No scientific support behind mandatory abortion waiting period, IFPA confirms

Should the mandatory waiting period for abortions in Ireland be scrapped?

The IFPA revealed that 98% of their clients went on to have an abortion after an initial consultation with the IFPA between 2021 and 2024.

In Ireland, there is a three-day waiting period between your pre-abortion consultation and your abortion.

However, many people believe that this waiting period is unnecessary.

The report said that "mandatory waiting periods inject an unfounded concern about decisional uncertainty in relation to pregnancy into laws."

It also "demonstrates a distrust of pregnant women’s capacity to make autonomous decisions about their reproductive health and future."

The World Health Organisation has also called for waiting periods for abortion to be abolished.

WHO also views them as "medically unnecessary barriers" that often heighten anxiety and stress, and also demean a woman's ability to make her own medical decisions.

In July 2025, CEDAW called on the Irish government to “consider fully decriminalising abortion and abolishing the mandatory three-day waiting period."

"The IFPA will continue to advocate for the removal of the waiting period from the law."

Women in Ireland can have an abortion if their pregnancy is no more than 12 weeks.

This means 84 days since the first day of your last period.

After 12 weeks, you can only have an abortion in exceptional circumstances.

These are when continuing the pregnancy:

• puts your life at risk
• will cause serious harm to your health
• is likely to lead to the death of the fetus either before or within 28 days of birth, because of a problem with its development

Read the full IFPA report here.

CORRECTION: This article originally stated that 90% of their clients went on to have an abortion after the three-day waiting period between 2021 and 2024. This was updated on 17 December to reflect the correct figure, which is 98%.