It’s staggering that Ann Furedi of BPAS can condone the number of 12-year-olds who have abortions (15 in 2004, the latest figures on record), without at least  considering the mental health aspects of childhood sex, granted the nation seems to have such a poor record with its young people at the moment.

Let me explain. Furedi went on record this week as saying: “This is a tiny number of girls. Children grow up very quickly in our society. They are maturing faster physically, psychologically and socially, and society just has to come to terms with that.”

Well, my vote goes to Rhona Knight, a family doctor, who disagrees. She says that girls are not choosing to have sex at earlier ages, and that despite the availability of condoms and pills, we should “empower these girls to realise that they do not need to have sex at that age”. 

Even if the figures have increased since 2004, which they probably have, that does not make it normative – and normative does not mean right or desirable anyway. And for very good reason. Never mind the physical risks of early pregnancies – there is a psychological ill-advisedness about being pregnant so young, with or without an added abortion.

• There is the risk of missing out on the identity/independence aspects of adolescent development, which bodes ill for the young mum’s mental health and that of the baby. 

• Premature curtailment of social life leaves a young mum dependent on family and/or social services for emotional and financial support.

• There is possibly an unmet need for mothering that has compelled the youngster to seek attachment elsewhere, and which needs addressing.

• Bruce Ellis of Christchurch, New Zealand, found that lack of a father from an early age can encourage unstable bonds with men. This would clearly mean the possibility of further abandonment for the young mum and ensuing mental health issues.

• Shortening of the young mum’s education is bound to affect her life choices later, and thus those of the baby, often leading to poverty and a vicious circle of deprivation.

• Decisions to abort always have psychological repercussions.

One excellent project that uses psychological education with the aim of curtailing early pregnancies is Teens and Toddlers. They’ve recently expanded into new areas of the country and use counsellors as part of the staff team in each 20-week programme. It makes so much sense to allow teens to experience looking after toddlers, both physically and emotionally, and then to discuss what they have learned from their participation, and receive counselling for any issues it brings up for them. Sex teaching in school is, conversely, fear based and passive.

Anyway, if you can take any more nonsense, Tanya Byron will be examining norms of sexual behaviour on Monday 5 May in Am I Normal? on BBC2. I do hope she doesn’t bring in sex and 12-year-olds but I’m not hopeful. And I wonder why it’s been moved to an even later hour?