Dear John,
This month:
- Women from the most deprived background are three times more likely to have abortions
- HFEA data highlights fertility inequalities for Black, Asian and minority ethnic patients
- Commissioning of abortion services in Northern Ireland
- UK majority believe the two-child limit should be scrapped or suspended
- BPAS partnership with CoppaFeel!
- Updates from the BPAS Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication.
Find out more in this month’s edition of Choice in the News:
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Women from the most deprived background are three times more likely to have abortions
An analysis published in the Guardian highlights that women from the most deprived backgrounds are almost three times more likely to have abortions than women from the wealthiest backgrounds, and the gap has worsened during the pandemic.
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Despite clinical evidence that demonstrates pills by post is a safe and effective model of care, the government are currently considering revoking permission for the service, which would effectively lead to the re-criminalisation of these women.
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The pandemic has deepened existing inequality across the UK. If the government revokes telemedical abortion care, women from deprived communities will suffer the most. All women need care, not criminalisation.
Help us keep this essential service legal:
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HFEA data highlights fertility inequalities for Black, Asian and minority ethnic patients
Data released by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) shows that Black fertility patients have the lowest chance of success, and they are also less likely than white patients to have their treatment funded by the NHS.
Our Director of Embryology, Marta Jansa Perez, says this important report must be the start of a long process of research, to understand the reasons behind the disparities and promote equal access to fertility services for all patients.
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"The disadvantages faced by Black patients in particular are striking. We welcome this important report from the HFEA, and we must work to ensure it is the beginning of a larger process of data collection and research."
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Commissioning of abortion services in Northern Ireland
Since the landmark decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland in 2019, and despite Regulations passed in Westminster in March 2020, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland has yet to centrally commission this essential reproductive healthcare.
We welcome the action taken by Brandon Lewis, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, last week commissioning abortion care in Northern Ireland. No one should be forced to make the physically and emotionally arduous trip to our clinics in Great Britain to obtain the care and support which should be available to them at home – least of all during a pandemic.
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UK majority believe the two-child limit should be scrapped or suspended
BPAS polling released this month found the majority of UK adults believe the two-child limit, which severely restricts financial support for low-income families with 3 or more children, should be scrapped or suspended.
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In December our research found that the two-child limit was a significant factor in women’s decisions to end a pregnancy during the pandemic.
One woman described feeling "forced in to a corner" by the policy.
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We recognise that, now more than ever, even the most carefully planned families can find themselves plunged into financial difficulties due to sudden unemployment, and that women can struggle to protect themselves against unplanned pregnancy.
If the government does not want to see more women feeling “forced into a corner” between financial hardship or ending a wanted pregnancy, the two-child limit must be suspended as a matter of urgency.
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BPAS partnership with CoppaFeel!
We are delighted to announce this month that we have partnered with CoppaFeel! to provide vital evidence-based information that can empower the tens of thousands of women who use our Pills By Post service.
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CoppaFeel! are a breast cancer awareness and education charity. Their commitment to empowering women to take control of their own health perfectly aligns with BPAS’ approach to putting women in control of their own care.
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CoppaFeel! boob-checking leaflets are now included in the Pills by Post packs, meaning their life-saving message will be reaching thousands more women.
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Updates from the BPAS Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication
The Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication (CRRC) was established in 2019 with a mission to advance sexual and reproductive wellbeing through multidisciplinary research.
We draw directly on BPAS’ own work as a sexual and reproductive healthcare provider to inform our research agenda. Our most recent research collaboration evaluated UK telemedical abortion services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Please visit our website to read more about our ongoing research and meet the team.
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Best wishes,
The BPAS team
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You can support our work defending and extending reproductive rights by becoming a Friend of BPAS, from as little as £2 per month.
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 We Trust Women
Under a law from 1861 any woman, anywhere in the UK, can go to prison for ending a pregnancy without the permission of two doctors. MPs support change, but we need the opportunity to make it happen. We are considering several legislative routes.
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 Preventing clinic protests
Anti-abortion activism targeted at clinics is on the rise in the UK. We are working to introduce buffer zones around abortion clinics to protect women and staff from intimidation and harassment. So far two buffer zones have been introduced, and more are in the pipeline.
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 Fighting the two-child benefits cap
The two-child benefits cap pushes families into poverty and impacts women's reproductive decisions. We are working with other UK charities to fight it. Read our briefing here.
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 Just Say Non!
Our campaign for accessible emergency contraception has seen prices slashed across major pharmacy chains. We're now working to make it available straight from the pharmacy shelf, without a mandatory consultation – as already happens in the USA, Canada, and many European countries.
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 Improving access to contraception
We're working with pharmacists nationwide to improve access to several methods of contraception, including the injection and the pill.
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 Working with women in prisons
Our contraceptive counselling & well woman advice service in Europe's largest women’s prison, HMP Bronzefield, was an RCNi Nurse Awards finalist. We provide confidential, non-judgemental counselling & education to aid women's wellbeing & rehabilitation.
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 Decriminalisation further afield
We’ve been working with pro-choice campaigners and the governments of the Isle of Man and Gibraltar to change their laws outlawing abortion and help them provide care for their citizens.
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 Wrisk
Women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy are bombarded with public health messages, for example about what to eat, drink, how much they should weigh, and what medications they should or shouldn’t take. The WRISK project aims to understand and improve the communication of risk in pregnancy, to make things better for women.
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