What is IVG?
IVG is the acronym for abortion.
I'm pregnant and want to terminate the pregnancy. What should I do?
You should go to a health service in your area of residence. You can consult the list of official and officially recognized health establishments for carrying out the termination of pregnancy at the woman's choice (Article 142 of the Penal Code).
In this list you will find the contact of the health establishment closest to your area of residence to carry out the voluntary termination of pregnancy.
What is the legal deadline for terminating a pregnancy by a woman's choice?
In Portugal, the termination of pregnancy by the woman's choice can be carried out in the first 10 weeks (10 weeks + 6 days) of pregnancy, calculated from the date of the last menstruation and confirmed by ultrasound.
Where can I do it?
Abortion, at the woman's request, can be performed at official or officially recognized health establishments.
You can get more information about the health units in your area of residence through SNS 24 – 808242424.
How do I make an appointment?
You can find the contact for scheduling the appointment in the list of official health establishments, and officially recognized, for the termination of pregnancy by the woman's choice (article 142 of the penal code) published by the Directorate-General for Health.
Which institutions of the National Health Service have abortion consultations?
Available in this list are the official and officially recognized health establishments for carrying out the termination of pregnancy at the woman's option (Article 142 of the Penal Code).
I am displaced from my area of residence and have no possibility to travel there. How can I voluntarily terminate a pregnancy?
You can book your appointment directly at the obstetrics and gynaecology department in your current area of residence. To do so, you should consult the list of official and officially recognized health establishments for carrying out the termination of pregnancy at the woman's choice (Article 142 of the Penal Code).
Is it possible to terminate a pregnancy voluntarily in private hospitals?
Yes. Abortion can be performed in private, officially recognized health services. There is currently a private health unit where you can perform a voluntary termination of pregnancy, located in Lisbon:
Who can request a termination of pregnancy?
Only the woman herself can request an abortion and sign her consent to carry out a voluntary abortion. In the case of young people under the age of 16 or women who are mentally incapacitated, consent to abortion must be signed by their legal representative.
Who can perform?
Termination of pregnancy can only be carried out in a health establishment authorised for this purpose, and will be the responsibility of a group of health professionals including a doctor and nurse.
What are the steps in the process?
The process of abortion occurs in several stages:
- prior consultation: first consultation where the entire process of voluntary termination of pregnancy will be explained to you. An ultrasound is performed to date the pregnancy. According to Portuguese law, there is a mandatory cooling-off period of at least three days. If you request it, you can have psychological or social support
- second consultation: termination of pregnancy – can be performed with medication (drug method) or with surgery (aspiration). Both methods are very safe and effective< style="user-select: text;">
- medication method: take a first pill (mifepristone) at the appointment. Most women do not have any symptoms with this pill and can go about their normal life. At that appointment they will give you four pills that you will apply to the vagina or place under the tongue, about 24 hours after taking the first pill (mifepristone). This second medication can be done at home. Most women will have some pain and blood loss 2 to 4 hours after using this second medication. In the consultation you will be explained what you can do to control the pain and what the blood loss will be like
- surgical method: if the decision is to terminate the pregnancy by surgical method, for medical reasons or by choice, the woman has to be hospitalized for a period (a few hours to 1 day). Voluntary termination of pregnancy will be performed by aspiration, under locoregional anesthesia or sedation
- third appointment: about 15 days after taking the medication, you have a new appointment to perform an ultrasound and evaluate the completion of the entire process.
Throughout the process you will have information about methods of contraception and, after the voluntary termination of pregnancy, you can start a contraceptive method that suits your needs and health condition.
What are the costs involved?
Abortion is exempt from user fees. In this way, the patient has no costs with the procedure.
What are the side effects?
Complications are rare. However, you should contact the health establishment indicated when prescribing the medicines as soon as possible, if in the days following the termination of pregnancy you have:
- fever, with a temperature higher than 38º C
- important blood loss
- severe abdominal pain
- general malaise accentuated
I'm a foreigner and I live in Portugal. Can I have a pregnancy termination in Portugal?
Yes. Immigrant women have the same rights to access abortion regardless of their legal status.
Is it legal to carry out voluntary termination of pregnancy in Portugal?
Yes. The IVG is framed by the Law No. 16/2007, of 17 April.
Source: Directorate-General for Health (DGS) and Portuguese Society of Contraception (SPDC)