Early abortions are safest and easiest. Doctors estimate how many weeks pregnant a woman is by counting from the first day of the women's last menstrual period. It's important to know that date when you go for a pregnancy test. Most abortions in Canada are performed in the first 12 weeks, also called the first trimester, of pregnancy. Sometimes abortions are done after 12 weeks, in the second trimester.
Later abortions are more difficult to get.
In Canada, late abortions, after 20 weeks, are usually done to protect the health of the pregnant woman or because of test results showing problems with the fetus. Although they are safe, late abortions can have more complications than early abortions. While there is no time limit for when abortions can be done in Canada, it is very rare for abortions to be done after 20 weeks. Women have abortions for lots of reasons. A woman may feel upset if she did not get support from her partner, friends, family or doctor, of if a women felt pressured into having an abortion.