On the history of abortion from antiquity to the present day - with a focus on Central Europe and Germany - Abstract

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Aria

The question of how to deal with pregnancy, whether desired or unwanted, is treated as a complex biological, ethical, social, and medical issue with origins in antiquity. Regulatory approaches are shown as culturally and temporally specific, requiring continuous change. The article traces history from ancient times to a focus on the second half of the nineteenth century and especially the twentieth century in Germany, examining medical, legal, and religious backgrounds and noting parallel discussions across parts of the Western world.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Antiquity and the Middle ages

Legal and religious perspectives

Medical records and abortifacients

Pregnancy and Family Assistance Amendment Act (Germany)

Counseling, reflection, and legal status

Medical grounds and sexual abuse

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2026) 313:12 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-025-08300-3](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-025-08300-3) On the history of abortion from antiquity to the present day, with a focus on Central Europe and Germany F. M. Dienerowitz1 · M. David2 Received: 23 December 2025 / Accepted: 27 December 2025 © The Author(s) 2026 Abstract The question of how to deal with a pregnancy, whether desired or unwanted, is a complex biological, ethical, social, and medical issue going back for millennia. Every form of regulatory approach to this issue is culturally and temporally specific and is therefore subject to continuous change. Our look at its history and the medical, legal, and religious background begins in ancient times, progresses through history, and ends with a focus on the second half of the nineteenth century and especially the twentieth century in Germany. These ethical, moral, and medical questions are likely to have been discussed in a similar way in other parts of the Western world. Keyword History of abortion · Ethical questions of abortion · Legal background of abortion Introduction On October 1, 1995, the Pregnancy and Family Assistance Amendment Act came into force in Germany, which, for the past 30 years, has provided the legal framework for the more than 100,000 abortions recorded annually in Germany. According to this act, women can have an abortion without penalty within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (14 weeks after the last menstrual period) after counseling and a 3-day reflection period (Section 218a, 1 of the German Criminal Code), even though abortion is still classified as illegal and is anchored in the German Criminal Code (StGB Strafgesetzbuch). In addition, it is possible to terminate a pregnancy on medical grounds (Section 218a, 2 of the German Criminal Code) or after sexual abuse (Section 218a, 3). These regulations are seen as a social compromise between protecting the life of the unborn child, its right to life and the pregnant woman’s right to self-determination. In practice, they have proved to be a well-functioning system since the mid-1990s. However, the discussion about abortion and its regulations has been and continues to be the subject of controversy in Germany. In essence, the debate revolves around the question: “How do I as an individual and how does society deal with wanted and unwanted pregnancies?” Answering this twofold question is a complex biological, ethical, social, and medical issue going back thousands of years. Every form of regulatory approach to this issue is culturally and temporally specific and has therefore been subject to continuous discussion and change. Thus, it is worthwhile to look at the history and the medical, legal, and religious aspects of abortion. Starting with a broad overview of different approaches to the topic in ancient times, we will progress through history, lastly focusing on developments starting in the second half of the nineteenth century and especially the twentieth century, primarily in Germany. Finally, we will touch on the current legal situation in neighboring European countries. * M. David [matthias.david@charite.de](matthias.david@charite.de) 1 Institute for the History, Theory, and Ethics of Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany 2 Department of Gynecology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany Antiquity and the Middle ages Abortion is by no means a modern invention. There are sources dating back to antiquity that refer to abortion. The Indian law book Manava Dharmasastra, which was presumably written between 200 BC and 200 AD, condemns abortion. According to this text, anyone involved in such a crime became unclean, and the woman who aborted her unborn child received the same punishment as someone who killed a Brahmin. Buddhism also prohibited abortion. Any destruction of

FAQs

What makes pregnancy decision-making a complex issue in this article?

It is framed as simultaneously biological, ethical, social, and medical, with regulatory approaches shaped by culture and time rather than a single universal model.

How does the German legal framework described here address abortion in early pregnancy?

In Germany, abortion can be obtained without penalty within the first 12 weeks after pregnancy (14 weeks after the last menstrual period) following counseling and a 3-day reflection period, even though abortion remains classified as illegal under the Criminal Code.

What historical sources does the article cite for early attitudes toward abortion?

It references ancient legal and religious texts such as the Manava Dharmasastra, prohibitions attributed to Buddhism, and the Code of Hammurabi, along with medical evidence discussed for ancient Egypt.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Aria