Abortion legislation | Practical conditions | Abortion statistics
Characteristics of women having induced abortion | Fertility and contraception data | Country-specific characteristics
1942: abortion is allowed under strict medical conditions and handled very differently by region (Penal Code Act, articles 118-121 dated January)
2001: modifications of Penal Code Act, articles 118-121
2002: adoption of Penal Code Act, articles 118-121
2002: new Law allowing abortion on request is effective (Penal Code Act, articles 118-120)
Legal conditions
- Written consent by the woman
- Pre-abortion consultation (legal counselling)
Specific conditions for minors
- Pre-abortion specific counselling with a certified physician (“kantonsarzt”) for minors under 16
- Parent’s (or guardian’s) consent required for minors under 16 incapable of discernment only.
Abortion legislation | Practical conditions | Abortion statistics | Characteristics of women having induced abortion
Fertility and contraception data | Country-specific characteristics
Women must express their distress in writing for abortion “on request”.

The slides presented are freely accessible. They may be used, copied, displayed or distributed provided that their source is given
SOURCES
IPPF European Network – Updated January 2012 (http://www.ippfen.org/)
SEXUAL HEALTH Switzerland, former PLANeS (http://www.sante-sexuelle.ch)
Federal statistical office
https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/sante/etat-sante/reproductive/interruptions-grossesses.html
https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/catalogues-banques-donnees/tableaux.assetdetail.9486835.html
https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/sante/etat-sante/reproductive.html
https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/population/naissances-deces/fecondite.assetdetail.9466737.html
We thank Dr. Helene HULDI for her help in data collection.
If you have additional data or if you would like to comment some information, please contact info@exelgyn.com.
Page updated in February 2020