Abortion in Canada - Legal or Illegal?

Canada is among the few nations that don't impose criminal restrictions on abortions. However, the availability of abortion is still hugely dependent on provincial healthcare regulatory guidelines. Regarding services and resources, access to abortion in Canada mostly varies by region.

With every one in three Canadian women having an abortion in her lifetime, the Canadian government must ensure that women can do that safely.

Canada’s Legal Standing On Abortion

In Canada, there isn't currently a law that expressly allows abortion. Well, not yet. The Supreme Court of Canada found that the act passed in 1969 was unconstitutional in the case of r v morgentale in 1988. The 1969 law only permitted therapeutic abortions in cases where a medical review committee confirmed that a woman's continued pregnancy would put her life in danger.

The court’s ruling in the case emphasized the 1969 act violated women’s rights to “life, liberty, and security of the person” under section 7 of Canadian charter rights freedoms. The right to abortion guarantees a woman's equality based on sex. The Canadian government guarantees all women and transgender people access to abortion.

According to a news release from the Canadian health minister, the National Abortion Federation of Canada (NAF Canada) and Action Canada (Action Canada) for Sexual Health and Rights have planned projects for which $3.5 million has been set aside.

Over three years, NAF Canada will receive $1,469,150 to carry out the following activities:

• Train medical professionals on how to perform abortions.
• Give women who need financial assistance logistical and financial support.
• To guarantee that abortion clinics have the resources to keep offering their services and related care.

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, continues to defend Canadian women's freedom of choice regarding the legality of abortion.

Abortion Procedures In Canada

The term "abortion" refers to ending a pregnancy through medication or surgery. Abortions carried out before 20 weeks of pregnancy are the simplest and safest. The final day of the menstrual cycle is typically used to calculate the gestational period.

Only when the woman's life or health is in danger or the fetus is seriously or fatally affected are abortions performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy advised. Doctors can only identify most fetal disorders after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

In Canada, two abortion procedures are frequently performed;

Medical Procedure

Medical abortion relies on the use of drugs to terminate the pregnancy. Normally, a woman can get it up to 63 days after the start of her last menstrual cycle. Mifepristone and misoprostol are given to a woman who visits a doctor's office for a medical abortion.

These two medications will prevent the pregnancy from progressing. Misoprostol causes the uterine muscles to contract, the endometrium to shed, and the cervix to relax. The work of the progesterone hormone in the body is disrupted by mifepristone.

Abortion using the medical procedure spans several days after taking the drugs. Women are advised to visit the doctor for confirmation that the abortion has been completed.

Surgical Procedure

The surgical procedure is done up to nine weeks from the first day of the last period or seven weeks after conception. Expect to have an ultrasound performed to determine the pregnancy's term.

The woman is given pain medications, and the cervix is frozen with a local anesthetic. The doctor empties the uterus using a syringe and a small tube. You can complete a surgical procedure with just two visits to the doctor.

How To Choose The Best Procedure

A woman must take into account several factors before choosing an abortion procedure. Here are a few questions you should take into account:

Some procedures can only be done in the early stages of your pregnancy, so you’ll need to know how far along your pregnancy is.
Your health condition may limit your options.

1. Where would you prefer to do the abortion? At an abortion clinic or the hospital.
2. Would you rather wake or stay asleep during the procedure?
3. Which procedure can you get close to home, or will you have to go somewhere else?

It is essential to consult a doctor in your neighborhood birth control or public health clinic about the procedures that are offered there. You should seek out information from other sources if you are unhappy with this. Canadian Federation for Sexual Health is one of the organizations you might look into to receive recommendations for the nearby options.

Conclusion

The majority of women heal swiftly from an abortion. However, some people may endure significant bleeding or cramps, which shouldn't last longer than two weeks. If the symptoms are severe, it is best to consult a doctor. Even if there were no complications, make sure you visit your doctor for a post-abortion check-up after two weeks.

The physician must confirm that the treatment was effective and that your body has returned to normal. Get recommendations from your doctor if you want counseling sessions to assist you in managing your mental and emotional health.