Pregnancy rates higher for women in their 40s than an other age group

In the UK, there has been a fall in pregnancy rates for women of all ages except those over 40.

Official figures showed teen pregnancy rates drastically dropped over the past year, The Sun reported.

According to the report, the shame of being a teen mother and a "shift in aspirations" is putting young girls off getting pregnant and they would rather stay in school.

Many women in their 20s and 30s are more focused on building a career that starting a family. Another factor is the high cost of owning a home.

In England and Wales the conception rate decreased to 1.3% in the past year, the report revealed. However, the pregnancy rate for women in their 40s has doubled since 1990, the Office for National Statistics stated.

"The drop in conceptions may reflect the uncertainty couples feel about the current environment and rising house prices," Clare Murphy, from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service is quoted as saying by The Sun.

"It can take time to establish a career and achieve financial security, so women are waiting longer to have their first child.

"This also means they are older when they complete their families, so it’s not surprising that the one group where conceptions are increasing is among women over 40."

Abortion rates have also increased for women of all ages, except for those in their 40s, the figures revealed.