Unwanted Pregnancy

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There may be a time when you find you are pregnant and don’t feel able to have a child. This can be a difficult decision, but it is your choice whether or not you want to continue with the pregnancy.

Before you take any other action it is important to check that you are pregnant. A pregnancy test is the most reliable way to confirm if you are pregnant. You will need to give a urine sample, which tests for the presence of a pregnancy hormone.

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If the test confirms you are pregnant, you may want to talk to your doctor about your next steps. 

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Abortion (termination of pregnancy)

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If you become pregnant but do not feel able to have a child, you may consider having an abortion. Abortion is legal in Georgia, up to 12 weeks (3 months). After this, it is only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

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There are two main techniques used to end a pregnancy in the first three months. These are more straightforward than if an abortion happens later on. 

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‘Medical’ Abortion

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Taking one tablet one day, and different tablets up to two days later. The pregnancy will end after a few hours, and may feel like a heavy period.

 

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‘Surgical’ Abortion

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 Most commonly, you are given an anaesthetic and a tube is placed through the vagina to the womb for a procedure called vacuum aspiration, also known as the ‘suction’ method. 

 

Both techniques are as safe for women with HIV as for other women, and are carried out in the same ways. You won’t usually need to stay in hospital overnight for either of them.

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You can get pregnant again very soon after having an abortion, so it is important to use contraception if you still want to avoid pregnancy.