Thousands of women in Ireland and Northern Ireland have reported relief and gratitude following the use of abortion pills, a new study has found.

In both countries, abortion is illegal – unless the mother’s life is at risk or, in the case of Northern Ireland, if her mental health is in jeopardy. But a study has found that women have been illegally obtaining the pills, given no other option. The women also reported feeling only one regret: that they had to break the law in order to have an abortion (using such pills can result in a life sentence), making them feel like second-class citizens.

The paper, published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found that 5,650 women from both countries accessed the abortion pills from 2010 to 2015, and that women aged 25 to 34 are the most likely demographic to seek access to such medication – with almost 50% of this group seeking the service.

The lowest percentage users were women under 20, who made up 4.6% of those using the service, and over 45s, who made up 2.6%.

Thousands of Irish women express gratitude for illegal abortion pills