... the more recent trend in England and Wales towards later childbearing. Europe is currently experiencing it lowest ever fertility levels and its longest ever period of fertility below replacement levels (Day 1995). By mid-1998 England & Wales TFR's less than 2.1 children per women for the best part of two decades (Table 1), well below the necessary value for replacement of generations (United Nations 1998). It may be that low fertility rates may just be postponement of births, e.g. more women are giving birth in their early forties (Ruddock et al 1998), or it could be the unavoidable end stage of full demographic transition i.e. populations that have full control over their fertility have better things to do than replace themselves (Day 1995). Whilst fertility rates within England and Wales have been decreasing, cases of STI's seen in GUM clinics have been steadily increasing. Between 1991 and 2001 reported cases ...

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