Sir, The assumption is taking hold that the gradual increase in the abortion rate in recent years is a reflection of moral decline as women “use abortion as contraception” (leading article, Oct 25).

An examination of statistics and wider social trends tells a different story. It shows us that women’s attempts to control their fertility, through use of contraception and abortion, take place today in a context that is very different to the 1960s. Abortion rates must be situated in relation to fertility statistics, and these demonstrate the rising age of childbirth, and a gradually increasing rate of childlessness.

These are important developments of the past 30 years, and mean that women (and men) now spend a far larger proportion of their adult years childless. Given that contraception remains imperfect, this inevitably implies a greater recourse to abortion as a part of fertility control. This does not reflect “immorality”, but rather the changed context in which relationships and families are formed.

Undoubtedly some are more comfortable with these social changes than others, but they must be taken into account in any discussion of abortion. Relationships and families are also shaped by the wider parenting culture. The expectations our culture now has regarding parenting are quite different from the past. This will inevitably influence the way both sexes view unplanned pregnancies.

Dr Ellie Lee
Senior lecturer in social policy
University of Kent

Sir, Of all the poorly thought through and weak arguments I have ever heard from the anti-abortion lobby, the MP Nadine Dorries’s comments on Newsnight on Wednesday have got to be some of the more ridiculous. To suggest that doctors working in the NHS, where patients often wait more than three months for operations, have a “vested financial interest” in keeping abortion legal is absurd.

The number of abortions at the late stage which the committee was considering is both low and stable, so does not create the “business” she suggests the doctors are so keen to cultivate. Only 1.6 per cent of abortions occur over 20 weeks and the implications for women, were they to be compelled to continue with their pregnancy, could be terrible.

The evidence is in, and has come down overwhelmingly on the side of reason, upholding the woman’s right to choose.

Hannah Mitchell
London N1

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