New figures reveal the majority of teenage pregnancies still end in abortion 

The latest figures on teenage conception rates show a small decrease in the rate of pregnancies in girls under 18, which is to be welcomed.  However, the majority of teenage girls who get pregnant will still have an abortion, with 60 percent of under 16 year olds terminating their pregnancies.

With mounting scientific evidence showing that abortion can carry increased risk to the emotional well-being of women, LIFE is extremely concerned that so many young girls are  turning to abortion as a solution to the consequences of underage sex.

“We are seeing more young girls in our Care Centres who are pregnant and haven't told their parents,” says Care Services Co-ordinator, Kyla Taylor. “Abortion is just so easily accessible. The girls find a number then off they go for the abortion. They don't see any problems with it.”

This is the unfortunate legacy of the millions of pounds spent on the previous Government's strategy of condoms, emergency contraception and value-free sex education. Their target was to halve the number of teenage pregnancies by 2010. The 11% reduction reached by 2009 shows that this target is totally unachievable. The failure of this strategy demonstrates the need for a whole new approach to relationship education. LIFE Education offers such an approach. 

Researcher for LIFE, Niall Gooch, points out that, “The areas of the country that promote these ‘solutions' most enthusiastically have not seen greater decreases in teenage pregnancy - often quite the opposite, in fact.”

Indeed, recent research by David Paton, Professor of Economics at Nottingham University, shows that emergency contraception has no effect in reducing conception rates, although rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have increased dramatically, and continue to soar. “This is not surprising.” says Education Officer, Joanne Hill.  “Teenagers fail to realise that condoms only give partial protection against some STIs and little or no protection against others, such as genital warts or genital herpes. Nor do they realise the impact of STIs on their future fertility.”

This brings home the reality that there are more consequences to early sexual activity than pregnancy. Likewise, there's more to sex education than exploring ways of having sex and minimising risk.  Good sex education focuses on the whole person, on teaching about relationships and mutual respect and commitment.  It requires a holistic, genuinely loving approach.

LIFE therefore calls on the present Government to adopt a new strategy for tackling the issue of early sexual activity, a strategy which moves beyond damage limitation, seeking rather to address the problem at its roots so that we can build a culture that understands and proclaims the true value of sexual relationships, the unique value of the individuals in those relationships, and the unique value of those who are unborn.