Termination of pregnancy

People decide to end a pregnancy for many different reasons, including their own health or a diagnosis affecting the baby. The decision is yours.

This page is plain information about how termination of pregnancy, or abortion, works in Germany. It will not tell you what to do. The confidential counselling and the medical care come from trained professionals, free of charge and available in your own language, and this page points you to them.

For most situations there is one route. In the first twelve weeks after conception (about fourteen weeks counted from the first day of your last period), a termination can be carried out by a doctor once two things are in place:

• You have attended a pregnancy conflict counselling session (Schwangerschaftskonfliktberatung) and received a certificate (Beratungsschein).
• At least three full days have passed between the counselling and the procedure.

The counselling is free and confidential, and the procedure is carried out by a doctor who explains each step. Terminations for medical reasons follow a different route, covered below.

The counselling (Schwangerschaftskonfliktberatung) is open-ended: it is not there to talk you into or out of anything, only to give you information and, if you want it, someone to talk to. It is free and confidential, you may stay anonymous, and many centres offer it in English and other languages.

At the end you receive the certificate. These are the places to arrange it, at no charge:

Some centres counsel but do not issue the certificate themselves. When you book, you can ask whether they provide the Beratungsschein.

There are two methods. Your doctor explains which fits your situation and what to expect from each.

• With medication (medikamentös): possible in the earlier weeks, using two medicines taken a little apart, without anaesthetic.
• A short procedure (operativ): a brief, usually outpatient procedure, under local or light general anaesthetic.

Both are routine. You can ask any question, bring someone with you, and take the time you need to decide.

Some terminations happen for medical reasons: a serious risk to your own health, or a diagnosis affecting the baby. This is often a wanted pregnancy.

These follow a separate route, the medical indication (medizinische Indikation). It rests on a doctor’s judgement that continuing would seriously endanger your physical or mental health, and it is not held to the twelve-week limit. There is medical counselling and a required period of reflection, and the cost is covered by your insurance.

This is also a loss. Support is there if you want it: our guide After a Loss lists specialist bereavement organisations, and volunteer photographers who can help you keep a record of your time with your baby.

Cost need not decide this. There is help if money is tight.

• Your health insurance (Krankenkasse) covers the medical consultations, the checks, and any follow-up care.
• On the counselling route the procedure itself is usually paid privately, but the cost can be covered by the state through your Krankenkasse if your income is low. This is arranged before the procedure, so ask early.
• For medical reasons, or after an assault, the cost is covered by your insurance.

Amounts and income limits change over time, so for the current figures see familienplanung.de or ask a pro familia counsellor.

Not every practice offers this, and in some areas there are few, so it can take a couple of calls to find care near you. familienplanung.de keeps a searchable list of practices and clinics, and any counselling centre, especially pro familia, can point you to a provider and often help you make the appointment.

If you would prefer English, say so on the first call. Counselling is offered in many languages, pro familia keeps English pages, and the helpline 0800 40 40 020 answers in English among others.