Abortion in Canada is governed by the same legislation and medical standards as govern other medical procedures. There is no abortion law as such. The Canadian Medical Association's abortion policy defines abortion as the active termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks' gestation. Abortions are performed when a pregnant woman requests one from a doctor and a doctor grants her request. In general, a woman requests an abortion when she feels unable to accept an unwanted or unhappy pregnancy and the prospect of the birth of a child.
Women usually have more than one reason for deciding to seek an abortion.
The two alternatives to abortion are bearing and keeping the child, or placing the child for adoption. As all three options take place in the context of an unwanted pregnancy, each one has its own risks and benefits. Research has confirmed that women decide to end their pregnancies after careful consideration, and often after consultation with a loved one or trusted advisor. A small number of women want professional help in deciding what to do about their crisis pregnancies. Decision counselling helps the woman who wants to explore her options of parenting, adoption or abortion with a professional counsellor who is impartial, respectful and supportive of whatever decision the woman reaches.