Abortion Services

Information about Abortion Referrals in Yukon:

In Whitehorse, only a family doctor can refer patients to the physician who performs abortions.

Outside of Whitehorse, a family doctor or rural nurse practitioner can refer patients to the physician in Whitehorse who performs abortions.

Please note that the nurses at Whitehorse Health Center, Yukon Communicable Disease Control, and Watson Lake Health Center don’t refer directly to the doctor who does abortions but go through a family physician.

If a caller does NOT have a family physician, she can call any clinic and tell them she is pregnant and they will get her an appointment as soon as possible.

Information about the Abortion:

  1. If the woman is 12 weeks or less into her pregnancy, the abortion is done at Whitehorse General Hospital. If the woman is over 12 weeks but under 20 weeks into her pregnancy, she is sent outside the territory to Vancouver, Edmonton or Calgary.
  2. The procedure is done on a day surgery basis at Whitehorse General Hospital. A surgical procedure, D & E (dilation and evacuation) is done.
  3. The whole process takes about four days, including pre- and post op care. Before the abortion, the patient undergoes STI testing and contraception counselling and arrangements are made for follow up. After the surgery, the patient is monitored by the physician who performed the surgery for 24 hours for any complications such as bleeding. Further follow up care is done by the family doctor or nurse practitioner who made the referral.
  4. Travel costs to go to Whitehorse or outside the territory for an abortion are covered for Yukoners with valid medical coverage. The rural nurse practitioner or family doctor will contact the Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan or for a status First Nations patient, Non-insured Health Benefits, to arrange travel subsidies.
  5. At this time, only surgical abortions are done in the Yukon.

Information About Pregnancy Options:

Service Provider Service & Link to more information (if available) Whitehorse Toll Free Extention Office Hours Description
Other Medical Clinics (Doctors) See Medical Clinics page       Referral required by family doctor or community health centre
YG Yukon Communicable Disease Control (867) 667-8323 1-800-661-0408 8323

By appointment only:
Mon - Fri:
8:30am to 12:00pm
Drop in:
12:30pm to 4:00pm

Will refer client to a family physician first 
First Nation Kwanlin Dun Health and Wellness Centre (First Nation) (867) 668-7289 n/a n/a Mon - Fri:
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
(closed for lunch
from 12:00pm to 1:00pm) 		Provide Depo shots, free Emergency birth control, condoms, general information.
YG Community Health Centres See CHC page        
YG Whitehorse Health Centre (867) 667-8864 1-800-661-0408 8864 Mon - Fri:
8:00am to 5:00pm		 Will refer client to a family physician
NGO Many Rivers Counselling (867) 667-2970 Collect calls accepted n/a Mon - Fri:
Various hours.		 Counselling support services for all Yukon communities.
Offices located in:
Whitehorse, Dawson City, Haines Junction, and Watson Lake