Abortion legislation
Legal conditions
- Written consent by the woman
- Pre-abortion consultation (legal counselling)
- Pre-abortion confirmation consultation
- Pre-abortion laboratory tests
- No mandatory period between pre-abortion confirmation consultation and abortion procedure. In case there is a consultation with a social worker, it is followed by a mandatory 2-day period before the signature of the consent form which can be done on the day of the abortion procedure.
- Contraception to be evoked during pre-abortion consultation.
Specific conditions for minors
- Pre-abortion consultation with a relationship counsellor required for minors under 18 (emancipated minors excl.).
- Parent’s (or guardian’s) consent required for minors under 18. If the minor wants to keep abortion a secret, she has to be accompanied by an adult of her choice.
Source:
Practical conditions
Mandatory pre-abortion examinations
- Blood group and rhesus factor
Involved healthcare professionals
- Surgical abortion: obstetrician/gynaecologist (OB/GYN) or another physician
- Medical abortion: OB/GYN, another physician or a midwife
Source:
Abortion statistics
Overall number of induced abortions
Source: https://drees.solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/publications-communique-de-presse/etudes-et-resultats/interruptions-volontaires-de-grossesse-la
Abortion ratio per 1.000 live births: 300 (2021)
Source: https://drees.solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/publications-communique-de-presse/etudes-et-resultats/interruptions-volontaires-de-grossesse-la
Abortions performed “on request”: 100% (2021)
Source: https://drees.solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/publications-communique-de-presse/etudes-et-resultats/interruptions-volontaires-de-grossesse-la
Figures given in DREES report inluded only abortion on request
Overall number of induced abortions vs. medical abortions
Source: https://drees.solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/publications-communique-de-presse/etudes-et-resultats/interruptions-volontaires-de-grossesse-la
Induced abortions per gestational age (2021)
Source: https://drees.solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/publications/etudes-et-resultats/interruptions-volontaires-de-grossesse-une-hausse-confirmee-en
Place of abortion (2021)
Source: https://drees.solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/publications-communique-de-presse/etudes-et-resultats/interruptions-volontaires-de-grossesse-la
Characteristics of women having induced abortion
In 2021 among women who had induced abortion:
- 99.9% lived in France (metropolitan France or overseas departments)
Source:
Fertility and contraception
Women age at first birth
- 30,9 years of age (2021)
Overall contraception data
- 97.4% of women having sexual intercourse aged 18-44 used a contraceptive method (2013):
- 43% used oral contraceptive
- 21% used intra-uterine device (IUD).
Source:
Country-specific characteristics
A special thanks to our correspondents for contributing in data collection.
Please contact info@exelgyn.com if you have additional data or would like to comment information
Page last updated: 4 July 2023