BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of abortion on contraceptive use, partner relationship and sexual satisfaction. METHODS In a longitudinal study, 58 women answered a pre-abortion questionnaire and participated in two interviews, one in connection with the abortion and a second 1 year later. RESULTS Most women (40/58) had retained the same partner 1 year after the abortion. More than half of these (22/40) experienced no change in the quality of the partner relationship, while the rest (18/40) had deepened their relationship. Furthermore, the majority of the women (45/58) had not experienced any negative influence on their sexual satisfaction. Most women who were sexually active 1 year post-abortion (42/47) used some contraceptive method; the number who used hormonal methods or intrauterine devices had, for example, increased from four to 35, although one-third of them had been doubtful about these methods before abortion. Conversely, 15 women had tried these methods during the follow-up year but had not continued because of negative effects. Overall, contraceptive use 1 year post-abortion had increased. CONCLUSIONS To achieve well-founded decisions about contraceptives, counsellors should be aware of women's ambivalence about the use of modern, effective contraceptive methods. In order to prevent abortion it is important to discuss gender differences in sexual behaviour and encourage communication with both sexes about the pros and cons of coitus-dependent and coitus-independent methods.