Young people and contraception and pregnancy

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on Contraceptive services with a focus on young people up to the age of 25.

NICE recommends easier access to the morning-after pill in schools and GP surgeries and states that free condoms, including female condoms, should be readily accessible for young men and women at places including schools, colleges and youth clubs.

For further information and to download the guidance visit http://publications.nice.org.uk/contraceptive-services-with-a-focus-on-young-people-up-to-the-age-of-25-ph51.

The Office of National Statistics has published conception statistics for England and Wales, which show that:

• The conception rate among under 18 year olds dropped by 9.8 percent to 27.7 per 1000 in 2012, an all-time low for England; and
• The number of under 18 conceptions fell by 10.3 percent to 26,157, as did under 16 conceptions to 5,131.

For further information and to download the full statistics visit www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/conception-statistics--england-and-wales/2012/index.html.