FSRH statement: ONS releases quarterly figures (July-September 2020) on teenage pregnancy rates

Office for National Statistics (ONS) quarterly figures on under-18 conception rates for women in England and Wales, published yesterday, show that pregnancy rates in women aged 15-17 in England fell by 10.6% in July-September 2020, compared to the same period in 2019.

The rate of teenage pregnancies for July-September 2020 stands at 12.7 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 17, whilst in 2019 it was 14.2 per 1,000.

This reduction is more in line with an ongoing downward trend than Q2 2020 data, which showed a 33% reduction, and could reflect increased social interaction after easing of lockdown restrictions.

Dr Asha Kasliwal, President of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), said:

“These ONS figures show the importance of continued work to restore and maintain sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) services for young people, including outreach services, as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

While we continue to see a decline in the under-18 conception rate, this is not the case across all regions and there is still much progress to make.

Young people must be able to confidently access SRH services, including the full range of contraceptive methods. We must also see schools being properly supported to implement the statutory relationships and sex education (RSE) guidance, with the aim of empowering young people to take full control of their sexual and reproductive health and make informed decisions.

These continued efforts are important both to reduce regional health inequalities and to improve the sexual and reproductive health and emotional well-being of young people in the UK.”

Ends

For further information please contact Catrin Hughes, FSRH External Affairs and APPG Manager at chughes@fsrh.org 

Notes to editors:

• The ONS quarterly figures on under-18 conception rates for women in England and Wales Q3 2020 can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/conceptionandfertilityrates/datasets/quarterlyconceptionstowomenagedunder18englandandwales.
• The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) is the largest UK professional membership organisation working at the heart of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), supporting healthcare professionals to deliver high quality care. It works with its 15,000 members, to shape sexual reproductive health for all. It produces evidence-based clinical guidance, standards, training, qualifications and research into SRH. It also delivers conferences and publishes the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health in partnership with the BMJ.