Abortion rates increase by 2%

More women than ever are undergoing abortions, according to government figures published today. The total number of abortions last year was 185,400 across England and Wales, representing a 2.1% rise on 2003.

Abortion rates were highest among young women aged between 18 and 24. But the rate for girls aged under-18 has inched down, figures show.

The vast majority (87%) of abortions were carried out in the first trimester of pregnancy with more than half (58%) carried out at under 10 weeks' gestation. Only 1.6 % of terminations in England and Wales were carried out after 20 weeks, in line with 2003. The number of women having abortions at 24 weeks and over dropped from 136 to 124.

A parliamentary debate on terminations - the first held for 16 years - last week resurrected calls for a reduction in the time limit for abortions in light of medical advances.

Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris last week called for a select committee inquiry on time limits for abortions following growing concern that the 24-week limit for abortions needs to be reduced in light of medical advances. Dr Harris warned that anti-abortionists would gain strength unless MPs reviewed the law.

The maximum time limit for abortion was reduced in 1990 from 28 weeks to 24 after medical advances improved babies' chances of survival. Further advances now allow some babies to survive when born at 22 or 23 weeks, although often with permanent disabilities.

Today's figures show that four in five women who undergo abortions do so for personal, rather than medical reasons. Of those undergoing terminations, 19% of the total cited medical reasons, a rise of 2% on last year. Just under 2,000 (1%) of abortions were as a result of a risk that the child would be born handicapped

The under-16 abortion rate was 3.7 per thousand female residents, compared with 3.9 in 2003. The under-18 rate was 17.8 compared with 18.2 the year before.

The Family Planning Authority (FPA) called on the government to improve contraception services to stem the ongoing increase.

Anne Weyman, FPA Chief Executive said: "These figures highlight the urgent need to improve NHS contraceptive services. Greater investment is needed to improve access to services and train more health professionals in order to prevent unintended pregnancy. It's also essential women and men know more about the full range of 14 contraceptive methods in order to protect their sexual health."

Just over four fifths (82%) of terminations were carried out on the NHS, with just over half of these delivered by independent sector providers on behalf of the NHS.