1 Are there too many abortions? Ann Furedi chief executive bpas British Pregnancy Advisory Service

2 Statistical Bulletin Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2007 Total number of abortions risen by 2.5% to 193,700 Age standardised abortion rate risen to 18.6 per 1,000 from 18.3 The under 16 rate was 4.4 per 1,000 up from 3.9 in 2006

3 Total abortions for British residents

4 Age-standardised abortion rates (per 1000 women residents aged 15-44)

5 % women under 25 reporting a previous abortion

6 Grounds for abortion % on grounds C or D That the pregnancy has not exceeded its twenty-fourth week and the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman (or any existing children in her family)

7 Reasons for continuing ‘high’ rate of abortions A lot of people who don’t want to have children are having sex!

8 Reasons for continuing ‘high’ rate of abortions We expect to be able to protect ourselves against pregnancy. We expect birth control to work and to be able ‘right the wrong’ when it fails us.

9 % women with unintended pregnancy in first year of contraceptive use Contraception sometimes fails Sometimes we fail to use it appropriately Perfect useTypical use Spermicide18%29% Diaphragm + spermicide 6%16% Male condom2%15% Pill0.3%8% Depo-Provera0.3%3% Implanon0.05% Mirena Copper IUD 0.2% 0.6% 0.2% 0.8%

10 Why is it so difficult for couples to use contraception effectively?

11 Perceptions of sex Professional Sex = Risk Safe Planned Under control Negotiated Responsible

12 Perceptions of sex Professional Sex = Risk Safe Planned Under control Negotiated Responsible Personal Sex = Opportunity Edgy/exciting Spontaneous/passionate ‘Lost in the moment’ Carried away Romantic

13 Reasons for continuing ‘high’ rate of abortions We expect to be able to protect our selves against pregnancy. We expect birth control to work and to be able ‘right the wrong’ when it fails us. Greater sense of reproductive ‘choice’ about timing of children

14 Average age of mother at first birth 20% women childless at 45

15 Reasons for continuing ‘high’ rate of abortions We expect to be able to protect our selves against pregnancy. We expect birth control to work and to be able ‘right the wrong’ when it fails us. Greater sense of reproductive ‘choice’ about timing of children Strong sense of need for parents to be responsible

16 Reasons for continuing ‘high’ rate of abortions We expect to be able to protect our selves against pregnancy. We expect birth control to work and to be able ‘right the wrong’ when it fails us. Greater sense of reproductive ‘choice’ about timing of children Strong sense of need for parents to be responsible Greater acceptance of abortion as a responsible decision

17 Public opinion supports abortion when a pregnancy is unwanted Agree very strongly Agree strongly Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagre e Base: 2,140 British adults in 2006 Disagree strongly Disagree very strongly IPSOS MORI poll commissioned by bpas in 2006 tested support for statement: ‘if a woman wants an abortion she should not have to continue with her pregnancy’

18 Reasons for continuing ‘high’ rate of abortions We expect to be able to protect ourselves against pregnancy. We expect birth control to work and to be able ‘right the wrong’ when it fails us. Greater sense of reproductive ‘choice’ about timing of children Strong sense of need for parents to be responsible Greater acceptance of abortion as a responsible decision Improved access to abortion services

19 Statistical Bulletin Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: % of abortions were NHS funded, up from 87% in % of these were provided by the specialist independent sector, up from 55% in 2006

20 Accessibility of NHS abortion services 26% of women paid for their abortion care in 1997 compared with 11% in 2007

21 Statistical Bulletin Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: % of abortions were under 13 weeks and 70% were under 10 weeks compared with 89% and 68% respectively Medical abortions accounted for 35% compared with 30% in 2006

22 Reasons for continuing ‘high’ rate of abortions We expect to be able to protect ourselves against pregnancy. We expect birth control to work and to be able ‘right the wrong’ when it fails us. Greater sense of reproductive ‘choice’ about timing of children Strong sense of need for parents to be responsible Greater acceptance of abortion as a responsible decision Improved access to abortion services These are not bad things!

23 THE PROBLEM IS NOT ABORTION ABORTION IS THE POSSIBLE SOLUTION

24 Thoughts to ponder Reducing the number of abortions is not necessarily good A rising number/rate of abortions is not necessarily bad We need to explain this We should focus of preventing women’s need for abortion While providing the best possible services to those who need them

25 Thank you