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This article explores how abortion laws and regulations are experienced by women and others who may become pregnant at the level of the affected body. It theorises that laws, policies, and regulations which criminalise or obstruct access to abortion shape the embodied subjectivities of gestating individuals in contextually specific ways. This research analyses the experiences of abortion activists in Ireland living under the 8th amendment – the constitutional abortion ban (1983–2018). It proposes the concept of 'abortion work' to exemplify the additional forms of reproductive labour imposed on women and people who have historically been forced to anticipate, plan for, and access clandestine abortions inside and outside of Irish borders. It explores how the experience of doing 'abortion work' changes the relationship of these individuals to their bodies, which they come to experience 'out of space-and-time' and as sites of both intense vulnerability and insurgent agency at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2018, the Irish government confirmed that a referendum would be held on 25 May, allowing for the Irish public to vote on the legalisation of abortion. The same month, Together for Yes – the national civil society campaign advocating for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum – was launched. This article draws upon findings from 27 in-depth interviews conducted in December 2019 and January 2020 with Irish abortion activists, to explore the moral and emotional construction of abortion within the 'Yes' campaign. This research suggests that the 'Yes' campaign, which secured 66% of the votes cast in the referendum, framed abortion as a negative affective object and constructed the moral permissibility of abortion along rather conservative lines. Data from the first year of abortion provision in the Republic of Ireland reveals that abortion seekers still face huge obstacles in accessing services in the State. The legislation introduced in January 2019 allows abortion on request only until 12 weeks, whilst issues remain in relation to the refusal of care. This article, therefore, concludes that by framing abortion in conservative terms, the pro-choice campaign has not yet succeeded in destigmatising abortion in Ireland – an issue now translated into limited legislation and inadequate provision of services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2018, the Irish government enacted a liberalised abortion law permitting expanded access to abortion from January 2019. A dedicated information and support service - MyOptions - was established to provide non-directive counselling and clinical advice about unplanned pregnancy. MyOptions provides contact details for abortion providers but does not make appointments for abortion-seekers. In 2020, the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC) conducted research into Irish residents' experiences of abortion care under the new law, including their experiences with MyOptions., Methods: Between September 2020 and March 2021, ARC administered an online survey. Qualitative data were coded using NVIVO software and analysed through thematic analysis. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. This article analyses a subsection of these data to answer the question: What were abortion-seekers' experiences of using MyOptions?, Results: Many respondents were unaware of MyOptions before becoming pregnant. Some described MyOptions as useful and compassionate. Others noted a lack of clarity from MyOptions about the scope of its service and a lack of information on accessing abortion after 12 weeks. Respondents reported frustration that the service did not arrange appointments, explaining that having to contact general practitioners (GPs) themselves was stressful and time-consuming, as was GPs' refusal to provide care or refer to a willing provider., Conclusions: MyOptions primarily benefits abortion-seekers whose pregnancies are under 12 weeks and who are comfortable contacting a GP themselves. The addition of an appointments booking service and guidance on how to access abortion for medical reasons and abortion after 12 weeks could improve the service., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)