People with unwanted pregnancies usually find themselves in a straining situation. Unfortunately, it can be hard to get the social support and information on abortions you need. This website is an attempt to gather the most important information. Instead of explaining details ourselves, we gathered already existing websites.

Although many websites mostly speak about ‘women’, we are aware that many people can get pregnant, that do not necessarily describe themselves as ‘women’. 

We would be happy to receive your feedback and will do our best to keep the website up to date. 

Flowchart

In order to get to the answers to the below listed questions directly, click on the links below each question.

Am I pregnant?
 → Signs of pregnancy  

Where can I get counselling and advice?
 → Required consultation  

Where can I get an abortion?
 → Lists of doctors performing abortions in your city

Do I have to pay for the procedure?
 → Costs and cases in which the insurance pays  

Which methods exist?
 → Methods 

After the abortion
 → Aftercare 

What is the legal framework for abortions in Germany?
 → Laws on abortion in Germany 

Signs of Pregnancy

If you suspect a pregnancy, the first important step is to confirm that you are really pregnant. Several signs can be used to assess the probabillity of a pregnancy. Nevertheless, these signs are not specific and can therefore vary . A list can be found here: https://www.familienplanung.de/schwangerschaft/uebersicht/bin-ich-schwanger/#c63596

English website: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/early-symptoms-timeline#missed-period

You can buy a pregnancy test at your local drug store or pharmacy. These tests show the pregnancy hormone ßHCG in urine, which is produced in large quantities during pregnancy. Approximately 14 days after the impregnation (e.g. approximately 12 days after ovulation) the tests show a positive result in case of pregnancy. The safest method to validate a pregnancy is an ultrasound examination, done by a gynecologist/obstetrician (OBGYN). Please bear in mind that only after 6 weeks of pregnancy, the embryo is detectable via this procedure. Before, it is also possible to conduct a urine pregnancy test at your local OBGYN.

Required consultation before the procedure

In Germany, the law is somewhat complex when it comes to abortions.

There are three lawful indications for abortions. The first two – medical and criminal follow a different legal frame.
The third is called ‘abortion after counselling/ consultation’. This is by far the most common indication:
Firstly, you are required to schedule an appointment for a so-called “pregnancy counseling/consultation”. The social worker/counselor will discuss options concerning your pregnancy with you. At the end of the appointment you should receive a certificate that states that you attended the “pregnancy counseling”. 72 hours have to pass between receiving this certificate and an actual abortion procedure. There are different organisations that provide ‘pregnancy consultations’. But please be aware: not all of them actually hand out the necessary certificate. Unfortunately, some of these organisations are “anti-choice/ pro-life” and do not support abortions under any circumstances. In Dresden there are several organisations. You can find a list here: https://www.dresden.de/media/pdf/gesundheit/GF/SWB_Flyer_Beratungsstellen_barrierefrei.pdf

Which gynecologists perform abortions 

Only a fraction of gynecologists perform abortions. As a fact, there are not that many. A list of gynecologists that do this can be found on the following websites:
https://www.familienplanung.de/beratung/schwangerschaftsabbruch/praxen-kliniken-und-einrichtungen/plz-0000-099999/

Here is an official List in which you can search by post code:
https://liste.bundesaerztekammer.de/suche 

This Austrian website also lists gynecologists that perform the procedure:
http://abtreibung-adressen.eu/clinic-browser/#search-by-country&country=2 

Do I have to pay for the abortion myself?

Generally, an abortion can be performed following three different cases:
1. abortion under medical indication
2. abortion under criminological indication
3. abortion after the counselling rule

German health insurance pays for the abortion following the medical and criminological indication.

If the abortion takes place after counselling (you receive the certificate and 72 hours pass between the counselling and the procedure), the health insurance will usually not cover the costs for the abortion. 

If, however, your income is below 1258€ (last reviewed July 2020) the health insurance will refund the costs. For this to happen, you have to apply for coverage to the health insurance beforehand. More information on the specific situations where costs are covered you can find here or at the pregnancy consultation. 

https://www.familienplanung.de/beratung/schwangerschaftsabbruch/kosten-schwangerschaftsabbruch/

https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/themen/familie/schwangerschaft-und-kinderwunsch/schwangerschaftsabbruch/schwangerschaftsabbruch-nach—218-strafgesetzbuch/81020

Procedure

In Germany you can have an abortion in two different ways: Either via medication (called Medical Abortion; until 8th week of pregnancy) or via a small surgical procedure.

More detailed information to both procedures can be found on the following websites: https://www.profamilia.de/en/topics/schwangerschaftsabbruch.html

Another English website: https://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book-excerpts/health-article/early-abortion-options/

After the abortion

Information regarding the medical care after a abortion (for example in case of bleeding or pain), as well as useful suggestions on what you need to know for your every day life (regarding tampons, swimming, sex) can be found here: https://www.bpas.org/abortion-care/abortion-aftercare/

German legal framework for abortions

Abortions are not legal in Germany, but are not being prosecuted. You can find detailed information on the legal framework in Germany here: https://www.bmfsfj.de/blob/95278/2b6d3eb68cc32cfc1b52dde852866dde/schwangerschaftsberatung—218-englisch-data.pdf

In this PDF you can find information on the general laws regarding abortion in Germany as well as information on the different grounds (medical and criminal) based on which abortions can be performed in Germany.