Abortion fee reaches a report excessive amid rising price of residing
The number of abortions being carried out in England and Wales has hit a record high.
There were 277,970 terminations in 2023 – up 11 per cent from 251,377 in 2022, figures published by the Department of Health show.
Charities and health leaders said the data reflects economic pressures and the rising cost of living, as well as poor access to sexual health services.
Taking pills at home is the most common method of abortion, making up 72 per cent of the total (200,745) in 2023.
Dr Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: ‘There is likely to be a range of factors behind the rise in abortion rates over recent years.
‘Economic pressure and the rising cost of living are shaping women’s reproductive choices, with many choosing to delay or have smaller families.
‘At the same time, overstretched GP and sexual health services are making it harder for many women – particularly in more deprived communities – to access contraception when they need it, increasing the risk of unplanned pregnancy.’
Over the past decade, the number of women over 35 having abortions has risen steadily. In 2013 there were just 7.1 per 1,000 women, but this increased to 12.3 in 2023.
More than half (54 per cent) of women having abortions in 2023 were already mothers or had a previous stillbirth.
Abortions have reached a record high, with 277,970 terminations recorded in 2023
Early pregnancy abortions were the most common, with 89 per cent in 2023 performed between two and nine weeks of gestation.
The majority were medical abortions carried out with pills (87 per cent), though the number of surgical abortions increased in both 2022 and 2023.
With the pill method, women take two prescribed drugs called mifepristone and misoprostol a few days apart at home.
Dr Wright said this shows that ‘the telemedicine pathway’ – which allows patients to consult doctors remotely – is enabling earlier access to ‘safe, regulated care’.
‘Telemedicine removes practical barriers for women who may otherwise struggle to attend in-person appointments, including those in rural areas, women with disabilities and those experiencing coercion or abuse,’ she added.
Katie Saxon, of BPAS, which provides most NHS-funded abortions, said: ‘These figures reflect the first full year of abortion care during the cost-of-living crisis, which is essential context for understanding the rise in abortion rates.
‘There is no right number of abortions, but there is much more the Government can do to ensure women are able to make the choices that are right for themselves and for their families.
‘Women continue to tell us about long waits for contraceptive appointments, difficulties securing repeat prescriptions, and limited choice in the methods available to them.
‘Emergency contraception also remains an important but under-utilised back-up option.’
