The number of women between the ages of 30 and 40 who have terminated their pregnancy rose from 3669 to 4166 over the past decade.
Keystone
In Switzerland, the number of teenage abortions has been falling for years but women over 30 are increasingly terminating their pregnancy, according to the Sunday edition of Tages-Anzeiger.
Since 2005, the abortion rate among teenagers has almost halved, reports the Zurich-based newspaper, citing the Federal Statistical Office.
This trend contradicts the widespread belief that “children have children“; or that abortions are typically requested by young, uneducated, low-income women who do not have a partner.
All other age groups – with one significant exception – have documented a slight decline in the rate of abortion.
The number of women between the ages of 30 and 40 who have terminated their pregnancy rose from 3669 to 4166 over the past decade.
Doctor Theres Blöchlinger from the Zurich Women’s Outpatient Clinic confirmed the trend towards abortions at an older age.
She told the German-language newspaper that one of the reasons for this updaward trend may be that women are becoming pregnant later.
“Training and studies take longer, for many it is too early to start a family at 30,” notes Blöchlinger.
Prenatal diagnostics are improving the detection of malformations, a particularly important consideration for older women, and leading to abortion.
Married women account for one third of abortions at the University Hospital of Bern.
Silke Johann, head of the Centre for Sexual Health at the University Hospital, says their decision is not driven by economic status or education.
“The woman who becomes pregnant from a one-night stand and aborts is the exception,” the newspaper quotes her as saying. “Women from all social classes can decide to abort – from the doctor to the cleaning assistant.
Blöchlinge has observed another common profile: women who (re)become pregnant after a divorce or a long relationship.
They start dating, use technology and apps like Tinder to meet others, and dive into a second kind of adolescence.
“They live out their sexuality in a self-determined way,” says Blöchlinger.
In many cases, these women are already mothers, so they are making an informed decision to abort.
“They are no longer as optimistic and hopeful as at the age of 20, and their life experience has taught them that children can be a financial burden,” Blöchlinger says.
“They know what they would have to sacrifice in terms of personal and professional freedom. Or they wish for more children, but only later.”
More
More
Abortions
This content was published on
In Switzerland, women have the right to an abortion, but relatively few of them exercise that right, compared to many other European countries. How come?
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Switzerland’s first padel court on water built in Arosa
This content was published on
Switzerland's first padel tennis court on water will open on the Obersee in Arosa, canton Graubünden, for the 2025 summer season.
This content was published on
Wine consumption in Switzerland fell by almost 8% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Swiss wines are particularly affected by the decline.
Jackie Chan to be honoured for life’s work at Locarno Film Festival
This content was published on
Martial artist Jackie Chan will receive an Honorary Leopard, a lifetime achievement award, from the Locarno Film Festival in southern Switzerland in August.
Novartis raises forecast again after strong Q1 results
This content was published on
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has continued the strong pace of growth of recent quarters in the first three months of 2025.
Swiss canton holds first general meeting on winegrowing
This content was published on
More than 250 professionals attended the first general meeting of the Valais wine industry on Monday in Conthey, western Switzerland.
Greater transparency called for in Swiss use of medical imaging
This content was published on
More and more scans, ultrasounds and MRIs: doctors are increasingly prescribing medical imaging tests, particularly in the French-speaking cantons.
Renewal of war in Gaza has ‘unleashed a new hell’, says Red Cross
This content was published on
The resumption of the war in Gaza has unleashed a new hell in the Palestinian territory, the director of the Geneva-based ICRC has warned.
Lufthansa set to abolish in-flight sales, SWISS to keep them
This content was published on
Perfumes, cigarettes, sunglasses: The German airline Lufthansa will no longer sell these products on long-haul flights in future. Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss is sticking to in-flight sales for the time being.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss vote again on genetic screening
This content was published on
One year after the Swiss electorate accepted a constitutional amendment allowing preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), the question is again being put to the vote. Pro-life groups are attacking the federal law implementing the amendment via a referendum, but they are not the only ones going into battle – parliamentarians across the political spectrum also believe the new text goes too far.
More IVF babies born in Switzerland than ever before
This content was published on
A record number of Swiss couples have had a child by successfully using IVF, according to the latest figures published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on Tuesday. The FSO says 2,162 babies conceived with the help of IVF were born in 2016, compared with 2,020 in 2015 (up 7%). It also notes a…
A Swiss girl born today can expect to live into the 22nd century
This content was published on
The government has released its annual demographic treasure trove, including births, deaths, marriages and divorces and much more.
Swiss women have come a long way, but still face discrimination
This content was published on
Switzerland has been swept up in the grassroots ‘#MeToo’ movement and the growing dissatisfaction among women with the status quo.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.