting to the counseling must be presented at the practice where the procedure is to take place.
3. The abortion must be performed within the first 12 weeks after conception, i.e., the sex that led to the pregnancy (this corresponds to the 14th week of pregnancy).
4. The person performing the termination must be different from the person providing the counseling.

• Danger to the life of the pregnant person
• Risk of serious impairment (physical or mental) to the pregnant person

In these cases, abortion is exempt from prosecution even after the 14th week of pregnancy.

• If the pregnancy is the result of a sexual assault, such as rape

Then termination of pregnancy within 12 weeks of conception is exempt from punishment.

• A pregnant person is not liable to prosecution if the abortion is performed within 22 weeks of pregnancy after counseling. In this case, however, the treating physicians are liable to prosecution.
• If the pregnant person was in „besonderer Bedrängnis“ (exceptional hardship) at the time of the abortion, a conviction may be waived.

Taking the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol triggers bleeding, which in most cases terminates the pregnancy. In some cases, a surgical procedure called curettage is necessary afterwards.    Colleselli-Türtscher, V., & Seeber, B. (2024). Medikamentöse Behandlung bei gestörter Frühschwangerschaft. Gynäkologische Endokrinologie, 22(3), 200–203. doi.org.

In most cases, an abortion using medication is performed early in the pregnancy.

During aspiration, the uterus is evacuated using a thin tube and negative pressure in a quick procedure. Aspiration takes a few minutes and is very safe.    Tunçalp, Ö., Gülmezoglu, A. M., & Souza, J. P. (2010). Surgical procedures for evacuating incomplete miscarriage. Cochrane Library. www.cochranelibrary.com.

Counseling on abortion is free of charge.

Medication abortion is less expensive than surgical abortion. You can expect total costs of between €300 and €700. Depending on the income of the pregnant person, you may be entitled to financial support from your health insurance company.