If you have a uterus, whether you are a woman, a trans person or a non-binary person, you have the right to decide to continue or terminate your pregnancy.
If you are a 2SLGBTQ+ person, a trans person or a non-binary person, here are some documents that can help you in the process.
However, before the age of 14, permission from a parent or guardian is required.
Pregnancy termination services are free if you have a health insurance card, private insurance covering these costs, if you are foreign student or if you are enrolled in a refugee support program.
If you don’t have access to any of these types of insurance, you can pay the fee, which varies from $200 to $1300 depending on the stage of your pregnancy. If you cannot afford it, you can talk to the health and social services workers you meet who can direct you. You can also contact the following organisations about financial assistance options:
Choosing to terminate your pregnancy will not impact your fertility or prevent a future pregnancy.
No matter how many abortions you have, there is no increase in the risk to your health and no impact on your ability to have a child in the future.
There is no time limit for terminating a pregnancy. However, not all clinics are able to offer the service at all stages of pregnancy. In Gaspésie, it is possible to have a termination locally until you’ve reached 12 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. Beyond 12 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy, you will be referred to a hospital outside the region. On the Magdalen Islands, you can obtain one on the islands until you’ve reached 16 weeks of pregnancy.
No means of contraception is 100% effective and considering that a woman will ovulate on average 400 times in her lifetime, the chances of unplanned pregnancies are considerable.³ Abortion is therefore not used as a means of contraception.
The Act respecting Health Services and Social Services stipulates that you have the right to be informed of the existing services and resources available in your area, and to have access to them. If you are pregnant, you have the right to ask all your questions of professional resources and to get the answers you need to make an informed decision.
You can always have someone come with you to your appointment. However, the person will not be able to be in the room while the pregnancy is being terminated.
Pursuant to the Act respecting Health Services and Social Services, your medical file is confidential, and no one can access it without your consent. Each professional involved is bound by professional secrecy. If you feel that confidentiality has not been respected during your abortion journey, you can contact your nearest users’ committee to report the situation.