Hold The Babies Please: 20-Somethings Having Less Pregnancies and Abortions

June 21st, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

Source: Shutterstock.com/pkchai

Anecdotal evidence of women deciding to delay motherhood is showing up in a major way in quantitative analyses. A new government report, “Estimated Pregnancy Rates and Rates of Pregnancy Outcomes for the United States, 1990-2008,” from the National Center for Health Statistics has found that among American women in their early 20s, pregnancy rates have fallen almost 18 percent from 1990 to 2008, and their abortion rate has dropped by 32 percent.

In 1990, the pregnancy rate among 20- to 24-year-olds was 198.5 per 1,000. As of 2008, that rate was 163 per 1,000 women. That 18 percent difference was much more dramatic than the change among 25- to 29-year-olds. The decrease in pregnancy rates in that group was just 6 percent. Abortion rates also went down in both age segments from 56.7 per 1,000 in 1990 to 38.4 per 1,000 in 2008 among the women in their early 20s. For women in their late 20s, the difference in abortion rates was 33.9 per 1,000 in 1990 to 28.6 per 1,000 in 2008.

“It’s not just the teens,” one of the study authors, Stephanie Ventura, said referring to a study in February which found teen pregnancy and abortion rates had dropped dramatically. “Abortion rates are down across the board. If the pregnancy rates are down, including both births and abortion rates, that would show more efforts to prevent unwanted pregnancies.”

That means more women are taking advantage of birth control, including condoms and other hormonal contraceptives to stop motherhood altogether, and some are simply delaying pregnancy as seen by the fact that the decreases in these rates aren’t as dramatic in women in their late 20s.

Overall, the report showed in 2008, 65 percent of pregnancies ended in a live birth, 18 percent in an abortion and 17 percent in fetal loss. In 1990, 61 percent of pregnancies ended in a live birth, 24 percent were aborted, with 15 percent resulted in fetal loss.

*Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

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  • lalatarea

    too bad women may not have the accessibility to birth control methods anymore smh

  • look

    Notice the rate of miscarriage is up 2%?

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  • GM_I

    Maybe 20-somethings are having FEWER (as stated by Guest1234 lol) pregnancies & abortions becuz most American women/mothers are having them at 15 & 16yrs old instead of their 20′s…I read where it said teen pregnancy is down but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still high, I’m just saying how its a possibility of why the numbers of pregnancies/abortions are down in that age group; basically becuz they already had a baby as a teen & are now using birth control in their 20′s they obviously weren’t when they were younger…and if they dont get pregnant, than no need for an abortion, which would cause those numbers to decrease as well, just my theory/opinion on the topic.

    • Trisha_B

      Basically took what i was gonna say! Agree!!!

    • Miss Anonymous

      I know alot of women who had 3+ kids in their teens and stop as soon as they hit 20 to save atleast one for the man they marry.

      • Miss Anonymous

        *they are going to marry

      • Miss Anonymous

        *they are going to marry

      • Rochelle

        If you not from the hood or projects you have a “hood mentality.” which some would argue is worst. expand your circle. travel and stop hanging out with birds.

    • Miss Anonymous

      I know alot of women who had 3+ kids in their teens and stop as soon as they hit 20 to save atleast one for the man they marry.

    • Rochelle

      I think you and everyone agreeing with you need to get out the hood. I hate when people think their reality is everyone’s reality. I can count the number of people that actually had a child in their teens on my fingers. But then again i grew up in an affuent jewish neighborhood. They were propbably smart and had abortions. I think you need to get out of your slums and live life.

    • GM_I

      Wow, one of my comments gettin 9 likes on this website is a bit shocking to me lol

  • GeekMommaRants

    Great news! Smart women want control over our lives and our bodies! This is awesome!!

  • Guest1234

    It should be: “20-Somethings Having FEWER Pregnancies and Abortions.” Poor grammar in the headlines is the easiest way to lose your credibility. Don’t wanna look ignorant, poorly educated and sloppy, do you?

    • just an observer

      I hope you have a highly paid job as an editor. You are constantly correcting the grammar on this site, which is fine, cause we should want to use proper grammer; HOWEVER, your approach is always condescending. Your tone is harsh and very critcal. I truly hope you are not a teacher.

      • Guest1234

        constantly? You must have me confused w/ someone else. This is the first grammatical error I’ve noticed.

        Furthermore, does a note on grammar really come across to you as harsh and critical? If so, get a thicker skin. I choose to presume the writer would appreciate it instead of crying that someone noticed an error – and calling them mean. That’s ridiculous.

        • Guest1234

          One more thing, then I’ll let it go. I think it’s a sad commentary on our times when it’s somehow a crime to point out an ERROR. It’s sad that people would rather be ignorant than corrected. When did everyone get so sensitive that one can’t acknowledge a simple ERROR without being lambasted as “harsh”, “critical” or, my personal favorite, “a hater”.

          When did our cultural standards get so low that a simple correction has become equated with an attack? Why would you rather be wrong than “criticized”? What’s wrong with that picture? It’s just frustrating to read this kind of stuff.

          Whew! Okay. That’s it.

          • Lola

            So are we to presume you were being sarcastic or ironic when you wrote: “Don’t wanna” in your initial criticism? Because as far as I know, “wanna” is not proper grammar either; thus, its usage makes one appear ignorant, sloppy and uneducated.

            • Guest1234

              It’s not my job to write here. Nor is my name on the comment. Nobody will attribute my comment to my professional identity. And, yes, it was meant to be “folksy.”

              • Lola

                It is not your job to be a grammar critic on MN but that did not stop you. Your name and profession not being associated with your remarks does not negate the fact that poor grammar was used. However, if you’re claiming it was intended to be “folksy” then that’s fine.

                • Guest1234

                  Whatever

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