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Pink roses are one of the oldest roses known to us and have a rich history that dates back to some of the earliest pieces of visual art. In the Talmud, it is written that pink roses are the only flowers allowed to bloom in Jerusalem; thus, they came to be associated with paradise. Pink roses were the dominant species of wild roses and were the first flowers to evolve into their present-day form. When roses were first cultivated in the 18th century for commercial use, most of them existed in shades of pink – from a pale, almost white to a deep crimson.
With the development of hybridization techniques and the discovery of new rose species, flower growers introduced new shades of pink to the public. At around this time, roses were also imbued with the ability to bloom all throughout the year – a significant development since garden roses only blossomed once a year. As more shades and species evolved, each began to have their own meanings, and the meaning of pink roses became even more refined.
Today, pink roses are known as symbols for love and gratitude. These pink flowers also carry undertones of elegance, grace, sweetness, and poetic romance. Because the pink rose was more prevalent over other garden-variety roses, it became strongly associated with these positive sentiments. Different shades of pink also carry their own meanings. Light pink roses symbolize admiration, gentleness, and can be used to bring messages of sympathy. Fuchsia-toned roses can mean appreciation and gratitude and are traditionally used to express thanks. As a decorative presence in the corner of a room, the aroma, color, and shape of a bouquet of pink roses can make everything look small and shabby in comparison.
Due to the many ways where they can be used to express a wide range of meanings and emotions, pink is the most popular rose color, second only to red. The symbolic importance as well as the delicate appearance and sweet fragrance associated to all roses are traced back to the oldest of flowers – the pink rose. Although much has changed about it throughout history, pink roses have held a consistent, prominent place in the world of flowers. Today, pink roses have a unique position that represents refinement and elegance while communicating admiration and thanks. Any recipient of a bouquet of pink roses will not only be taken aback by their beauty; that person is sure to feel special and loved.


Flirting Or Fun

15

IM
There is a lot more to flirting than fun, according to a new research study that says finding success in romance depends in part on understanding your own personal “flirting style.”
Whether or not you prefer sidling up to a stranger in a bar or you’d rather sit back and wait for an object of attraction to approach are distinctions that once recognized can help people navigate the rocky seas of relationships, according to Jeffrey Hall, assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas.
Hall recently completed a study into styles of flirting among dating adults, surveying more than 5,100 people regarding their methods of communicating romantic interest. “Knowing something about the way you communicate attraction says something about challenges you might have had in your past dating life,” Hall said. “Hopefully, this awareness can help people avoid those mistakes and succeed in courtship.”
Hall said there are essentially five styles of flirting: physical, traditional, polite, sincere and playful. In physical flirting, people express their sexual interest in a potential partner and, he says, often quickly can develop the relationships, have more sexual chemistry and have a greater emotional connection to their partners.
Traditional flirts tend to believe that men should make the first moves, with women assuming more passive roles. Both sexes comfortable with this style seem to prefer more “intimate” dating scenes, he said.
There are many people whose flirting styles fall into the category of “playful” and are aimed largely at enhancing their own self-esteem, Hall said. These people are less likely to have lasting and meaningful relationships, he added. “In some ways, the very early part of developing relationships is important to the success of long-term relationships, including marriages,” he said.



If there ever was a flirting manual, this is it. Yup, we've compiled the entire flirting process of the super flirt -- from catching his attention to inviting him to approach to sussing out his level of attraction for you. Master these, and you'll be a full-fledged man-magnet. Get ready to get noticed!

Walk the walk

"When people first meet you, their initial impression of you is based upon your appearance and body language," says Ellen Dugan, author of How To Enchant A Man.

Your posture is a crucial giveaway: Stand tall, push your shoulders back as you make your entrance, and you'll instantly look confident, while a subtle smile on your lips signals that you're friendly and approachable.






Catch his attention

Spot a cutie at 2 o'clock? Make eye contact with him, give a little smile, then whisper into the ear of your girlfriend. It doesn't matter what you say -- he'll still think you're talking about him, and he will be dying to know what you said.

A bold guy will shoot you a quizzal look, approach you and ask what you said. Even if he's shy, he will keep stealing glances in your direction.

"Whispers make us think someone is saying something awfully nice or awfully horrible about us -- why else would they whisper it? Either way, it gets the adrenaline pumping and gets them looking your way," explains Tracey Cox, relationship expert and author of Superdate.





Signal him to approach

If he's tossing glances your way that last four seconds or longer, he definitely likes what he sees! At the same time, he's mentally evaluating how open you are to being approached, too.

So flash him a definite green light signal with a slow, flirty smile. "Smiling is truly contagious and it's a quick, subtle way to show interest without looking desperate," adds Tracey Cox, relationship expert and author of 
Superdate.

Now that you have his attention, look at him again, make repeated brief yet inviting eye contact ("I see you; do you see me?") and you're sending a clear "come over" sign.







Get on the same wavelength

He comes over and introduces himself. So far, so good! Lock eyes as you say hello and repeat his name.

Adopt an open body language by keeping your arms relaxed and unfolded and you'll appear friendly and approachable. Crossed arms and ankles, on the other hand, are an obvious sign that you're nervous and a no-no. A slight forward leaning of your torso signals interest and that you're enjoying his company.

We like people who are like us. "So if we like someone, we start "mirroring" -- doing whatever it is they're doing to show we're the same," explains Cox. For example, if he takes a sip from his drink, you follow suit after a pause. It's a great technique to bond and make him feel like you have a great rapport going on.


The birds do it, the bees do it. It seems all animals, humans included, are biologically wired to flirt. A smile or subconscious hair toss can be plain fun when you're happily single, but if you're in a relationship things can get blurry. The question is how do you draw the line between innocent flirting and an inappropriate come-on that can jeopardize your current relationship?



When flirting is good clean fun

The truth is, people flirt all the time in order to get help in social situations. Have you ever flirted with a mechanic in order to try to get a discount on getting your car fixed? What about the time you chatted up the waiter in order to get better service? Flirting is a social game we play in these kinds of situations and it's considered an "acceptable" form of flirting by most people.

There are benefits to innocent flirting, even if you're attached or married. Flirting can be a huge booster to your self-esteem. People like to hear how good they look and if they catch someone checking them out or smiling at them, it's a compliment.


When things get gray

Things get a bit more complicated when it comes to flirting with colleagues of the opposite sex. A UK research found that casual flirting in the office is rife, often with the motive to hand work over to someone else. Coined "functional flirting" by the researchers, the study found that nearly half (48 percent) of office workers admit to flirting to get their own way in the workplace. Twice as many women as men admit to flirting with their bosses, while men are more likely to focus their attentions on their junior colleagues. "As long as you keep your conversations and actions appropriate, office flirting is really no big deal because everybody does it and it makes my job simpler when others like me," says Jamie, 29, a PR consultant.

But some relationship experts warn that all kinds of workplace flirting (including functional flirting) has the potential to turn friendship into an emotional affair. These intimate relationships are usually not based on physical attraction or sex; rather they tend to be based on a strong emotional bond that persists without the complete knowledge and consent of your current spouse. "When a spouse places his or her primary emotional needs in the hands of someone outside the marriage, it breaks the bond of marriage just as adultery does. An emotional affair can be just as dangerous to a marriage and often a more complicated situation to remedy," explains marriage counselor Gary Neuman, author of Emotional Infidelity. And the crux of an emotional affair is that many times, these persons involved are totally unaware that they are being unfaithful, say experts.



Warning signs things are out of control

A little flirting with someone you meet on a regular basis (like a co-worker) can quickly get out of hand. A warning sign that your "friendship" has crossed the line is when your "friend" has become your go-to soulmate for sharing emotional intimacy (hopes, fears, dreams) instead of your spouse. Another tell-tale sign is a diminished relationship with your spouse, such as more fights over small issues, little or no sex, and the feeling that you don't have much in common anymore, warns Neuman. If you find yourself having to lie to your partner about how you relate to someone else, it's a big wake-up call that you need to reassess your relationahip with that person.

Always place your relationship in the first spot

Mastering your self-control to flirting boils down to how much you value your relationship and a respect for your partner's feelings, so don't forget what brought you and your partner together in the first place. "It's so easy," says Neuman, "to forget why we fell in love." It's important to constantly "feed" your love with lots of communication and together-time.

And however much fun (or benefit) you may have from flirting with other guys, nothing beats flirting with yours. "A lot of people stop flirting once they are in a relationship. Don't. The couple that plays together stays together," urges relationship expert Tracey Cox. When you retain that playful factor in your relationship, you'll keep it from getting stuck in a rut.


With the globalization of everything, travelling and working overseas becomes part and parcel of life. And like many people, you may find yourself having to cope with a long-distance relationship: Maybe you were stationed apart when you met. Or maybe your partner has been offered a fantastic opportunity abroad, and you're trying to keep the magic alive despite the distance.

One thing's for sure: Maintaining a long-distance romance can be extra challenging. "Being able to plan to do things with someone and having them nearby does help in building intimacy and allows the relationship to strengthen through shared experiences," says relationship counsellor, Julia Armstrong. "Long-distance relationships can mean that it is easier for insecurities to arise that could be allayed through a hug or a shared evening and through being close on a regular basis."

But there's no reason to think yours is doomed. You do need to be prepared to work much harder to make things work, though. Armstrong suggests four things you can do to make a long-distance relationship work.


1. Communicate frequently

Number one rule: Communication. Keeping in very close contact is important in a regular relationship, but it's doubly vital for a long-distance one. Just how close? "The more, the better," says Armstrong. "The space between two people is where the relationship exists and what is put in that space makes the difference to whether the other feels safe or not." Agree how often you'll call each other and stick to it so that it becomes part of your regular routine. Of course, real life might not in the way of this but it's good to lay ground rules so that you both know where you stand. Using a webcam can add a more personal dimension to the conversations as you can see each other while you talk and the distance doesn't seem quite so overwhelming. How you handle the conversations is just as important as how often you speak. "It is really important to listen deeply and carefully so that the space between builds in trust," says Armstrong.

2. Arrange visits

Phone calls and video chats are great for touching base but there's no substitute for spending quality time together face-to-face. If possible, set "rules" that you'll see each other whenever you can afford to. As with scheduling phone calls and general communication, Armstrong advises seeing each other as much as possible.

If you can't meet up as often as you'd like, you'll need to be mutally understanding and avoid saying negative things like 'If you really loved me, you'd make more effort to visit.' Armstrong suggests trying a change of attitude to avoid seeming as though you're pointing the finger. "Look at the positives of having your partner in your life and how it is enhancing your life rather than the focus being on how you would like them to be there more, as this can make all the difference to how you are together when you do actually see one another." Most important of all, do make the most of the time that you can spend together and see this in a positive light.

3. Ditch the paranoia

When you're apart, it's easy to find yourself wondering if he's cheating. But trust is so important especially in a long distance relationship. Expressing and demonstrating your feelings for each other can go a long way towards letting your partner know that you're committed to making the relationship a success.

Discuss what you're feeling rather than projecting onto your partner. For example, instead of saying 'You never call me on time' say something like 'I don't feel important when you're late for our calls' as this sounds less accusatory. Also avoid using words like "always" and "never", says Armstrong, as these can be very off-putting.

4. Surprise your partner

Planning little surprises every so often shows that you're thinking of him even when you're apart. "Surprises show that you're making your partner a priority," says Armstrong. "We all want to feel loved and taking notice of what your partner likes and acting on it is a very powerful message that says 'You are important to me and I love you'," she adds. Not sure what to surprise your partner with? "Keep a list of things that your partner mentions in passing, like a book or something that they would like to do," suggests Armstrong. Want to get soppy and romantic? Send a gift that you know will be appreciated with a romantic note attached or record a personalized video message.



Long-distance relationship don'ts

When you're hundreds of miles apart, there are plenty of things you can do to keep the flame alive. A long-distance relationship, however, has its don'ts, too. And these are some things you'd want to steer clear of:

It's always you doing the chasing
If it's always up to you to make the phone calls and visits, a long-distance relationship can become even more frustrating. "Reflect on whether you have any part of you that doesn't believe that your partner will stay if you don't do the running," says Armstrong. If this is the case, it's time for some personal work to shift that part of you that doesn't feel worthy, she adds. If you find him fading from your life, make an effort to talk in an open way, listen to one another and empathize with what is going on for the other before thinking and talking through how you both want to go forwards.

You're always sitting by the phone
Being in a long-distance romance doesn't mean putting your life on hold in case he decides to call. If you're waiting by the phone, it isn't a relationship. "It's worth remembering that no-one else can really 'make us happy' -- engaging in your own life is very important and a relationship can then be a place of personal growth and a chance to develop and open up to your passion," says Armstrong.



When it comes to the dating game, how you flirt can make or break a potential relationship, since it's the first move you make to signal your interest in someone you fancy. Would you confidently catch his eye and smile? Or would you wait for him to make the first move?

Here's probably one of the most intriguing research findings on flirtation techniques for all the singles out there:

Five main styles of flirting have been identified in a study by Jeffery Hall, an assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas, and colleagues. Namely: Physical, traditional, polite, sincere and playful.

And more importantly, how each of the different flirting styles affects your odds of finding love. "In some ways," Hall says, "the very early part of developing relationships is important to the success of long-term relationships, including marriages."


5 types of flirts

In his research, Hall surveyed more than 5,100 men and women about their flirting techniques. Survey participants were asked questions like "I am good at showing my sexual interest" and "Flirting with others makes me feel more attractive" and were grouped into five categories based on their responses:


Physical flirts
Physical flirts are not afraid to communicate sexual interest to their potential partner. Relationships develop quickly for these flirts and they have more sexual chemistry and emotional connection.


Traditional flirts
These are old-school flirts who believe men should take the lead and ladies shouldn't make the first move. Traditional flirts are typically more introverted. Because women take a passive approach, they're less likely to flirt and get their target's attention. For male traditional flirts, he usually takes a longer time to get to know a woman before trying to date her.


Polite flirts
Polite flirts express their interest -- via proper manners and nonsexual communication. These cautious flirts don't find the flirting game flattering, and may not be very active in approaching a potential partner, but once they fall in love, they tend to have meaningful relationships.


Sincere flirts
As the name implies, it's all about sincerity for these flirts. They have an honest interest in who you are and want to make an emotional connection. When sincere flirts get into a relationship, those relationships are pretty meaningful and involve strong emotional bonds and sexual chemistry. Women tend to score higher in this style.


Playful flirts
Playful flirts do it for the fun and the boost to their self-esteem, with little interest in a long-term relationship. They're likely to attract shorter, less serious relationships.

Looks like polite and sincere flirting are your best bets if you want to attract a long-term partner. While playful, physical flirtation tends to lead to shorter, more casual relationships, according to the study. Hall sums it up best: If you are unhappy with the type of person you attract then it probably means you should switch your flirting technique



Got that niggling feeling your guy is not being entirely honest with you? Like when he tells you he had O.T. last night but his mobile was switched off? When it comes to lying spouses, extra-marital affair is usually the first suspicion that pops to mind, but there are many other reasons why someone fibs: To hide an addiction (e.g. gambling), fear of rejection, or to make themselves appear more successful than they really are.

But apart from the occasional little white lies ("Honey, you don't look fat in that."), being lied to by your partner can feel hurtful, not to mention insulting. We asked body language experts to explain which signals can indicate that he's not telling you the whole truth.


The tell-tale signs

When you lie, you often give away certain signs that can indicate your lack of honesty. Even someone who is practiced at lying can unwittingly give themselves away without even realizing it:


1. He can't look you in the eye

People tend to make eye contact when talking, especially in the Western culture, says behavioral expert Seven Suphi. If he usually feels able to look you in the eye but can't do so on some occasions, he could well be lying to you. "We connect when we look each other in the eye so it's like there's nowhere for the lie to hide if eye contact is maintained," she adds.

"Lack of eye contact indicates that the person is avoiding something," agrees Elizabeth Kuhnke, an Executive Presence Coach and Founder of Kuhnke Communications. "If he doesn’t look at you when he's speaking, he's probably searching for the words that will convince you that he's telling the truth."


2. His voice changes

Listen for any changes in his voice when he speaks: A higher-than-usual pitch can be a good indicator that he's feeling uncomfortable about what he's telling you, says body language expert, Patti Wood, particularly for certain questions or statements. A "different" voice is another big giveaway, adds Kuhnke. "If he's holding something back or telling a lie, his voice will have a different quality to his 'normal' voice."


3. He contradicts himself

If his statements don't tally, you can be almost certain that he's struggling to keep pace with his ever-changing lies. Statements that don't ring true may happen when someone forgets their old lies and contradicts themselves with the truth or another lie, notes Suphi. "If his story is confused and the details don't match up, he's most likely lying," agrees Kuhnke. "It's hard to remember all of the details if you're fabricating them as you go along and under pressure, he's going to forget something or say too much."


4. He changes the subject

If you touch on a subject that will require a lie, he may well try to switch to a different topic to avoid having to be untruthful, suggests Suphi. This is a classic way of moving off a topic that one doesn't want to discuss about. If he weren't lying, he'd be okay staying with the topic until it reaches its natural conclusion.




5.He's ultra-defensive

Liars often display a high level of defensiveness for fear of being caught. "Anger is a good cover," says Wood. "Non-verbal clues of anger can mask nervousness, and can persuade the other person to back down or change the subject." He may also change tack altogether by getting mad at you, says Wood.

"You can ask, "What are you defending?" and see how he responds, Kuhnke suggests. If he's not lying, he should be willing to talk in a calm and rational manner.

6. He fidgets a lot

Excessive fidgeting is a huge tell-tale sign, says Suphi, because he's afraid of being caught. "Fidgeting is a displacement activity that indicates nervous energy," says Kuhnke. "Lip chewing and putting his hand over his mouth are signs that he's holding something back."

Trusting your instincts

These signs alone aren't enough to prove that someone is fibbing, however. To get a clearer picture, think about his "normal" behavior and whether he typically acts like this. For example, people who are anxious or lacking in confidence can demonstrate many of these signs as a normal everyday behaviour, such as a lack of eye contact, a nervous high-pitched voice and excessive fidgeting due to the fact that they're uncomfortable in many situations. However, if the behavior is generally out-of-character, there's a good chance that he's not being honest with you and if it's coupled with a gut feeling that something isn't right, you're probably right to be wary.

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Why are so many women risking one-night stands?

In the final part of our exclusive survey, what women really think about casual affairs - and aboriton

By FRANCES HARDY
Last updated at 1:53 AM on 16th November 2010
Ever wondered how other people’s love lives compare to yours? Or whether one-night stands are rife? In an exclusive survey, the Mail set out to discover what really happens in Britain’s bedrooms.
In the first part of our series, we revealed how, at 50, your love life can take a nosedive and, yesterday, we exposed how many people really cheat on their partners. 
Today, in the last part, we unveil the disturbing truth about abortion and promiscuity ...
Ashleigh Taylor’s teenage pregnancy was the result of a moment of reckless abandon during her pre-university gap year. Fifteen weeks later, aged only 18, she had an abortion: she says she had no other option. ‘What kind of a life would that baby have had? I didn’t even know the father’s surname. 
‘I had a one-night stand. It was an isolated moment of madness and one I bitterly regret,’ she says. ‘But I couldn’t have brought a baby into the world at that time.’
Ashleigh, now 25 and a TV researcher, was poised to begin a degree in English and religious studies at Bristol University when her casual sexual encounter with a ‘nice, middle-class guy’, who was on a university rugby tour, threatened to throw her plans into turmoil. 
No regrets? The Mail's survey has found that nearly half of all women in their 20s have had a one-night stand, while the figure for those in their 30s and 40s are nearly as high
No regrets? The Mail's survey has found that nearly half of all women in their 20s have had a one-night stand, while the figure for those in their 30s and 40s are nearly as high
She was working part-time as a waitress to help fund her studies when, soon after a long-term relationship had ended, she met a group of sportsmen while on a night out with girlfriends.
‘I was very attracted to one of them, who was tall with nice eyes and lovely manners,’ she recalls. ‘I knew I was throwing caution to the wind — I’d never had a one-night stand before. 
‘But we used a condom and the next morning I went to the chemist to get the morning-after pill, to make doubly sure. 
‘But the assistant, who talked to me about my health first — I had irregular periods — dissuaded me. She said it was unlikely I would need it. 
‘I was thinking it was something I could laugh off. My generation doesn’t think one-night stands are remarkable.’
 
There was, however, nothing laughable about the ensuing weeks, during which Ashleigh, feeling listless and feverish, slowly realised the persistent symptoms she had attributed to ’flu could signal a pregnancy. 
‘I did a test in the loo at work, and when I realised I was pregnant I was so horrified I felt sick. The next day, I went to a family planning clinic. They confirmed I was 14 weeks gone — I think I’d been in denial for a long time that it could be happening — and I told them straight away I wanted an abortion. 
‘I had no money, I was about to start university and my parents — Mum is a teacher and Dad runs his own IT business from our home in Devon — are traditional and would have been deeply shocked and disgusted by my behaviour.
‘For two days after the termination I lay in bed, shocked and exhausted — it was horrendous. I told Mum I had a very heavy period. 
WHO KNEW
23 per cent of women over 60 have had a one-night stand - 56 per cent don't regret it
‘Then I went back to my job and, three months later, started university. I coped by blanking it out. And, although I still believe I did the right thing, I’m paranoid about getting pregnant again and haven’t had a successful relationship since the abortion.’
Ashleigh’s experience is not remotely uncommon. 
Today, in the final day of the Mail’s survey, British Women and Sexuality, we can reveal that almost half of British women in their 20s — and almost as many in their 30s and 40s — have had a one-night stand. 
And nearly a quarter of women in their 20s — Ashleigh’s age group — have had an abortion during their young lives. 
Our poll — the most exhaustive and wide-ranging study of its kind in years — asked almost 1,000 women, all of them married or in long-term partnerships, searching questions about every aspect of their intimate lives. 
We asked them whether they have had a one-night stand — and whether they regretted it. 
We also discovered how often sex had unforeseen or unwelcome consequences — whether they be unwanted pregnancies, emotional trauma or sexually transmitted infections.
Graphic showing what Britain's women told us during the sex survey

One-night stands, it emerges, are not solely the preserve of the young. Almost half of women in their 30s (46 per cent) and 40s (45 per cent) have had casual, one-off sexual encounters, while those in their 50s are not far behind — more than a third have had casual sex. 
Apparently, few regret the experience and women in their 40s are the least remorseful: surprisingly, three-quarters of them say they have no qualms, while 65 per cent of those in their 50s also have no regrets. 
So Jayne Price, 46, a PA from Cambridge, is in the minority when she confesses that she ‘positively cringes’ when she recalls the men she slept with during her ‘wild’ undergraduate days. 
Jayne, who has a son, 14, and a daughter, 12, is married to Richard, 52, an IT consultant, and admits her husband has no idea how promiscuous she was before they met. 
‘I have never confessed how many men I’ve slept with,’ she says. ‘Actually, I’m not quite sure myself — definitely over 20 — and I’m ashamed that many were one-night stands. 
‘Some I met at parties. I’d wake up the next day and could barely remember if we’d had sex or not. On other occasions I’d look at the stranger in bed next to me and cringe as I thought: “What on earth have I done?”’ 
Mercifully, Jayne, who was on the Pill, did not suffer an unwanted pregnancy; neither did she have a sexually transmitted disease. 
But as soon as she met Richard, 23 years ago, she began to feel guilt and regret, which was compounded when her daughter reached adolescence. 
‘I realised I was hardly an exemplary role model — not that I’ve discussed my exploits with my daughter,’ she says. ‘Sadly, while at the time I thought I was just having fun, it is a part of my past I wish I could erase.’
Significantly, it is the younger women — those in their 20s — who more often repent their one-night stands. 
WHO KNEW
16 per cent of 20 to 29-year-olds have caught a sexually transmitted disease
In that age group, 44 per cent of women said they wished they had never had their encounters, compared with 37 per cent in their 30s, 26 per cent in their 40s and 35 per cent in their 50s.
This is, perhaps, because — being at their most fertile — their brief encounters were more likely to result in unwanted pregnancies.
So how many made the traumatic decision to terminate a pregnancy? While 23 per cent of the youngest age group in our survey (20 to 29-year-olds) admitted having had an abortion, surprisingly, similar numbers of women in their 40s and 50s — 22 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively — have also had terminations. 
Only in the 30-39 age group did the figure dip slightly to 17 per cent. Meanwhile, the figure for the over-60s — for many of whom abortion was illegal during their child-bearing years — was nine per cent.
Dr Andrew Fergusson, a former GP and now spokesman for the Christian Medical Fellowship, says: ‘We have reached a point where abortion is seen as just another method of c ontraception. For years, the effects have been swept under the carpet and evidence is only just beginning to emerge of real physical and psychological implications for some of the women who have abortions.
‘There is an increased risk that, if they later have full-term pregnancies, they will go into labour early, which raises the chance of their baby having a disability. 
‘There is also evidence of increased suicide attempts and episodes of depression among women who have had abortions.’
Indeed, for Amy Connolly, 28, a receptionist from South-West London, her decision to end a pregnancy precipitated profound guilt and episodes of depression. Amy became pregnant when she and her then- boyfriend Tim failed to use contraception after a New Year’s Eve party. 
‘I will never forgive myself for accidentally becoming pregnant,’ she says. ‘I still feel guilty that I was so careless and allowed it to happen.
Graphic showing the worrying toll of unsafe sex
‘By the time I realised I was pregnant, I had split up with Tim. I just assumed abortion was the only option. 
‘Neither my GP nor anyone else suggested I might have the baby. I expected to feel relief after the termination. Instead, I felt grief and huge self-loathing. I’d ended a life. 
‘Since then, I’ve endured terrible periods of depression. It’s even negatively affected my sex life. It’s as if I’m punishing myself for my actions.’
Although 56 per cent of women say they do not regret their abortions, many are, it seems, beset by a complex amalgam of emotions after them. 
Those who are most sanguine are in their 20s, with their child- bearing years ahead of them: 67 per cent of this age group do not have misgivings about their abortions.
However, this view dramatically reverses as a woman’s fertility declines: the majority of women — 64 per cent — in the 40-49 age group do mourn their decision to end a pregnancy. 
Among them is marketing manager Claire Smith, 43, who has had four abortions and can no longer have children. 
Claire, who is married to James, 46, a solicitor, and lives in North London, says she is paying a ‘heartbreaking price’ for the decisions she took earlier in her life. She opted to end her first pregnancy after losing her virginity at 16 to her first boyfriend. 
‘We were naïve and used no contraception,’ she recalls. A second abortion followed when she was a student at art school. She discovered she was pregnant for a third time after a relationship had ended. 
On each occasion, she says, abortion seemed the only option. Then, when she was 30 — and, by then, doubly cautious about contraception — she became accidentally pregnant for the fourth time. On this occasion she considered keeping her baby.
‘But I’d been taking malaria tablets during a holiday in Africa. My doctor warned me they could have damaged the foetus and advised an abortion. My boyfriend and I split up — the termination put a terrible strain on our relationship — and I devoted my 30s to my career,’ she recalls.
By 2006, when she met, then married, James, a divorcee with no children, she felt ready for motherhood. But she had developed fibroids — benign growths in her womb — and had to have a hysterectomy. 
Her regrets are profound. ‘I can’t conceive now and I often wonder what might have been. I’m lucky to have a wonderful husband and career. But I feel I would have been a good mum. 
‘I felt I should be in a stable relationship and financially secure before I had a child — maybe a result of my parents’ divorce when I was young — but now I will never be a mum. It feels as if part of me is missing.’
WHO KNEW
18 per cent of women have had an abortion - nearly 50 per cent regret it
Yet, the Royal College of Psychiatrists says there is no clinical evidence that women suffer psychologically as a result of early abortions.
‘The risks to psychological health from the termination of pregnancy in the first trimester are much less than the risks associated with proceeding with a pregnancy which is clearly harming the mother’s mental health,’ its report states.
However, the experience of Sarah Giles, 31, from Northampton, who works in sales for a computer company — and many like her — seems to contradict this. 
Sarah lives with her long-term boyfriend, an estate agent, and it was their baby she chose to abort: they felt they were not emotionally ready or financially equipped for parenthood. 
‘My decision has dramatically affected my life,’ says Sarah. ‘I had the abortion last year and what hurts me is that I have a good job, as does my boyfriend. We could have supported a baby. But we had a knee-jerk reaction — it seemed too much, too soon. 
‘We come from supportive middle-class homes and we want to raise a baby properly, be married, to plan for it. But now I long for my baby.
‘I thought the procedure would be pretty painless, but it was dreadful. 
‘Today, I have a huge sense of loss. Nothing feels how it should be. My boyfriend and I are still together, and I hope one day we’ll get married and have children. But I will never forget. 
‘Even today, I see pregnant women in the street or happy young mothers with their babies and think: “That could have been me.” And I cry.’ 
Of those who go down the same route as Sarah, 44 per cent feel similarly.
It is a thought to reflect upon as the figures continue on their alarming upward trajectory