Denmark is set to extend the limit for free abortions from the 12th to the 18th week of pregnancy, effective June 1st. This change is supported by a majority of the population, according to a recent Voxmeter survey.

The legislative amendment aims to provide pregnant women with more time to make informed decisions, especially considering insights gained from fetal medicine examinations typically conducted after week 12. These examinations, such as nuchal translucency scans, can identify potential chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome.

The adjustment also reinforces a woman’s right to choose what happens to her body. The new law eliminates the need for women to seek permission from an abortion board to terminate a pregnancy, regardless of whether the decision stems from fetal health issues or personal circumstances.

According to the Voxmeter survey, nearly 51 percent of respondents support the 18-week abortion limit, while 31 percent oppose it.

Historically, since 1973, Denmark’s free abortion limit has been set at 12 weeks. Beyond this point, women were required to request permission to terminate their pregnancy.

With this change, Denmark aligns itself with countries like Sweden. While a few nations, such as the Netherlands, have even higher limits, only a small percentage of those surveyed in Denmark favored extending the limit beyond 18 weeks.

Health Minister Sophie Løhde emphasizes that the new law strikes a balance by strengthening a woman’s autonomy while maintaining a significant distance from the fetus’s viability, which is typically reached after week 22.

Furthermore, a majority of those surveyed support the new regulation that allows young people over 15 to have an abortion without parental consent. Specifically, 62 percent of the Voxmeter survey respondents favored the rule, while 25 percent opposed it.