Voluntary terminations of pregnancies (abortions) are at their highest level in France for 30 years: 234,300 abortions for the year 2022, according to the latest study by the Department of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees). This is 7,000 more than in 2019, and much more than during the two years of the health crisis. In the meantime, a law extending the legal deadline by two weeks has been passed, but this is not the main reason for this increase.
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Certain measurements can explain this augmentationaccording to Drees. Measures have simplified the IVF process in France in recent years.
First of all, the possibility of carrying out a medical abortion, that is to say without surgical intervention: at home, after consultation with a doctor. The practice was made possible during the first confinement and was continued afterwards. Abortion by medication – whether carried out at home, at the doctor’s office or in hospital – today represents more than 80% of abortions, compared to 30% 20 years ago.
Another simplification of access to abortion: since 2021, it is no longer necessary to advance the costs of examinations and interventions which can cost several hundred euros.
Eventually, the extension of the legal period for abortion – increased from 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy after the law passed in March 2022 – has very little influence on this increase. Voluntary terminations of pregnancy late » represent only 1.5% of all abortions carried out in France, according to the study published this week by Drees.
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