Poland's current abortion law is bad and the cause of a thriving abortion black market, difficult access to contraceptives and the lack of thorough sex education in schools, Sejm lower house deputy Speaker Wanda Nowicka said on Monday.

Under Polish law abortion is allowed if the pregnancy threatens the mother's life or health, the fetus is heavily damaged and in rape pregnancies.

Nowicka, of the liberal and anti-clerical Palikot Movement, said that at least 50,000 illegal abortions were carried out in Poland each year.