WOMEN aged over 35 who believe they can have unprotected sex because their fertility is on the wane are fuelling the demand for abortions, according to a sexual health charity.
The Conceivable? campaign, launched by the Family Planning Association (FPA), says reports citing age as a leading cause of infertility is encouraging older women to abandon contraception.
However, figures show the abortion rate in Scotland is h
igher for over-35s than for the under-16s: the abortion rate for women in the 35-39 age range was 6.2 per 1,000 of the population in 2008 against 4.7 in the under-16s.
In England and Wales, the under-16s had an abortion rate of four per 1,000 women in 2008. Women aged 40-44 also have an abortion rate of four per 1,000.
The campaign, which runs until Valentine's Day, features posters with messages in which the wording becomes faint.
Slogans include "Fertility. You'd be surprised how long it takes to disappear" and "Unplanned pregnancy. You'd be surprised how long you're able to conceive before your fertility finally fades away."
The charity says the over-35s are often a forgotten group and that many thirtysomething women contact them saying that the only clinics in their area are for young women.
FPA chief executive Julie Bentley said: "While the message about fertility declining with age is an important one, it is often overplayed, alongside disproportionate messaging about unplanned teenage pregnancies.
"It sends an inaccurate message to women and society that only the young fall pregnant and is leading older women to believe their fertility has gone long before it actually has.
"Unplanned pregnancies at any age are very difficult."
She added: "It's important that women realise it's entirely conceivable that just one night of unprotected sex in your late 30s, 40s, even 50s can end in an unplanned pregnancy.
"Our helpline receives calls from such women, shocked this has happened to them. They thought their age would protect them from becoming pregnant."
Ms Bentley added there were 15 methods of contraception for the over-35s, but that on average women spent only about five minutes choosing which method to use, with many not making enough time for themselves to talk to the FPA or health professionals about which method best suited them.
The FPA said that women needed to keep using contraception until the menopause to avoid pregnancy. It also advises women to use it up to two years after the menopause if under 50 and for one year after if over 50.
Women are also being warned that fertility varies with lifestyle.
The FPA is urging health professionals to remember that older women also need contraceptive information and services.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "Improving sexual health outcomes, including a reduction in the number of unintended pregnancies for all age groups, remains a Scottish Government commitment.
"The implementation of Respect and Responsibility, Scotland's national sexual health strategy is supported by £5.18 million each year until 2010-11.
"Since the launch of the strategy, services for sexual health in Scotland have both increased in number and improved in quality, in all areas of Scotland.
"The Scottish Government has also increased the availability of contraception, including in pharmacies."
'Three terminations since my mid-thirties'JANIE, 52, a health worker from Edinburgh, has had three abortions since her mid-thirties. A single parent with a grown-up son from an earlier long-term relationship, she says she avoided going to her GP for contraception because she found it difficult to find a man to have a long-term relationship with.
"I got pregnant when I was 18 and going out with my boyfriend. We moved in together and were a couple for over 12 years. During that time, I was put on at least five types of the pill, but was always worried about side-effects.
"When we split up, I didn't think it would be so difficult to find someone else. But there was a time when I didn't have sex for five years. Then I met a man nine years younger than me and we were together for a few months.
"We didn't use contraception. I thought it would be OK because I was older, but it wasn't."
The first termination was when Janie was 36 and eight weeks pregnant. "I just blocked it out because I wanted it dealt with and for the subject to go away," she said.
Despite medical advice, she did not try other forms of contraception and did not carry condoms. "I think a man gets the wrong idea if a woman is prepared like that, even though it makes sense," she said.
Janie's second abortion took place two years later and after a short-lived relationship, again where no contraception had been used. "I risked it because I was lonely. Maybe I got pregnant because I was with younger men who are more fertile than older men. I didn't feel guilty about the terminations, which to me are medical procedures.
"My friends were disgusted at me and asked me how long I was going to carry on like that. I didn't want any more children, but didn't want to be sterilised as it seemed such a final step."
When she went to discuss a third termination at the age of 43, Janie claims she detected a change in attitude from the clinic's staff. "They seemed very businesslike and asked me if I wanted to be sterilised."
• Janie is not her real name.
