Voluntary termination of pregnancy. Counties and Aran

Abortion

Interruption of a pregnancy before the foetus is able to survive independently.

The voluntary termination of pregnancy (VTP) was depenalized for the first time in Spain in 1985, in three cases: serious danger to the life or health of the pregnant woman, presumed defects in the fetus and rape.

On July 5, 2010 came into force the Law on Sexual and Reproductive Health that regulates the practice of abortion, to ensure better health care for women. The timing and motives currently authorized are: during the first 14 weeks of gestation at the request of the woman, and during the first 22 weeks of gestation, provided there is serious risk to the life or health of the pregnant woman or whenever there are serious abnormalities in the fetus. Beyond the twenty-second week of pregnancy, the Act contemplates two exceptional cases of termination of pregnancy: when detecting fetal anomalies incompatible with life, or when the fetus is found in an extremely serious and incurable disease at the time of diagnosis and so confirm a clinical committee. In addition, the Act establishes a set of guarantees relating to effective access to health provision of the voluntary termination of pregnancy and the protection of privacy and confidentiality of women.

The voluntary termination of pregnancy can be performed on all public and private health centers accredited. These centers should provide, in accordance with the Order of theDepartment of Health (1986), the information that feeds the Register of voluntary termination of pregnancy database. The first outpatient health center for this medical intervention was not accredited until December 19, 1988.

When the value is lower than that of the minimum unit to be able to estimate the statistical operation or if it effects statistical confidentiality, the symbol used is "..".