Guideline Highlights
Quick links
What is new in the 2022 guidelines
If you've previously worked with the 2012 Safe abortion guideline, benefit from starting here for a quick glance at what's new, updated, or unchanged.
Incomplete abortion management recommendations
Incomplete abortion is defined by clinical presence of an open cervical os and bleeding.
Medical management of induced abortion
Medical management of spontaneous and induced abortion at early or later gestational ages.
Background and context
Sexual and reproductive health is fundamental to individuals, couples and families, and to the social and economic development of communities and nations.
Abortion regulation
One element of an enabling environment is that law and policy promote and protect sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Medical management of missed abortion
Missed abortion is when a pregnancy stops developing and the cervical os is closed. Symptoms may include pain, bleeding or no symptoms at all.
Conceptual structure of the guideline

As illustrated above, this guideline is centred on the values and preferences of abortion seekers, and considers them as active participants in as well as beneficiaries of health services. This guidance emphasizes that – as a woman, girl or other pregnant person moves through the abortion care pathway (pre-abortion, abortion, post-abortion) – health services must be integrated within the health sector to ensure that service delivery meets their needs equitably and without discrimination. As each individual moves through this pathway, the guideline provides specific recommendations on the interventions needed (i.e. the “what”), and guidance on the individuals who may safely carry them out (i.e. the “who”). The guideline also provides information on the locations where services can be provided (i.e. the “where”) and outlines service-delivery models that can be used (i.e. the “how”). The enabling environment provides the context for the effective implementation of these interventions.
Download or print the full guideline
Web annexes and Evidence profiles:
- Web annex A. Key international human rights standards on abortion
- Web annex B. Technical meetings during guideline development
- Supplementary material 1. Evidence-to-Decision frameworks for the law and policy recommendations
- Supplementary material 2. Evidence-to-Decision frameworks for the clinical service recommendations
- Supplementary material 3. Evidence-to-Decision frameworks for the service delivery recommendations and best practice statements
Related materials
Clinical practice handbook for quality abortion care
This handbook is oriented to health workers who already have the requisite skills and training necessary to provide safe abortion and/or treat complications of unsafe abortion. It is neither a substitute for formal training, nor a training manual.
Towards a supportive law and policy environment for quality abortion care: evidence brief
This brief provides illustrations of and insights into steps that can be taken at the national, local and health-care facility level to create an enabling environment for quality abortion care.