THE rate of conception among women in Cumbria fell in 2021, new figures show. 

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the data provides an understanding of how lockdowns and pandemic restrictions affected behaviour.

Figures from the ONS show there were 5,265 conceptions in Cumbria in 2021. It was down from 5,288 the year before.

The rate dropped from 69.2 conceptions per 1,000 women in 2020 to 66.3 conceptions per 1,000 women in 2021.

Of the conceptions in Cumbria in 2021, 23.6 per cent led to an abortion which is the highest level in the area in the past decade.

The figures also show there were 111 conceptions among women aged under 18 in Cumbria, a rate of 14.4 conceptions per 1,000 for the age group.

About 61.3 per cent of pregnancies resulted in an abortion.

A spokesperson for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service said the pandemic, and the government's response to it, had a clear impact on women’s pregnancy choices.

They said: "Faced with economic challenges and job insecurity, women and their partners had to make sometimes tough decisions around continuing or ending a pregnancy.

"Unfortunately, financial struggles and a lack of government support, including the two-child limit on financial assistance, continue to force women to choose between ending an otherwise wanted pregnancy or plunging their families into great hardship."

They added there is no "right number of abortions" and added there is more the Government can do to ensure women make the right decision for themselves when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.

Siân Bradford, ONS child health senior research officer, said the data reveals a higher conception rate among women who were not married or in a civil partnership for the first time since records began.

"Despite a higher percentage of abortions, women who were not married or in a civil partnership, still have a higher number of conceptions leading to maternity. Further work will be needed to establish whether this marks a change in trend,” she added.

Cumbria bucks the national trend, which shows there has been a slight increase in the number of conceptions. This is the first time this has happened in six years.