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Termination of Pregnancy/Abortion in France & Monaco

Information on IVG and legal, safe abortion in France. Find out when and where it may be performed, who qualifies for this procedure and how to arrange it. With details of the French family planning organisation, hospitals and health centres for IVG.

The family-planning organisation, the French Movement for Family Planning (Mouvement Français Pour le Planning Familial/MFPF) is responsible for providing information on contraception, abortion (avortement), sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS (SIDA). The website (in French) is comprehensive and provides information relevant to all regions of France.

For the Planning Familial website: Click here

Emergency Contraception/The "Morning-After Pill"

In the event of contraceptive failure, an emergency contraceptive pill (la contraception d'urgence), called NorLevo, is available. It prevents the implantation of a fertilised egg and should be taken as soon after having un-protected sex as possible and within three days at the latest (though it may be effective for up to five days after intercourse).

This emergency contraception is available at pharmacies: without a prescription (unreimbursed by social security) as well as with a prescription (reimbursed by social security). The unreimbursed cost is €4-10. It is free for minors.

For information from MFPF on emergency contraception: Click here (in French)

Termination of Pregnancy

Termination of pregnancy (IVG) is legal in France up to 12-weeks after conception. There is one week period of compulsory "reflection" prior to termination, except in an urgent case where this can be reduced to two days.

Minors (girls under 18 years of age) and unmarried women must meet with a counsellor during the week prior to the process and in the days immediately after.

Minors do not need parental consent, however they must be accompanied by an adult (person over 18 years of age) throughout the procedure. Single women do not need to provide the agreement of the partner. A non-resident visitor to France may legally have a pregnancy terminated while in France.

Note: A doctor has the right to refuse to perform an abortion but should direct the woman to the family planning organisation or a medical practitioner who can help.

Arranging a termination

A woman may begin by visiting the doctor of her choice, a public hospital or a private clinic practising abortion. After this initial consultation, certain laboratory tests may be required.

To find the nearest IVG clinic: Click here (enter a department number in the space below Contacts Départementaux at the top left corner of the page)

Recommended documents to take:

At the initial medical consultation, it is suggested to bring the following:

card proving blood type (carte de groupe sanguin)
medical records (dossier médical)
prescriptions (ordonnances) of any ongoing treatment
social security card (Carte Vitale)

Costs

For those registered with the French social security system, 80 percent of the fee is covered by the system. Some private insurance companies (mutuels) will pay the remainder or some portion of the remainder. It is possible to request financial assistance to cover part or all of the cost.

For those not resident in France, it may be possible to receive reduced-rate medical assistance, though not all hospitals or clinics will do so. Some clinics and hospitals will ask the patient to sign a non-binding certificate stating they intend to remain in France, others will request that they show they are or will live in France for at least two months.

For minors, the entire cost is covered by social security.

Confidentiality

For those concerned with confidentiality - especially if they are registered with social security through a spouse or parent - clinics and hospitals have a coding system that does not identify the procedure in regards to social security billing or reimbursement.

Abortion in Monaco

Abortions are permitted in Monaco only in the following circumstances:

if the pregnancy poses a threat to the mother's life or health
if pre-natal testing shows a high probability that the foetus is severely handicapped or has an incurable life-threatening condition
if the pregnancy is the result of a crime and less than 12 weeks have passed since conception

In the first two instances, two physicians who are public hospital medical staff (and members of the medical college) under the Direction de l’Action Sanitaire et Sociale must concur that the criteria have been met. A doctor chosen by the pregnant woman may be involved in the consultation, but will not have approval rights.

If the pregnancy is the result of a crime, proof that a criminal complaint was filed is required. If this proof is not available, a tribunal may hear the case to consider approving the abortion.

In addition to meeting the requirements above, minors may only obtain an abortion in Monaco with the approval of one parent or in instances of emergency. A tribunal may consider approval in extraordinary situations.

For the text of the April 2009 law regarding abortions in Monaco: Click here (in French)

A person with Monagasque social security may choose to be referred to a doctor in France, however fees for the procedure or the abortion pill will not be reimbursed.