Doctors in UK are calling on the government to study a proposal about the safety and acceptability of home terminations.

They say the move will benefit women who want an early abortion, eliminating the need for a surgical one.

But anti-abortion campaigners say home terminations would not be safe for women.

Tell us what you think. Should this be allowed ? Do you believe it will help women?

Thank you for your e-mails. This debate is now closed. The following comments reflect the balance of views we received:

No matter what your opinion on abortions is, this is an absolutely absurd idea. I know this might help the 'patient' to relax etc, but the equipment will not be available on hand if something goes wrong. A home is a place for you to relax, where you should feel safe and comfortable, it is most certainly not a safe place to carry out terminations.
D Marsden, Durham, UK

A lot of your correspondents are saying that home abortions would be "dangerous", but going through pregnancy and birth is more dangerous, as is surgery.
Emma Nicholson, UK

No, home abortions should not be allowed. This is just another example of the quick-fix, throwaway, society at work. In this case, it's human life that's being disposed of.
Colin Moss, England

Absolutely! I don't see any problems with it, so long as it's not abused. Obviously, the answer is 'don't get pregnant', but accidents happen. Giving people choice is a great thing in my book.
Paul, UK

I had to wait an agonising four weeks Jane, UK

I had an unwanted accidental pregnancy (yes I was taking sensible precautions but they failed), the "father" would not support me. I felt I had no choice as I'd only just started a new job, had huge debts and couldn't go through it on my own.

I had to wait an agonising four weeks for the surgical termination despite being well within the nine weeks when I first visited the doctor. Anything which makes the procedure physically easier will be better and safer than surgery. No woman ever really gets over a termination; no one would want to go through the physical and emotional pain more than once. Stop living in the Victorian age and accept that people have sex, contraception does fail and women have the right to choose.
Jane, UK

I have been through a medical termination at five weeks, and it was the most traumatic event of my life. Whilst I wholeheartedly agree with a woman's right to have a termination, I would hate to see this made available at home. It's not an easy thing to go through.
Anon, UK

If society believes abortion is acceptable, then the way it is performed is irrelevant. Safety should be the only deciding factor.
Peter, England

What can you say? The UK already gives contraceptives to 12-year-olds and now soon to be DIY abortion kits. What other moral standards can we try to terminate?!
John P, UK Hampshire

It is interesting that the most hysterical responses to this issue have been from men. Why are they so fearful of a woman having the ultimate right over her own body?
Lucia, UK

I am reassured this option exists Ann, UK

As a woman in control of my fertility 99% of the time, I am still reassured that this option exists for the less than 1% risk. This should be trialled and reported on, not become the source of unfounded hysteria. (Does anyone else remember when the morning-after pill first became available over the counter?). It's not a substitute for safe, protected sex, but there are times and situations where it is going to be the only viable alternative. And, as I understand it, it's the second dose that will be taken in the privacy of your own home, only after assessment and delivery of the first dose in an appropriate medical facility.
Ann, UK

I think that home abortions are a despicable idea, I know that it is necessary in some cases to have an abortion, but this should be done in a hospital with a counsellor.
Louise Moore, UK

I wonder if the people who are disgusted by the concept of abortion have ever been in the situation themselves? I am totally pro-choice, but I think this would be a bad move. For sensible people, it would be fine, but unfortunately our country is full of incredibly unsensible people who can't even work a condom, and I fear they would be the biggest market, using it as an easy form of birth control.
Nif, UK

I can't help feeling that the number of abortions could be reduced dramatically if it was easier for women to get sterilised on the NHS - as ever, prevention is better than cure, maybe doctors should be looking at this instead?
Kaye, UK

I am pregnant with my fourth child and even I can see that sometimes the only moral choice for a mother and her unborn child is abortion. However, I feel there are safer and better regulated methods than home terminations.
Julia Brentnall, UK

I'm pro-choice, but the decision to proceed with a termination should never be taken alone. Support before, during and after the event is a necessity. Without this support, home terminations shouldn't be allowed.
Elaine Hart, England

Without further safety studies, home abortions may be too dangerous Tanya, UK

Without further safety studies, home abortions may be too dangerous. But the abortion pill could be very effective when applied in day clinics, including examination by a doctor, counselling and a good dose of sex education.
Tanya, UK

Last year I went through the trauma of having an early abortion. This was caused by a contraceptive failure, and I was devastated. I'd gone to great lengths to ensure I couldn't get pregnant, because having children is something that I really don't want at the moment. I had the procedure carried out at the local hospital, and it was really distressing. It would have been good to have been offered the facility to do this at home in my own environment.
Lisa, UK

Not all abortions result from contraception ignorance. Contraception failures do happen, as do rapes, as do relationship breakdowns on discovering a pregnancy.
Helen, UK

It will become a form of routine birth control John Smith, UK

Making abortion this easy means it will become a form of routine birth control. It would be much too dangerous to women to use abortion in this way.
John Smith, UK

It is a massive misconception, and an offensive one, that many women would consider any form of abortion a good form of birth control. It is both physically and emotionally a very unpleasant experience at any stage of a pregnancy. If a safe home abortion reduces the distress caused, this can only be a good thing.
Anna, UK

Abortion is proof of the debauched and twisted state of humanity. How can anyone terminate their own flesh and blood?
Mick Briars, UK

It's insane that some people don't seem to understand the relationship between the act itself and falling pregnant! If you don't want a baby, then have protected sex or abstain completely. Getting rid of a baby should not be as simple as getting rid of a headache.
Rich, UK

Notice that the most anti-abortion posts so far are from men - the ones who never need to go through the emotional and physical agony of a pregnancy. Yes prevention is better than cure but no form of contraception is hundred per cent effective. Haven't these men heard of rape?
Gina, England

I think this is a step in the right direction as surgical procedures are far more dangerous to women. However, further safety studies need to be carried out to ensure that no woman is put in danger. I would expect these drugs to be only available on prescription from your local GP to avoid misuse.
Niki, UK

If it frees up much need medical resources then it can't be a bad thing Toby, UK

If it frees up much need medical resources then it can't be a bad thing, though educating people about contraception should be a higher priority.
Toby, UK

I think the government needs to think very carefully about this. Abortions are not only very traumatic for the body, but also for the emotional state of a woman. They should be carried out within a controlled, professional medical environment, to ensure that women can think through their options properly and that help is at hand should any complications arise.
Katie Whalley, France

I think this is a good idea but one which the pro-lifers will jump on to kill. In such an early stage of pregnancy I believe it would be better to take the second pill at home and have the comfort and privacy of my own home at this stressful time.
Emma Watson, UK

If it can be proven to be safe, then I don't see why not. I support anything which helps people take control of their lives.
Russ, UK

I can imagine that if it became too easy to obtain an abortion people would view it as an easy choice, not a life changing one.
Charlotte, UK

Anti-abortion campaigners complain on principle and have no interest in the health of women so their opinions are irrelevant. Anyone with any sense would listen to doctors instead and hold a rational discussion.
Fred, England

Anything that reduces the instance of unnecessary surgery is a good thing Melanie Clark, UK

I hope this issue doesn't get clouded by the ethical argument. Regardless of whether people agree with it or not, some women get pregnant and either can't or don't want to have the child. Anything that reduces the instance of unnecessary surgery is a good thing, and hopefully will help to make the experience slightly less traumatic for some of those involved.
Melanie Clark, UK

Abortion is murder wherever you do it.
Lance Strangely, UK

I am not against abortion, however I think that this could be quite dangerous and will inevitably end up as a black market product.
Wendy, UK