Britain: Statistics show increase in older mothers

Record numbers of women aged 40 and over are becoming pregnant, with births to this age group rising faster than any other. 

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics on 28 February 2008 show that in 2006, there were 25,400 pregnancies in women aged 40 or over. Across all age groups, the English and Welsh conception rate is up by three per cent, but in women over 40 there was a six per cent rise between 2005 and 2006, with smaller but significant rises in conceptions to women in their late 30s.

The conception rate was highest for women aged 25-29, at 129.0 per 1,000 women in the age group. Between 2005 and 2006, the conception rate for women under 18 fell from 41.4 to 40.7 conceptions per 1,000 girls aged 15-17.

The increase in ‘older mothers’ follows a steady trend over the past 30 years, where the age at which women have their first child has become gradually later. The improvements in, and increased availability of, fertility treatment may have contributed to this trend. The average age at which women go through IVF has increased from 33.8 in 1992 to 34.8 in 2004, data from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority shows.

Ann Furedi, Chief Executive of BPAS is quoted in the Daily Telegraph, saying:

‘These statistics show how important it is to many people to be able to plan their families. Women are increasingly becoming mothers at an older age, when they feel their situation is right.’

The full year’s data for abortion numbers in 2007 are not yet available, but new quarterly figures in the ONS’ Health Statistics Quarterly show that more women in England and Wales had abortion treatment at an earlier gestation, following increased NHS investment in abortion services. Ann Furedi said:

‘This is encouraging as earlier treatment is more physically straightforward for the woman and is more cost-effective for the NHS to provide.’

Conception rate for women aged 40 and over reaches record high. Office for National Statistics, 28 February 2008

Pregnancies rise among middle-aged women. Daily Telegraph, 1 March 2008

ONS Health Statistics Quarterly 37, Spring 2008 (see table 4.2 Abortions: residents and non-residents; age and gestation (residents only)

BPAS responds to new Office of National Statistics pregnancy figures. BPAS press release, 28 February 2008