Are 'career girl' lifestyle abortions on the rise?

Media sources have reported on the "career girl" abortion (Daily Mail) or "lifestyle" abortion (The Daily Telegraph) after figures released by the Department of Health showed that increasing numbers of women aged 25 to 29, or who have long-term partners or children already, are having abortions. The media stories follow the release of government abortion statistics in England and Wales for 2013. This provides information on abortion (medically known as "termination of pregnancy") rates and characteristics about the women having abortions. While the total number of abortions in England and Wales has increased, the rate of abortions has actually decreased. And encouragingly, rates among teenagers have fallen. The highest abortion rate is now among those aged 22 in 2013 (up from 21 in 2012). The Department of Health report provides us with facts only, not explanations. It does not discuss the possibilities for the changes in trends seen, and all media reports of "career girl" or "lifestyle" abortions suggesting abortion is sometimes used as a method of contraception are pure speculation only, with no foundation in this report.   What do the statistics show? Any doctor performing an abortion is legally required to notify the chief medical officers (CMOs) within 14 days of the abortion. The statistics in this Department of Health report come from abortion notification forms returned to the CMOs of England and Wales, and can ther...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: QA articles Pregnancy/child Source Type: news