As trainee and practising doctors, our training and experience in contraception and sexual health often tends to focus on the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in younger women. However, although fertility undoubtedly falls in older age, conception rates in older women are increasing: the Office for National Statistics reports that 2008 saw a 5% increase in fertility rates for women aged 40 years and over. Sexually transmitted infections are also seen in older age groups.
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