Abortion: Shock Figures Show Rise In Second Terminations

Abortion: Shock Figures Show Rise In Second Terminations

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Department of Health figures have revealed a rise in second abortions amongst women under 25.

More than 20,000 women a year are thought to have had two or more terminations by the age of 25.

Figures show that 189,574 abortions were carried out in England and Wales last year, with over a third (70,466) on women under the age of 25. Over 22,000 of these procedures were 'repeats'.

The DoH figures also reveal that 85 women who terminated a pregnancy last year had already had seven previous abortions.

Teenager terminations have fallen slightly from 17,916 in 2009 to 16,460 last year.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health said:

'We welcome the continued fall in teenage pregnancies. Abortions are traumatic and stressful and should never be seen as a form of contraception.

'Women and men need to make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and think about contraception before having sex. There is a wide range of information and advice available from GPs and sexual health centres who can advise on the best type of contraception tailored to patients' health and lifestyle needs.'

What do you think about this? Do the figures surprise you?

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