Need an Abortion? Not Sure?

Here's where to go in BC...

• Information about abortion and pregnancy
• Where to get emergency contraception
• Clinics that perform abortions (Lower Mainland, Victoria, and Kelowna)
• Hospitals in BC that perform abortions
• Abortion costs
• 2nd and 3rd trimester abortions

For information about abortion services in other parts of Canada, please go to www.canadiansforchoice.ca. On the map of Canada on the homepage, click on your province or territory.

Where can I get more information or counselling about abortion and pregnancy?

• Pregnancy Options Line: 604-875-3163
  outside Lower Mainland: 1-888-875-3163
• Facts of Life Line: 604-731-7803
  outside Lower Mainland: 1-800-739-7367
• Options for Sexual Health Clinics (formerly Planned Parenthood): 604-731-4252
• any of the abortion clinics listed below

Beware: There are some groups that offer pregnancy counselling, but who are against abortion. They do not provide accurate information on abortion, and may even try and talk you out of it. Such groups include Birthright and Crisis Pregnancy Centre.

What if I've just had unprotected intercourse?

Emergency Contraception (sometimes called the Morning After Pill) can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. It works by preventing or delaying ovulation.

In BC, you can now get Emergency Contraception across the counter at pharmacies. About 1000 pharmacists in all areas of BC are certified to prescribe it directly and immediately, without a doctor's intervention. You can also get emergency contraception from hospital emergency departments, Planned Parenthood clinics, some medical clinics, and sympathetic doctors.

For more information on Emergency Contraception, call 1-888-NOT-2-LATE (1-888-668-2528). Or go to the website http://ec.princeton.edu/ This site also has a search feature that will list pharmacies and clinics that supply EC in your area (click on "Getting EC in the US and Canada".)

Clinics that provide abortions

There are six clinics in BC that provide abortions, four in the Lower Mainland, one in Victoria, and one in Kelowna. Each of them offer pre- and post-abortion counselling, and can help you decide the best decision for you. You don't need a doctor's referral; just call to make an appointment. You will probably be required to have an ultrasound, which the clinic can either do for you, or arrange for you. Waiting time for a clinic abortion may vary between one and three weeks.

• Everywoman's Health Centre: 604-322-6692 (surgical abortions up to 13 weeks, 6 days; medical abortion up to 9 weeks)
• Elizabeth Bagshaw Clinic: 604-736-7878 (surgical abortions up to 16 weeks, 6 days; medical abortion up to 9 weeks)
• C.A.R.E. Program, BC Women's Hospital: 604-875-2022 (surgical abortions up to 18 weeks; medical abortion up to 9 weeks)
• Willow Women's Clinic: 604-709-5611 (Mifegymiso up to 10 weeks; methotrexate up to 7 weeks)
  
• Vancouver Island Women's Clinic: 250-480-7338 (medical abortions up to 9 weeks, surgical abortions up to 22 weeks)
• Women's Services Clinic, Kelowna General Hospital: 250-980-1399 (surgical abortions up to 12 weeks; open one day a week only)

Note: Some clinics can perform surgical abortions as early as 5-6 weeks gestation.

Hospitals in BC that Perform Abortions

If you can't go to one of the clinics listed above, you must obtain a referral to a doctor who performs abortions in a local hospital. If your own doctor won't refer you, or if you don't want to go to your family doctor, call the Pregnancy Options line at 1-888-875-3163 to obtain a referral or more information (604-875-3163 in the Lower Mainland).

There are over 30 hospitals in BC that are specially designated (required) by the provincial government to perform abortions, although other hospitals often perform them, too. To find a hospital in your area that performs abortions, please call the Pregnancy Options line at 1-888-875-3163 (604-875-3163 in the Lower Mainland).

Abortion Costs

Abortions are free in BC if you have BC medical coverage. (There may also be a charge for medications not covered by MSP.) As long as you are a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, and have lived in BC for the last three months, you can get medical coverage. It's a lot cheaper than an abortion.

If you are covered under someone else's medical plan and don't want them to find out, don't worry—information on abortions is kept strictly confidential by the Ministry of Health. Hospitals and clinics are also obligated to keep secret the names of patients who have abortions.

If you've lived in BC for less than three months (or you're not a resident), the cost for an early abortion is about $450 to $600. Some of that may be reimbursable once you qualify for BC's medical plan. Also, some but not all provinces will reimburse former residents who have abortions in BC, but who have lived in BC for less than three months.

If you can't afford to pay up front, talk to one of the clinics, or contact the Pregnancy Options Line. Clinics may be able to help with funding or payment plans in special circumstances.

2nd and 3rd Trimester Abortions

Most abortions are done in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy—the first trimester. A few doctors in BC do abortions on request up to about 20 or 22 weeks, as well as a few clinics in Ontario, Quebec, and Washington State. Abortions are also available after 22 weeks in the rare event that your life or health becomes seriously threatened by the pregnancy, or in cases of serious fetal abnormality.

Contact the Pregnancy Options Line for more information on 2nd and 3rd trimester abortions, and for assistance in obtaining such abortions out-of-province, as well as help or advice in covering costs.