Give an account of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)

Explanation

Intentional or voluntary termination (abortion) of pregnancy before full term or before the foetus becomes viable is called medical termination of pregnancy.
The Government of India legalised MTP in 1971 with some strict conditions to avoid its misuse, expecially to check indiscriminate and illegal female foeticides, which are reported to be high in India.
Various factors that lead to MTPs are :
(i) To get rid of unwanted pregnancies due to the casual unprotected intercourse or failure of the contraceptive used during coitus or rape.
(ii) In cases, where continuation of pregnancy is harmful to either foetus, mother or even both.
Some important facts about MTPs are :
(i) MTPs are considered relatively safe up to 12 weeks of pregnancy (during first trimester).
It becomes more risky after the period of 12 weeks.
Majority of MTPs are performed illegaly by unqualified persons which may be fatal.