Medical Termination of Pregnancy

MTP is Medical Termination of Pregnancy. It also called induced abortion. It is the medical way of getting rid of unwanted
pregnancy. Any qualified gynecologist (MD/DGO) can perform MTP. Any MBBS Doctor, who has obtained training in MTP, is
allowed to perform this procedure. However, MTP should always be performed at a place recognized by government authorities.
Following are the Indications for Medical Termination of Pregnancy
Failure of contraception.
Possible hazards on physical/mental health of the mother.
Pregnancy caused by rape.
Possible hazard to the health of growing fetus.
Medical Termination of Pregnancy is legally permitted up to 20 weeks of gestation. Pregnancy termination performed in first
trimester is safer than in second trimester since it has fewer complications. It is illegal to perform MTP after determining sex of
the child as Government of India has banned sex determination.
Complications of Medically Terminated Pregnancy
Medical Termination of Pregnancy(MTP) is a procedure that is carried out under anesthesia & increases the risk for the
procedure. Patient can have lot of bleeding during & after the procedure. There are high chances of patient having recurrent
abortions. Rarely, patient may not conceive again if infection sets in
THE MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT, 1971 (The MTP rules, 1975)
This law provides the liberalised conditions for women to seek abortion, and for doctors to do it. Following conditions are
mentioned in the law when a pregnant woman can get herself aborted.
1. Therapeutic: when the continuation of pregnancy endangers the life of women or may cause grave injury to her physical or
mental health.
2. Social: When economic & social environment is not suitable for continuation of pregnancy Contraceptive failure
3. Humanitarian reasons (e.g. rape.)
4. Eugenic reasons when there is a risk of the child born with serious physical or mental handicaps (e.g. congenital defects, etc.)
5. When pregnant woman is mentally not sound (e.g. schizophrenia, mania etc.)
Written consent of the guardian in necessary for abortion of such women.
Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) can be done by registered medical practitioner registered under the MCI Act only and
those who have undergone 6 months housemanship or 3 years post graduate training in obstetrics and gynecology or any
registered medical practitioner who have conducted 25 cases of MTP in approved institution, not by the practitioners of other
system of medicine. When pregnancy is less than 12 weeks duration then one medical practitioner can perform the MTP but if the
duration of pregnancy is more than 12 weeks but less than 20 weeks then two medical practitioners should consult each other and
certify that if pregnancy is not terminated may endanger the life of that woman or mental or physical injury or pregnancy will
give rise to congenital defect in child.
MTP can be conducted in government hospital / nursing homes/ centres approved by the Directorate of Health Services (DHS),
or by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of District