Figures from an online abortion pill provider show that 878 women in Ireland used its service in 2017.

That is according to Together for Yes campaign, which is calling for repeal of the Eighth Amendment in the upcoming referendum.

The figures provided by Women Help Women shows there was an increase of 190% in the provision of pills since 2016.

The campaign group has said removal of the Eighth Amendment is required to regulate the use of abortion pills.

Together for Yes co-ordinator Ailbhe Smyth said women need regulated care from their doctors in Ireland.

Ms Smyth said the group has raised €313,000 for its fundraising campaign and praised those who had donated particularly to its poster campaign, which began on Monday.

Women Help Women, whose figures were quoted at today's Together for Yes media briefing on abortion pills, is one of the two main providers of such pills in Ireland.

That is according to Ms Smyth, who said that the 190% increase in the number of women procuring the pills last year, compared to 2016, was not just a trend in Ireland, but a trend worldwide.

The Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment was provided with figures by another online abortion pill provider called Women on the Web.

Consultant Obstetric Gynaecologist Dr Cliona Murphy said in more than a handful of times, she had seen women having ongoing pregnancies, after failed administration of abortion pills.

She described such cases as "an absolute disaster" because the pregnancy is too advanced for the woman to do anything other than to consider continuing with the pregnancy; while worrying about the harm the medication may have caused the baby.

Dr Murphy said the Eighth Amendment is denying women and girls access to medical supervision and help from doctors if they experience complications.

A second Consultant Obstetric Gynaecologist, Dr Aoife Mullaly, was asked about the number of TDs and senators who expressed concern over terminations up to 12 weeks.

She said that across Europe, most legislation involves terminations up to 12 weeks, because it is the first trimester and while it is not a "magical cut off", it is known that medical terminations are safe for women up to and around that time.

Dr Mullaly suggested that people who are uncomfortable with 12 weeks are probably not comfortable with seven weeks or nine weeks.

"They're probably not comfortable with women having terminations", she said.

Dr Mullaly also pointed out sometimes women's cycles can be delayed, or they have medical problems, so they may not find out they are pregnant until eight or nine weeks.

She said if terminations were up to eight weeks, for example, access would be "very restrictive" and would not give people options.