Abortion rates soar by a third among 'Sex and the City generation' of women in their 40s

By Fiona Macrae


The 'Sex and the City' generation: Women are now remaining sexually active for longer


The number of women having abortions in their 40s has risen by almost a third in just a decade, official figures show.

Last year, more than 8,000 women aged between 40 and 49 decided to end their pregnancy, a 30 per cent increase since 2000.

This means that more than a quarter of all pregnancies in women aged 40-plus are aborted – the highest level for any age group except teenagers.


The head of Britain’s biggest abortion provider said the surge could be explained by a Sex And The City-style generation of carefree single women and divorcees who take gambles with contraception – and then are surprised when they become pregnant.

But pro-life campaigners said that older women should know better and questioned whether they are increasingly using abortion as a method of contraception.

Department of Health abortion statistics for 2010 show there were 7,493 abortions among women aged 40 to 44 in England and Wales and 665 in women aged 45 to 49.

This compares with 5,794 among those in their early 40s in 2000 and 436 abortions in those aged 45 to 49.

The highest figures are for those in their early 40s, with more than half of the 8,158 terminations occurring in 40 and 41-year-olds. However, the numbers are still in double figures at the age of 49 and treble figures at 46.

And more than 100 women aged 47 to 49 ended the lives of their unborn babies in 2010. Twenty-one women over 50 had terminations.

It is not clear from the statistics how many of the women had had an abortion before. But 44 per cent of women aged 30-plus having terminations were on at least their second. Nine per cent were on their third and 2 per cent their fourth.

Some 412 of the women aged 30-plus having abortions were on their fifth.

Separate data, from the Office for National Statistics, shows that almost 30 per cent of all pregnancies in women aged 40-plus are terminated. Only teenagers have a higher rate.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service said the figures could be explained by changing attitudes.

Like the characters in the TV programme Sex And The City, today’s women aged 40-plus have a more carefree attitude towards sex and casual relationships.

Soaring divorce rates and the growing numbers of women who have chosen never to marry over the responsibility of a husband and family are helping fuel the rise. Ann Furedi, BPAS’s chief executive, said: ‘I think women are remaining sexually active for longer, and women in their 40s increasingly see themselves as sexual players – whether or not they are in a relationship – in a way they didn’t a decade ago.’

She added that the figures include women who had become pregnant in their 40s only to opt for abortion when screening showed their baby was likely to have Down’s syndrome or other conditions that are common among older women.

Modern women may also be more self-centred than their predecessors and so see a late baby as more of an inconvenience.

Experts believe older women are more likely to take chances with contraception


Josephine Quintavalle, of the Pro-Life Alliance, told the Sunday Telegraph: ‘When we see high rates of teen pregnancy we often end up debating whether ignorance is to blame, but you would think that by the age of 40 women would have some idea how things work.’

Dr Peter Saunders, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: ‘The figures suggest that women over 40 aren’t taking proper precautions and are increasingly using abortion as a method of contraception.’ Philippa Taylor, of Christian charity Care, said that society needs to make it easier for women in their 40s to add to their family.

She added that those who have taken time off to raise children may find it hard to return to their careers if they take time off again.

But Kate Smurthwaite, of pro-choice charity Abortion Rights, said: ‘I don’t think there is any right number of abortions. The right number is one for every woman who wants and needs one.’


source:dailymail