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Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)

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Medical termination of Pregnancy (MTP) is an intentional or voluntary termination of pregnancy before the full term of pregnancy. MTP is practiced to avoid unwanted pregnancy when there is an issue in pregnancy, in the failure of contraceptives, or even in the rape case according to government norms before the 1960s, when surgical abortion was done, vacuum aspiration or dilatation and curettage, till now when medication came as an alternative option. Approximately 45-50 million medical terminations are performed per annum. Furthermore, this accounts for 1/5th of the total number of babies conceived in a year. 

Legal issues with Medical Termination of Pregnancy

MTP is a problematic issue in several countries due to various religious, emotional, ethical, and social issues. It is completely illegal and banned Haiti, Malta, the Republic of the Congo, Aruba, Honduras, Mauritania, San Marino, Curaçao (territory), Iraq, Nicaragua, Senegal, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Palau, Sierra Leone, Philippines. 

In India, MTP got legalized with the 1971 Act, with registered medical practitioners with certain guidelines, some of which are as follows: 

  • MTP should be performed only in Government Hospitals or in the hospital that the government authorizes. 
  • The MTP should not proceed more than if the pregnancy exceeds the 12-week period of pregnancy. 
  • MTP is regulated to avoid female feticides. It is strictly restricted to going for amniocentesis and opting for the option of female feticides. 
  • When there is a confirmation of a genetic disease suspected in the fetus. 
  • When the pregnancy may be caused due to rape. 
  • MTP is not allowed if the conceiving lady has a lower age than 18 years. 

Medical Issues with Medical Termination of Pregnancy

Medical Termination of Pregnancy is of problematic practice and may cause the death of the patient. 

  • Non-surgical Medical Termination of Pregnancy: If MTP is done by medication, then there are major side effects that start after the second dose of medicine, which could include heavy bleeding, blood loss, and cramps that start between one to four after taking the dose. Low fever with chills, headache, and vomiting that may last for more than a day after the second dose. 
  • Surgical Medical Termination of Pregnancy: It may happen that there is a need for another procedure to remove all those remnants in the womb. It used to happen with 35 women in every 1000 women. Furthermore, it has been seen that there could be heavy blood loss, damage to the womb, or sepsis. 

Conclusion

Medical termination of pregnancy is the procedure to avoid unwanted pregnancy when the contraceptive was not used or got failed, and it is even used in rape cases also according to the government norms. It is not a legal procedure in approximately 12 countries across the world due to some religious, ethical, emotional, or social issues. In India, it got legal with the 1971 act, with certain guidelines that need to be followed to carry out the procedure. 

FAQs on Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP):

Q1: What is the procedure for MTP?

Answer:

Medical Termination of Pregnancy is procedure to avoid unwanted pregnancies with time and research several methods have been developed to carry out this procedure. Now a days it could done with two methods; 1. Surgical-based method, 2. Non-surgical based medication method.

Q2: What is the safe time to proceed with MTP?

Answer:

The safest time to proceed with medical termination of pregnancy is before 12th week of Pregnancy.

Q3: What are MTP rules in India?

Answer:

Medical Termination of Pregnancy(MTP) is legal in India according to the 1971 Act with some of the guidelines which are needed to be followed to continue with the procedure. some of them are following:

  • It should be performed only in Government or Government authorised Hospitals.
  • It is not allowed if the conceiving lady lesser than 18 years old. 
  • The procedure should be conduct before the 12th week of conceiving date. 

Q4: Is MTP safe for first?

Answer:

Yes, MTP is safe but, it is safe if the procedure is conducted before the 12th week. Since the foetus development has started and till after 12th week of conceiving date it is hard to abort that foetus because it could be dangerous to the female(conceiving lady) also. 


Last Updated : 11 Apr, 2023
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