Fact or fiction? Will abortion be ‘used like contraception’ if made legal?

On May 25, Ireland will decide whether to repeal or retain the eighth amendment.

One prominent argument against repealing the eighth is that abortion will be used as a method of contraception. So, is there any truth to this? Basically, no. Abortion is defined as the termination of a pregnancy or, in medical terms, the premature exit of the products of conception (here meaning the foetus, the fetal membranes, and the placenta). Having an abortion means ending a pregnancy - it does not mean preventing one. This is what real contraceptives such as the pill, the bar, and barrier contraceptives like the condom aim to do. The argument that repealing the eighth would mean abortion would be used like contraception suggests that the decision to terminate a pregnancy is an easy one. It, however, is not. The legislation that would be put in place should the referendum pass would reflect this fact. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that should abortion be made legal without specific indication before 12 weeks, a 72-hour period of reflection will be necessary before a woman is permitted to terminate her pregnancy. This period - which would include a counselling session - indicates that abortion, for many people, is not a simple decision to make. Similarly, if the eighth amendment is repealed, some women seeking abortions will be prescribed abortion pills by their doctors after the 72-hour reflection period. These pills will not be available over the counter like the morning after pill. The most effective morning-after pill sold in Ireland is available in pharmacies without prescription and is taken up to five days after unprotected sex. Contrasting this, the abortion pill should be taken under medical supervision when a woman and her doctor have confirmed that the woman is pregnant. At the moment, under the eighth amendment, women in Ireland are forced to illegally order abortion pills online if they are unable to travel abroad for the procedure. As well as this, women do not only seek abortions because they have had unprotected sex - women also seek abortions because their contraception has failed. No form of contraception is 100 percent effective. For example, perfect use of the pill is 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy while regular use is 91 perfect effective. The contraceptive implant is also more than 99 percent effective with perfect use, as is the contraceptive patch and ring. Male condoms are 98 percent effective with perfect use and female condoms are 95 percent. Abortion won't be used as contraception if the eighth amendment is repealed, because abortion is about ending a pregnancy, not preventing one. You can follow the rest of the 'Fact or Fiction?' series here.