Abortion for unmarried women: lawful and private
Lawful, licensed, confidential. Termination of pregnancy at Pai Hospital is carried out lawfully under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (as amended), at a licensed facility, by registered medical practitioners, within the limits and the certification that the Act requires. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind, at any stage, for any reason. Your identity and your treatment are confidential.
Yes. In India, an unmarried woman has exactly the same right to safe, lawful abortion care as anyone else, and only her own consent is needed — not a husband's, a partner's or a parent's. At Pai Hospital in Goa we treat every woman with full confidentiality and without judgement.
You have the same right as anyone else
If you are unmarried and facing an unplanned pregnancy, please know this first: you are not doing anything wrong, and you are not alone. Many of the women we care for are unmarried, and the law does not treat them any differently. Safe abortion is lawful in India under the MTP Act, and it is available to a woman whether she is married or not. At a government-licensed hospital like ours, you are simply a patient who deserves good care — nothing more is asked of you, and nothing less is offered.
We say this plainly because fear and shame keep too many women away from the very help that would keep them safe. You do not have to explain your relationship, justify your decision, or bring anyone with you to be allowed care. You can read how we provide this care on our safe and lawful abortion services page.
Only your own consent is needed
This is the point that surprises many people, so let us be clear: for an adult woman, only her own consent is needed. You do not need your husband's permission — and if you are unmarried, you certainly do not need a partner's or a parent's. The decision is yours to make, and yours alone to sign for. No one else's signature is required, and no one else can force you to continue, or to end, a pregnancy against your will.
The one situation the law treats differently is when the patient is still a minor; there, a parent or guardian is asked to be involved, for the young person's own protection. Even then, she is cared for with the same warmth and privacy as anyone else. But if you are an adult, the choice and the consent are entirely your own.
Your privacy is protected
Confidentiality is not a favour we do for you; it is part of proper medical care, and it is protected by law. What you tell us, and the care you receive, stay between you and your medical team. We do not inform your family, your employer or your community, and we do not need a reason from you to keep your visit private. If you would prefer that we contact you in a particular way — a certain number, a certain time of day — simply tell us, and we will follow it.
No judgement — from anyone here
You may have rehearsed the questions you are dreading, or braced yourself for a disapproving look. You will not find that here. Our role is to look after your health and to help you make a safe, informed decision — not to judge how you arrived at it. Every woman who walks through our door, married or unmarried, is met with the same respect. This is also why our whole focus is on the quality and dignity of your care, and never on anything else.
Everything happens in person, in Goa
There is one practical thing that is important to understand, because a great deal of unsafe harm comes from getting it wrong. Any abortion service can only be given to you in person, at the hospital in Goa. We do not send medicines by post or courier, and there is no such thing as a safe abortion arranged entirely over the phone. Ordering something online, or taking a friend's leftover tablets, is exactly the situation that turns a simple, safe procedure into an emergency.
A phone call or an online consultation with us has a clear and limited purpose: it lets us understand your situation, tell you whether treatment is likely to be feasible, and guide you on the next step and what to bring. The treatment itself — whether that is the medicine route, given and monitored by us, or a short procedure — is always carried out in person, under proper care. It is never done remotely.
How your care is decided
Rather than working anything out from a message, we ask you to come in and be assessed. A doctor confirms the pregnancy, checks your health, and talks through which safe option suits you. This is the same careful process for every patient, and it is what makes the care safe. We explain what is involved in plain language before anything is decided, and the pace is set by what is right for you. Nothing is booked or decided simply by asking a question.
Where this care is given
This guide is by Dr Mayur Pai, MBBS, MS (Obstetrics & Gynaecology). Pai Hospital in Goa is a government-licensed facility with its own operating theatre, so the consultation, the assessment and the treatment happen in one place, under one team. Thinking ahead about reliable contraception afterwards can also help, so that you stay in control of your own choices from here on, and we are glad to talk that through with you.
Getting started
If any of this is on your mind, please just call or message us. You can tell us as much or as little as you are comfortable with, and we will guide you gently on what to do next. An online consultation will tell you whether treatment is feasible and what to expect, but please remember that to receive any care you will need to come to the hospital in Goa in person. This article is for education only and is not personal medical advice; please consult your doctor about your own situation.
Do I need my husband's, my partner's or my parents' permission for an abortion?
No. For an adult woman, only your own consent is needed. You do not need a husband's, a partner's or a parent's permission. The one exception is when the patient is a minor, when a parent or guardian is asked to be involved. Otherwise the decision, and the consent, are entirely your own.
I am unmarried. Will I be treated differently or judged?
No. Safe abortion is lawful in India for every woman, married or unmarried, and we care for each patient with the same respect and privacy. You do not have to explain your relationship or justify your decision to receive good care.
Will my family or anyone else be told?
No. Your confidentiality is protected by law and is part of proper medical care. What you share, and the care you receive, stay between you and your medical team. If you prefer a particular way of being contacted, just tell us.
Can the abortion medicines be sent to me, or the whole thing arranged by phone?
No. We never send medicines by post or courier, and no safe abortion can be arranged entirely over the phone. An online consultation can only tell you whether treatment is feasible; any care must be given in person, at the hospital in Goa.
I live far away. How do I reach the hospital?
Free patient transport is available from across Goa and nearby areas. Just call or message us and we will arrange to bring you to the hospital and back, so distance is never a reason to delay safe care.
Or call +91 75582 52088 · 0832 251 3641
This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.