Fewer and fewer abortions

Federal Statistical Office reports significant decrease in abortions

03/13/2014

The Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden reports a significant drop in abortions. Compared to the previous year, in 2013 there were almost four percent fewer abortions. This continues the trend that has been observable for years. The causes behind this are not clear from the figures of the Federal Statistical Office, but it can be assumed that significantly fewer unwanted pregnancies occur and more and more women consciously decide to have a child.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, in 2013 a total of 102,802 abortions were reported (106,815 in 2012). A large proportion of the affected women (just under three quarters or 74 percent) had been at the time of termination of pregnancy between the ages of 18 and 34 years. Fifteen percent were between the ages of 35 and 39, eight percent aged 40 and over, and four percent under the age of 18. The number of abortions among the under 18s „compared to 2012 by 220 to around 3,600“ according to the Federal Statistical Office. In total, 39 percent of women had no live birth before the abortion - it would therefore be their first child.

Most abortions are performed on an outpatient basis
The Federal Statistical Office further reports that „96 percent of the reported abortions made under the counseling scheme“ which provides for a detailed information discussion before the abortion. In four percent of abortions have one „medical and criminological indications“ as justification for the demolition. According to official figures, the most commonly used method for termination of pregnancy was vacuum aspiration (suction method). It was used in 70 percent of cases. „At 17 percent, the agent Mifegyne® was used“, reports the Federal Statistical Office. Most of the interventions were done on an outpatient basis - „about 79 percent in gynecological practices and 18 percent outpatients in the hospital.“ A rather small proportion of women (7%) chose to have surgery in a federal state where they did not live.

Number of abortions has been declining for years
The Federal Statistical Office provides more detailed information on abortions in the abortion statistics via the GENESIS Online database. It can also be seen here that the number of abortions at the turn of the millennium was just under 135,000. In addition, it can be seen that the abortion rate - ie the number of abortions in relation to the number of women of childbearing age - has dropped significantly in the last ten years. (Fp)

Image: Dieter Schütz