Liberal abortion laws in Cambodia allow for legal termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks, upon request. Both public and private facilities offer abortion services including both in-clinic and medical abortion methods.
Is Abortion Legal in Cambodia?
Abortion in Cambodia is legal upon request within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. Thereafter, abortions are only legal in Cambodia to save a woman’s life or preserve her health, if the pregnancy is a result of rape or in the case of serious fetal anomaly. [1]
What Types of Abortion are Available in Cambodia?
- Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA)
- Abortion with pills (MA) [2]
What is the abortion rate in Cambodia? How Many Women Have Abortions?
An estimated 28 per 1,000 women have an abortion in Cambodia. [3]
In-Clinic Abortion
What are the Different Types of in-Clinic Abortion Procedures Available in Cambodia?
Manual Vacuum aspiration (MVA) abortion is the most commonly used in-clinic abortion method in Cambodia.
Is Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) safe?
MVA is a very safe method of abortion for pregnancies in the first trimester, and/or early second trimester all the way up to 14 weeks of gestation. MVA is 99% effective. [4]
You can get more information on the MVA procedure here.
Where Can I get a Manual Vacum Aspiration (MVA) Abortion in Cambodia?
Women can seek abortion services at private clinics and hospitals as well as public facilities such as local health centres.
How Much Does Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) Cost in Cambodia?
Manual Vacuum Aspiration costs range from USD 250-USD 450 depending on your gestation age.
Are There Any Side Effects of Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA)?
The most common side effect is cramping during the procedure. Often this cramping will improve quickly afterwards, but some women may experience cramping on and off for a few days or weeks. Most women will experience bleeding and cramping during and after MVA, these symptoms will gradually improve in the following days after the procedure. [4]
Abortion with Pills (Medical Abortion)
Are the Abortion Pills (Mifepristone and Misoprostol) Available in Cambodia?
Both Mifepristone and Misoprostol are available in Cambodia. [5]
How Late Into a Pregnancy Can the Abortion Pills Be Used?
The abortion pills can be used within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy.
You can get more information on the medical abortion protocol using Mifepristone and Misoprostol or using Misoprostol only.
Do I Need a Prescription for Mifepristone? Misoprostol?
A prescription may be required to purchase the pills and will depend on the individual pharmacy.
What Brands of Abortion Pill Are Popular in Cambodia?
How Much Do the Abortion Pills Cost in Cambodia?
Abortion pills cost between USD 40-USD 60
Who Can I Contact for More Information on Abortion in Cambodia?
Marie Stopes Cambodia: Health services and resources
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/MarieStopesKh
Tel: +855 023 994 083
Emails: hotline@mariestopes.org.kh; info@mariestopes.org.kh
Fertility Clinic of Cambodia: Health services and resources
Tel: (+855)12 55 23 30, 23 2222 95
Email: info@fertilityclinic.com.kh
The Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC): Health services and resources
Tel: 077 995 394
Cambodia Women’s Crisis Center (CWCC): Women’s organization that advocates for the human rights of women and children.
Phnom Penh Office: (855-23) 987158
Banteay Meanchey Office: (855-54) 967 144
Siem Reap Office: (855-63) 963 276
Kampong Thom Office: (855-62) 210 515
Women’s Resource Center: Drop-in information, counseling, and resource center
Tel: +855 (0)92 373 693
You can get in touch with safe2choose’s counselors by email at info@safe2choose.org or by livechat.
You can also reach out to Women on Web or Women Help Women.
[1] Center for Reproductive Rights. The World’s Abortion Laws. Retrieved from: https://reproductiverights.org/worldabortionlaws
[2] Europe PMC. Abortion choices among women in Cambodia after introduction of a socially marketed medicated abortion product. Retrieved from: https://europepmc.org/article/med/28099741
[3] NIH. Abortion Incidence in Cambodia, 2005 and 2010. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25649162/
[4] Ipas. Clinical Updates in Reproductive Health. 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.ipas.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ipas-Clinical-Updates-in-Reproductive-Health-CURHE23b.pdf
[5] IPPF. Medical Abortion Commodities Database. Retrieved from: https://www.medab.org/advanced-search-multiple-results?country=334&commodity=all&brand=all#multiple-search-result