Official figures have revealed that the widespread complacency about contraception and fertility in women who are middle-aged is resulting in the same rates of unplanned pregnancies and need for abortions as in the under 16 age group. The warning numbers have come from fertility campaigners.

Data shared by the Office for National Statistics for England and Wales has revealed that the currently prevalent abortion rates in the 40-44 age group are 4 in every 1,000 women, which is the same as the statistics for girls who are under 16.

In light of the new data, the Family Planning Association has stressed that it seems that warnings about declining infertility with increasing age might just have gone "too far". These warnings might just be encouraging women to give up on contraception altogether.

"Whilst 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", said Julie Bentley, Chief Executive of FPA.