Crisis pregnancies now account for one in eight of all pregnancies in Ireland and the response of a woman's GP to this crisis can have a ‘profound impact' on her experience.

A crisis pregnancy is a pregnancy that is not planned or desired and which represents a personal crisis for the woman.

According to Dr Ailis Ni Riain, a GP and research advisor and Dr Mark Murphy, a trainee GP at Sligo General Hospital, crisis pregnancies are not only common, but their incidence has risen over the last decade.

In fact, more than one in three Irish women who have been pregnant say they have had at least one crisis pregnancy and the response of the GP at the initial consultation can have a profound impact.

"GPs often understand the events that precipitated the crisis and know a woman's reproductive and social history, thus they are best placed to manage and support a woman through this crisis," the doctors explained.

They pointed out that crisis pregnancies have ‘significant implications' for women, the healthcare service and the State. Almost two in three of the women will carry on with the pregnancy, while one in five will opt for an abortion. A small number of women will suffer a miscarriage, while just 1% will opt for adoption.

The doctors noted that while women of any reproductive age can have a crisis pregnancy, adolescents ‘are particularly affected'. However, they also emphasised that most crisis pregnancies are preventable.

"GPs should consider adopting a proactive role in terms of prevention by initiating a discussion on contraceptive needs when patients attend for other reasons.

"Discussing the necessity to take emergency contraception if normal contraceptive methods fail should also be part of a standard contraception consultation," they said.

Women seeking emergency contraception should be told about all the methods available and GPs ‘should be familiar with these and be able to advise women on the best option'.

Meanwhile, if a woman opts for an abortion, ‘GPs should encourage them to return for a visit post-abortion to discuss ongoing contraception'.

The doctors pointed out that a woman with a crisis pregnancy needs ‘non-judgmental support' and where a GP feels that they cannot give the help required in making a decision, they should refer the patient for specialist counseling.

The doctors noted that if a woman decides to have an abortion, she should be given ‘reliable information about abortion clinics that have a good reputation'.

"GPs may choose to provide this advice and information. Where the GP feels that the woman needs specialist counseling, she should be referred to a State-funded crisis pregnancy counseling service," they added.

The doctors made their comments in Forum, the Journal of the Irish College of General Practitioners.

For more information on crisis pregnancy supports, click here