Abortion myths and facts

Where these fears come from

Few subjects carry as many rumours as abortion. Much of what people believe has been handed down from a neighbour, an anxious relative, or a frightening story found online, and very little of it has ever been checked with a doctor. That matters, because fear built on wrong information does real harm. It makes some women delay the care they need, and it pushes others towards unsafe shortcuts that are far more risky than the thing they were afraid of. So let us take the common worries one at a time, calmly, and separate what is a myth from what is a fact. My aim is not to talk you into anything — it is only to give you honest information, so that whatever you decide, you decide it with a clear head. You can read more about our safe and lawful abortion care whenever you are ready.

Myth: a safe abortion ruins your fertility

This is perhaps the fear I hear most often, so let me answer it plainly. A properly performed abortion, carried out by trained doctors at a licensed hospital, does not in itself take away your ability to have children later. Where real harm to fertility comes from is the opposite situation — an unsafe procedure done in the wrong hands, or an untreated infection that is allowed to follow it. That is exactly why the setting matters so much. When care is given safely and cleanly, and infection is prevented or treated properly, the door to a future pregnancy stays open, and you can try for a baby again when you are ready. The right method for you, whether the medicine route or a short procedure, is chosen after you have been examined — not from something you read in a forum.

Myth: abortion is always dangerous

Danger is not a fixed feature of abortion; it depends entirely on who does it, where, and how. A termination carried out lawfully, by a qualified doctor, in a hospital with a proper operating theatre and the means to handle any rare complication, is well-established, routine medical care. What is genuinely dangerous is the unsafe version of it — a procedure attempted by an untrained person, or medicines swallowed alone with no examination first and no one to turn to if something goes wrong. Almost every frightening story you may have heard traces back to unsafe care, not to safe care in a hospital. Choosing a licensed facility is the single biggest step that turns a situation you fear into one that is genuinely safe.

Myth: unmarried women cannot get care

I want to be very clear about this one, because it silences so many women. A woman does not need to be married to receive lawful abortion care in India, and she does not need anyone's approval but her own to come and ask about it. At our hospital an unmarried woman is met with exactly the same respect, the same confidentiality, and the same standard of care as anyone else. There is no lecture here and no judgement — only a doctor and a patient having a private conversation about what is right for her. Whatever your age or your situation, it stays between you and the medical team. Please do not let shame, or worry about being judged, keep you from asking a simple question.

Myth: pills sent by post are fine

This is the myth I most want to correct, because it is the one that puts women in real danger. Ordering tablets online, having medicines couriered to your door, or being guided through an abortion over the phone by someone who has never examined you — none of that is safe, and we will never do it. Before the medicine route can even be considered, a doctor has to confirm that the pregnancy is where it should be and rule out a problem such as an ectopic pregnancy, which can threaten a woman's life if it is missed. There is no way to judge that through a screen. So to receive any abortion service at all, you must come to the hospital in Goa in person. A phone or online consultation has its place — it can tell you whether treatment is feasible and guide you on the next step — but the treatment itself is never carried out remotely, and we never send medicines by post or courier.

What actually keeps you safe

If you take only one thing from all of this, let it be this: safety comes from the setting, not from luck. A proper assessment first, lawful care at a government-licensed facility, doctors who are trained for it, clean single-use instruments, and a clear plan for the days afterwards — those are the things that protect both you and your future fertility. This is care given openly and with dignity, within the law. If you ever feel unwell after any treatment taken elsewhere, or something simply does not seem right, please come in and be assessed rather than waiting anxiously at home.

Where this care happens

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 assessment, any medicine and any procedure are handled in one place, by one team you can return to. Everything is done quietly and respectfully. A first conversation simply looks at your situation and explains, honestly, what your safe options are.

Getting started

If any of this is on your mind, the simplest next step is to call or message us. You can describe your situation privately, and we will guide you gently. An online consultation can tell you whether treatment is feasible and what the next step would be — but please remember that to receive any abortion service you must come to the hospital in Goa in person, and that we never send medicines by post. Free patient transport is available from across Goa and nearby areas, so reaching us need not be a worry. This article is for education only and is not personal medical advice; please consult your doctor about your own situation.

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.