Hundreds of Irish women continue to travel abroad for abortions

In a staggering new report, The Journal has revealed the reality that hundreds of Irish women are facing when it comes to abortion care.

The team confirmed that around 240 Irish women are travelling to the UK for abortion care every year.

Editor Maria Delay explained the team's findings:

"So, when we look at the data, around 240 women still travel to the UK from Ireland for abortion care each year," she said.

"That's despite the repeal of the Eighth and the new legislation," she explained to Newstalk.

"So, it's women who fall outside the legal parameters that are currently in place in Ireland."

The team further explained that the reason behind the number of women travelling abroad for a termination varies.

However, one of the main reasons is that many women do not realise they're pregnant until after the legal deadline has passed.

In Ireland, abortion is permitted during the first twelve weeks of a pregnancy.

12 weeks of pregnancy means 84 days since the first day of your last period.

According to the HSE, you need to begin the process earlier than day 84 of the pregnancy.

This is so a GP or doctor can certify that you are no more than 12 weeks pregnant. There must be at least three days between being certified and having the abortion procedure.

For example, if you are certified on a Monday, the earliest you can have an abortion is Thursday.

This delay of at least three days can give patients time to decide if they want to go ahead with the abortion.

Abortion is also available in cases where the pregnant woman's life or health is at risk or in the cases of a fatal fetal abnormality.

The team behind Exporting Abortion said women are also seeking abortions abroad because the foetus may have a malformation, but local doctors do not consider it serious enough to terminate the pregnancy.

An abortion is free through the HSE if you live in the Republic of Ireland.

You can contact My Options support service at 1800 828 010.