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Abortions jump 20% after millennium
Millennium celebrations had unwanted consequences
The number of abortions at clinics run by a leading family planning organisation jumped by 20% in the first two months of the year.
Marie Stopes International said the rise - a comparison with the corresponding period in 1999 - was probably linked to the millennium celebrations.
Marie Stopes International said the rise - a comparison with the corresponding period in 1999 - was probably linked to the millennium celebrations.
This increase could be the tip of the iceberg  |
Helen Axby, deputy chief executive, Marie Stopes International
|
The organisation also blamed the lack of accessibility of emergency contraception over the Christmas and New Year period.
Pro-life groups oppose the widespread availability of emergency contraception on the grounds that it is abortion by another name, and encourages sexual irresponsibility.
The charity said that if the figures from its clinics in the UK were reflected in the overall statistics, an extra 9,000 women may undergo abortions in the first quarter of this year.
Abortions always rise in the first four months of each year, mainly because of excess drinking and celebrating over the holiday period.
But Marie Stopes said the 20% rise on the same period last year was exceptional.
In January and February this year 6,900 women had terminations at the charity's seven clinics in the UK, compared to 5,759 for the same period in 1999.
Deputy chief executive Helen Axby said: "This increase could be the tip of the iceberg.
"It seems we may just be seeing the first swathe of women who missed their periods after the holiday season.
"Others, particularly teenagers who are sometimes less aware of their bodies, may not yet have realised they are pregnant."
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the UK's largest provider of non-NHS abortions, carried out 10% more abortions than usual in January.
Ann Furedi, director of communications, said it was difficult to know whether the rise reflected a rise in the number of women seeking abortions.
She said it might have been because the NHS was struggling to cope with a general increased demand.
Pro-life groups oppose the widespread availability of emergency contraception on the grounds that it is abortion by another name, and encourages sexual irresponsibility.
The charity said that if the figures from its clinics in the UK were reflected in the overall statistics, an extra 9,000 women may undergo abortions in the first quarter of this year.
Abortions always rise in the first four months of each year, mainly because of excess drinking and celebrating over the holiday period.
But Marie Stopes said the 20% rise on the same period last year was exceptional.
In January and February this year 6,900 women had terminations at the charity's seven clinics in the UK, compared to 5,759 for the same period in 1999.
Deputy chief executive Helen Axby said: "This increase could be the tip of the iceberg.
"It seems we may just be seeing the first swathe of women who missed their periods after the holiday season.
"Others, particularly teenagers who are sometimes less aware of their bodies, may not yet have realised they are pregnant."
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the UK's largest provider of non-NHS abortions, carried out 10% more abortions than usual in January.
Ann Furedi, director of communications, said it was difficult to know whether the rise reflected a rise in the number of women seeking abortions.
She said it might have been because the NHS was struggling to cope with a general increased demand.
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