In one decade, British vasectomies halved

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LONDON, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The number of men in Britain getting vasectomies dropped in half in a decade, and it may be why women in their 30s and 40s have more abortions.

Vasectomies conducted by the National Health Services in England dropped from 37,700 in 2001 to 15,106 last year, while the number of abortions for women age 30 and older increased by 10 percent, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Traditionally around 16 percent of men age 70 and under have undergone a vasectomy in England, and the abortion rate for women age 30 and older has been relatively low.

"Vasectomy is a safe and reliable method that gives men the opportunity to play an active role in contraception," Ann Furedi, chief executive of bpas, a British non-profit group that advocates for reproductive choice, said, adding it was disappointing the only long-term male method for birth control was declining.

"We sincerely hope that the research into creating a reversible male contraceptive that is currently under way results in a method that will have a real impact on the involvement of men in family planning," Furedi told The Telegraph.