Women’s Health Information Centre
Clear answers to real questions
Each guide answers a question people genuinely ask us. They are written from authoritative sources and show when they were last updated. See our editorial policy.
Abortion care
How many weeks pregnant am I? How gestational age is determined
Why pregnancy is counted from your last period, how clinicians confirm how far along you are, and why the number of weeks matters for your options.
Medical abortion vs surgical abortion: how they differ
The practical differences between medical and surgical abortion, what determines which is appropriate, and the questions worth asking your clinician.
Using our services
Telehealth reproductive healthcare explained
What telehealth can and cannot do in reproductive healthcare, how remote consultations are regulated in South Africa, and how to protect your privacy.
What happens during an abortion consultation?
A step-by-step look at an abortion consultation: the questions you will be asked, how the assessment works, and what you can ask in return.
Your rights
Confidentiality and your rights in reproductive healthcare
Who can find out about your reproductive healthcare, what South African law says about consent and privacy, and practical ways to keep your enquiry private.
Termination of pregnancy law in South Africa, in plain language
A plain-language guide to the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act: when a termination is legal, who may provide it, consent, and your right to privacy.
Cannot find what you need?
Browse our frequently asked questions, or ask us directly. No question is too small.
Speak to us in confidence
Ready when you are. No pressure.
Ask a question, check what a consultation involves, or simply find out your options. You decide what happens next.