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Teen pregnancy rate lowest for 30 years

The teen pregnancy rate in England has fallen to its lowest level for more than 30 years despite an overall increase in the number of pregnancies across all ages.

The teen pregnancy rate in England has fallen to its lowest level for more than 30 years despite an overall increase in the number of pregnancies across all ages.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the conception rate in girls under 18 fell to 34,633 in 2010, a drop of 9.5 per cent on 2009; pregnancies in under-16s were down by 6.8 per cent to 6,674.

However, a boom in conceptions among older women meant that, for the first time on record, more than 900,000 women became pregnant in a year.

The number of women in their 40s becoming pregnant has more than doubled in the past 20 years. Conception rates for women in their 20s have remained flat.