The number of women in their 40s having abortions has risen by almost a third in the past decade, newly released government figures show.
The sudden rise is being attributed to an increase in the amount of sexual activity among what has been dubbed the 'Sex in the City generation'.
Older women - including higher numbers of singles and divorcees - are now more likely to have casual relationships and are more inclined to take chances with contraception.
The sudden rise is being attributed to an increase in the amount of sexual activity among what has been dubbed the 'Sex in the City generation'.
Older women - including higher numbers of singles and divorcees - are now more likely to have casual relationships and are more inclined to take chances with contraception.
The 'Sex and the City' generation: Women are now remaining sexually active for longer
The figures reveal 8,179 women aged 40 and above had an abortion last year with more than 650 aged over 45.
Anne Furedi, the chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, told the Sunday Times, she believed the increase was as a result of women staying sexually active for longer.
She said: 'Women in their 40s increasingly see themselves as sexual players whether or not they are in relationships - in a way that they didn't even a decade ago.'
Most of the abortions were carried out before 12 weeks when ante-natal screening begins, suggesting they had been unplanned pregnancies.
However some of the procedures included women who had tried to get pregnant but decided to undergo a termination after being told there was a high chance of abnormalities such as Down's Syndrome.
Anne Furedi, the chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, told the Sunday Times, she believed the increase was as a result of women staying sexually active for longer.
She said: 'Women in their 40s increasingly see themselves as sexual players whether or not they are in relationships - in a way that they didn't even a decade ago.'
Most of the abortions were carried out before 12 weeks when ante-natal screening begins, suggesting they had been unplanned pregnancies.
However some of the procedures included women who had tried to get pregnant but decided to undergo a termination after being told there was a high chance of abnormalities such as Down's Syndrome.
Josephine Quinatavalle, of the Pro-Life Alliance told the newspaper: 'These figures are extraordinarily depressing.
'When we see high rates of teen pregnancy we often end up debating whether ignorance is to blame, but you would think by the age of 40 women have some idea of how things work.
'It seems incredible that at that age, any woman would take such reckless chances.'
'When we see high rates of teen pregnancy we often end up debating whether ignorance is to blame, but you would think by the age of 40 women have some idea of how things work.
'It seems incredible that at that age, any woman would take such reckless chances.'
Experts believe older women are more likely to take chances with contraception
The figures show that in the past three decades the percentage of single women in Britain has more than doubled.
And in the same period divorce rates have increased massively with half of today's marriages not expected to last compared to one in three in 1980.
And in the same period divorce rates have increased massively with half of today's marriages not expected to last compared to one in three in 1980.
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