Big increase in abortions for over-40s

Published on Sunday 29 May 2011 15:41

The number of women having abortions in their 40s has risen by nearly a third in the last ten years, research shows.

The rise reflects increased sexual activity in older women and higher numbers of divorcees or singles likely to have short-term relationships, experts say.

It also suggests women in their 40s are taking more risks - possibly because they no longer believe they need to worry about contraception.

Government statistics show that the number of abortions in women over 40 has risen by more than 30 per cent since 2000, with 8,179 terminations in that age bracket last year.

Josephine Quintaville, of the Pro-Life Alliance, said the figures showed our approach to sex education and the risks of pregnancy was wrong.

She said that one explanation could be that the unborn children of older women are more likely to have an abnormality - possibly leading to an abortion.

Another could be that women that age simply don't expect to become pregnant.

She said: "It is a small number in the greater scheme of things.

"But I think there's a reaction to this because people expect women of that age to be more aware of how to get or not to get pregnant."