Activists call for more ‘pills-by-post’ abortions across UK

Abortion activists have called for unsafe DIY abortions to be further liberalised across the UK.

Staff from the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Reproductive Health published a study in the BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health journal, reviewing abortions of ten to twelve-week-old unborn children in NHS Lothian from April 2020 to March 2025.

Since 97 per cent of 485 women had an abortion at home or in hospital without complications, the authors claimed that England, Wales and Northern Ireland should allow home abortions up to 12 weeks in line with Scotland. This is despite four serious cases which included heavy bleeding and infection.

‘Deeply troubling’

The Christian Institute’s Head of Communications Angus Saul highlighted that since Great Britain introduced home abortions in the coronavirus pandemic, there have been cases of women taking abortion pills beyond the limit.

“There can be severe complications with abortion pills – particularly if taken later in pregnancy – including haemorrhaging and excruciating pain, which are exacerbated by lack of medical supervision.

“We ought to be deeply troubled by this push from ideologically-driven activists to allow even easier access to abortion, which will mean more unborn children being killed, and more women being exposed to the dangers of these pills.”

Home abortions are available for women in Scotland who are under 12 weeks pregnant, while the limit is 10 weeks for England and Wales. Northern Ireland does not allow DIY abortions at any gestation.

Abortion numbers

Earlier this year, official statistics reported a “sustained and substantial” increase in abortions in Scotland in the last ten years.

Public Health Scotland published its annual report on abortion, which showed another increase from the previous year with a record high of 18,710 unborn babies killed in 2024.

The report noted that the “most common method, accounting for 57% of all terminations, involved taking both drugs at home”.