Only 2% of women seeking abortion did not progress beyond first consultation

The 2019 study of 475 women found that there is an “uneven geographic coverage” of service providers, which requires some women to travel, sometimes at significant cost, to access a termination.

The reasons for women not returning for their second GP visit are not ascertained, the report states, and says they may have chosen not to for various reasons including changing their minds, miscarriage, travelling abroad or presenting to another provider to start the process again. File picture

Just 2% of a study of women seeking an abortion did not proceed beyond the first consultation with their GP.

It comes as Cabinet is divided on a recommendation by Barrister Marie O’Shea following her review into Ireland’s abortion laws. Ms O’Shea has said a mandatory three-day waiting period to access termination medication should be made optional.