Table 1

Comparison of baseline characteristics between women with one and two or more terminations

CharacteristicOne terminationRepeat terminationP-value
[n (%)][n (%)]
Total10 429 (76.6)3192 (23.4)
Age (years)
 <201754 (16.8)1464 (45.9)<0.001
 20–243297 (31.6)829 (26.0)
 25–292243 (21.5)318 (10.0)
 30–341550 (14.9)284 (8.9)
 35–401097 (10.5)207 (6.5)
 >40478 (4.6)88 (2.8)
Pregnancy number
 15126 (49.2)2034 (63.7)<0.001
 21892 (18.1)483 (15.1)
 ≥33410 (32.7)675 (21.1)
Live birth
 06019 (57.7)2227 (69.8)<0.001
 11894 (18.2)451 (14.1)
 21655 (15.9)354 (11.1)
 ≥3861 (8.3)160 (5.0)
Previous miscarriage
 09192 (88.2)2894 (90.7)<0.001
 1949 (9.1)237 (7.4)
 ≥2282 (2.7)61 (1.9)
Ectopic
 010 331 (99.1)3175 (99.5)0.047
 ≥193 (0.9)17 (0.5)
SIMD quintile
 1 (least deprived)1184 (12.3)334 (11.3)0.079
 21814 (18.9)504 (17.1)
 31592 (16.6)507 (17.2)
 42110 (21.9)678 (23)
 5 (most deprived)2915 (30.3)929 (31.5)
Chlamydia
 Positive636 (6.2)253 (8.1)<0.001
 Negative/not tested9646 (93.8)2877 (91.9)
Gonorrhoea
 Negative/not tested10426 (100.0)3189 (99.9)0.124
 Yes3 (0)3 (0.1)
STI BBV test*
 Negative/not tested9863 (94.6)2921 (91.5)<0.001
 Tested566 (5.4)271 (8.5)
Trimester of pregnancy
 First trimester9465 (91.1)2875 (90.4)0.263
 ≥Second trimester926 (8.9)304 (9.6)
Method of termination
 MTOP6707 (64.3)2156 (67.5)0.001
 STOP3722 (35.7)1036 (32.5)
Contraceptive use at conception
 None/unknown/natural3491 (33.5)1070 (33.5)0.811
 Barrier4896 (46.9)1465 (45.9)
 Depo-Provera®30 (0.3)8 (0.3)
 Hormonal1876 (18.0)606 (19.0)
 LARC59 (0.6)17 (0.5)
 Other77 (0.7)26 (0.8)
Post-termination contraception
 None/unknown/natural1431 (13.7)361 (11.3)<0.001
 Barrier642 (6.2)113 (3.5)
 Depo-Provera1312 (12.6)363 (11.4)
 Hormonal4736 (45.4)1449 (45.4)
 Implant1150 (11)654 (20.5)
 IUS/IUD1030 (9.9)221 (6.9)
 Other128 (1.2)31 (1)
  • *STI, BBV and syphilis.

  • BBV, blood borne virus; IUD, intrauterine device; IUS, intrauterine system; LARC, long-acting reversible contraception; MTOP, medical termination of pregnancy; SIMD, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation; STI, sexually transmitted infection; STOP, surgical termination of pregnancy.