Abortion, Unplanned Pregnancy, and
Emergency Contraception

If you are pregnant: 

A pregnancy at university, when it is unplanned or unwanted, can be a distressing experience - so it’s important to know there’s a lot of support that you can take up. 

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If you are not sure what to do or would like to terminate the pregnancy: 

Whether or not you are sure what you want to do about the pregnancy, charities and NHS facilities that provide abortion care can also provide non-judgmental, clinically-accurate counselling aimed at helping you make a decision that’s best for you. 

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You can contact: 

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service https://www.bpas.org/, an independent healthcare charity that advocates and cares for people who decide to end a pregnancy. You can contact BPAS on 0345 730 4030, seven days a week, to refer yourself to the service. 

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Clinic 21 at the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge provides counselling for people unsure how they wish to proceed with their pregnancy, as well as abortion care. You can self-refer by calling 01223 217664. 

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You don’t need to go to your GP or inform them about your decision, unless you would find that helpful. You don’t need a referral for an abortion for your GP - you can self-refer, and the abortion clinic will respect your privacy and does not have to disclose any of the information to your regular doctor. 

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Please be very careful with getting advice from "Pregnancy advice centres" such as Cornerstone, who do not necessarily provide clinically accurate advice, and who can spread misinformation regarding abortion. 

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If you do decide to have an abortion, know that there are options: 

• You might need to have an ultrasound

• You should be able to choose, depending on availability, whether to have an abortion with pills (which you sometimes can do at home, without going into the clinic - that’s possible up to 10 weeks of pregnancy in England) or to have a procedure done by a doctor

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Abortion is a safe, common, and normal health procedure. If you want to talk about someone with no judgement, the Abortion Talk Talkline is open every Monday and Wednesday 7-10pm -

+44 (0) 3330909266 - https://www.abortiontalk.com/ 

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You might also find it helpful to read some abortion stories of others: https://shoutyourabortion.com/abortion-stories/ 

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You can read more about the clinical aspects of abortion on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/abortion/ 

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If you decide to continue with the pregnancy:

Reaching out to your GP and to your tutor would be advisable so you can come up with the best plan for your studies. 

You can also familiarise yourself with this resource: https://pregnantatuni.co.uk/university/the-university-of-cambridge/.

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We represent Cambridge University for Reproductive Rights - please know that you can reach out to the committee members, and although we are not healthcare professionals nor counsellors, we can provide a listening ear and can try to help you navigate the health and care system.

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Emergency contraception:

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It’s best to get emergency contraception as soon as possible after you’ve had unprotected sex. 

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Option 1: “morning after” pill, which you can take up to 3 or 5 days after intercourse - but best to take them as soon as you can. These don’t routinely work if you have already ovulated. 

You can either get them directly from a pharmacy, where you will have to have a short consultation with a pharmacist, and will need to pay - around £15-30 depending on the type of pill.

You can also get those pills from a sexual health clinic where they are free of charge, e.g.: https://www.icash.nhs.uk/where-to-go/icash-cambridgeshire and some GP clinics (phone your GP to check). 

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Option 2: the intrauterine device (IUD or coil) - that can be fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex or 5 days after the earliest time you could have ovulated. It is more effective than the pill. If you use the IUD as emergency contraception, it can be left in and used as your regular contraceptive method, or can also be removed. 

To get an IUD, contact a sexual health clinic such as https://www.icash.nhs.uk/where-to-go/icash-cambridgeshire or your GP.