Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)

It is voluntary or intentional abortion induced and performed to end pregnancy before the completion of full term. Worldwide, nearly 20% of the total pregnancies get aborted. The number of MTPs is 40-50 million/yr. Therefore, MTPs have a significant role in containment of population  though they are not performed for this purpose. They are mainly meant for removing unsustainable pregnancies. Many countries do not have a law about MTPs because the latter involve emotional, ethical, religious and social issues. However, in India there is a proper act, Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. It is mainly meant for preventing unnatural maternal deaths due to unsafe abortions (8.9% of the total  maternal deaths).

The act has been amended in 2002. Under this act termination of pregnancy can be done upto 20 weeks, if pregnancy is likely  to produce a congenitally malformed child, is a result of rape and contraceptive failure or is likely to harm the mother. MTP is safe if it is performed upto 12 weeks (first trmester) of pregnancy. Misoprostol (a prostaglandin) alongwith mifepristone (antiprogesterone) is an effective combination. Vacuum aspiration and surgical procedures are adopted thereafter. Second semester abortion are risky. They are generally performed after testing the sex of the baby through amniocentesis or sonography. It has resulted in large scale female foeticide and complications due to unsafe abortions in the hands of untrained persons. To prevent such happening, the government has enacted a law, Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 with amendments in 2003. It prohibits preconception and prenatal sex determination. Contravention of this act is punishable with an imprisonment of 5 years and fine of Rs. 1,00,000 alongwith cancellation of medical registration and licence.