July

Once-a-month-pill scuppered by abortion laws

Our antiquated abortion laws are preventing the development of a new once-a-month birth control pill. While current methods of contraception work by preventing the sperm reaching the egg or by preventing a fertilised egg attaching to the lining of the womb, researchers say a once-monthly pill that would work post implantation is more than scientifically possible, but abortion laws which legally define pregnancy as beginning from the moment a fertilised egg implants prevent its development. Another good reason why we need to reform our abortion legislation.

Fertility rate for older women continues to rise

The trend towards older motherhood is here to stay, with recent figures from the Office for National statistics showing that women over 40 are having more babies than those under 20. Rather than scaremongering about fertility ‘falling off a cliff’ at 35, campaigners have called for women’s family planning decisions to be respected and supported. We must provide women with accurate, evidence based information and ensure maternity services are able to deliver the additional care that may be needed for older women.

New guidelines for Pregnancy Sickness

The RCOG has published new and welcome guidelines acknowledging the impact of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) on pregnant women, urging healthcare professionals to provide necessary treatment. Too often HG can be dismissed, and effective medication is rarely prescribed despite evidence demonstrating it is perfectly safe. Recently there was a moving piece in the Telegraph by a woman who desperately wanted a baby but because of her severe morning sickness didn’t feel unable to continue with her pregnancy – and this is sadly not an isolated case.

Calls from medical professionals for abortion to be decriminalised

Activity to remove abortion from the criminal law continues across the UK. At The Royal College of Nursing Congress there was a call to ditch these strict laws and allow women to take abortion medication at home, and doctors at this year’s BMA Annual Representative meeting also passed a vote for their ethics committee to consider the case for decriminalisation – video of the debate online here (starting at 3 hours 13 minutes.) Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, women are asking to be prosecuted for taking abortion pills and drones carrying abortion pills are being used to highlight the draconian nature of abortion laws. If you’d like to support the campaign to decriminalise abortion across the UK please donate here or check out the We Trust Women shop.

Champion of Choice nomination

We nominate Lord Rooker as our champion of choice this month for his continued fight for the fortification of flour with folic acid, or as he refers to it: “flour power”. His Private Member’s Bill, calling for fortification of flour to reduce neural tube defects, has successfully passed onto committee stage. We wish him the best of luck and thank him for his commitment to sparing women the painful decision of having to end a wanted pregnancy after a diagnosis of neural tube defect.

Share your story

Ahead of the 50 year anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act we are calling on women to share their stories. Since the Act was passed thousands of women have been supported by doctors, nurses and midwives and we would like to honour that contribution by publishing a booklet of letters from women to the medical professionals who supported them. If you would like to write a letter (anonymously if you prefer) please email it to yourstories@bpas.org