Abortion in Japan

Memorandums and information about abortion situations and problems in Japan

A Report for Preparation of the List of Issues and Suggested Questions for the 9th Periodic Report of the Government of Japan

This is the NGO report we sent to CEDAW on February 3.

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To the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

A Report for Preparation of the List of Issues and Suggested Questions for the 9th Periodic Report of the Government of Japan


Contraception and Safe Abortion Care Project,
Professional Women's Coalition for Sexuality and Health
https://pwcsh.or.jp/

February 3, 2020


The Professional Women's Coalition for Sexuality and Health (PWCSH) is an NGO that has been working voluntarily to improve Japanese women’s health and reproductive healthcare since 1997. Submitting this report is one of the PWCSH’s working groups. It is currently implementing a project to improve reproductive healthcare options such as contraception and abortion. Here is some information and suggested questions for the Japanese government.

 

Abortion methods

In Japan, Dilatation and Curettage (D&C) under General Anesthesia has been a main abortion method during first 12 weeks of pregnancy since abortion was virtually legalized after World War II.
The first publicly-funded national research for abortion methods conducted in 2010 on OB-GYN doctors reveals that 88% of respondents have been using D&C either with or without Vacuum Aspiration (VA) for abortions during first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The rate of those who use VA without help of D&C is 11%. Manual Vacuum Aspiration was introduced in October 2015, but it has not been widespread yet.
For abortions after 12 weeks, an induction by prostaglandins is typically used. The safety of this process has not been confirmed and is not one of the safe abortion methods recommended by the World Health Organization.
Abortion methods mainly used in Japan are not the safe abortion methods recommended by World Health Organization.


Suggested questions about this issue:

Please describe what measures have taken to promote Japanese women’s reproductive health concerning provision of safe abortion to them.

 

Cost of abortion

The 2010 study also reveals the prices for abortion. The price ranges from JPY60,000 to 200,000, or $600 to $2,000 (average JPY101,000 or $1,010, if $1 =JPY100) for an early-term abortion, while a mid-term abortion ranges from JPY90,000 to JPY600,000, or $900 to $6,000 (average JPY285,000 or $2,850). The fact that abortion is not covered by national health insurance hinders its accessibility and availability, especially for young women and poor women.


Suggested questions about this issue:

Please clarify what measures have taken to increase accessibility and availability of safe abortion to Japanese women in need.

 

Invalid warning

Abortion pills are believed to be dangerous by many Japanese people, and even medical doctors don’t have correct knowledge about them. The above-mentioned study shows that more than half of the OB-GYN doctors believe RU-486 (Mifepristone) is “dangerous”, or “somewhat dangerous”.
Such attitudes may be reflected by the fact that the Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare keeps warning on the danger of abortion pills acquired through Internet since 2004. The ground of this warning was fatal accidents of women having had abortion pills in USA in 2004, but FDA immediately investigated the cause and soon after denied the causality between the deaths and abortion pills.
However, the Japanese MHLW has not withdrawn the invalid warning, and this has been repeatedly mentioned in media reports of a woman who sought medical help for her health troubles after having acquired abortion pills illegally.
The scientific facts surrounding reproductive health should be taught publicly.


Suggested questions about this issue:

Please clarify what measures will be taken to provide scientifically correct information to Japanese public, including medical personnel’s concerning safe abortion methods.

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[Reference] CEDAW General Recommendation No. 24.
Recommendations for government action
29. States parties should implement a comprehensive national strategy to promote women's health throughout their lifespan. This will include interventions aimed at both the prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions affecting women, as well as responding to violence against women, and will ensure universal access for all women to a full range of high-quality and affordable health care, including sexual and reproductive health services. (20th session, 1999)