Abortion

Abortion Facts and Figures

• The total number of abortions carried out in 2006 was 193,700 (compared with 186,400 in 2005), a rise of 3.9%
• At least one third of British women will have had an abortion by the time they are 45
• The abortion rate was highest at 35 per 1000 for women aged 19
• The under-16 abortion rate was 3.9 and the under-18 rate was 18.2 per 1000 women, both higher than 2005
• 87% of abortions were funded by the NHS; of these, just over half (55%) took place in the independent sector under NHS contract
• 89% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks gestation; 68% were at under 10 weeks
• Medical abortions accounted for 30% of the total, compared with 24% in 2005
• Before the 7^th week of pregnancy medical abortion is more successful than surgical abortion.*

Complications

• Abortions in the UK performed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy carry a small risk of failure to end the pregnancy, affecting between 0.23% and 1.4%
• Infection after an abortion occurs in up to 10% of all cases.*

• Excessive bleeding happens in around 1 in every 1000 abortions
• In 1 in every 100 abortions the womb is not completely emptied of its contents and the woman may need further treatment*