Biology · Reproductive Health · NEET
MTP stands for Medical Termination of Pregnancy. NCERT defines it as the intentional or voluntary termination of pregnancy before full term. It is also called induced abortion. Full term means the complete 9 months of human pregnancy, so MTP means ending the pregnancy before that.
MTP is the same as induced abortion (a deliberate, planned termination). But not all abortions are MTP. Abortions can also happen spontaneously on their own (a miscarriage), which is not intentional. So MTP = intentional/voluntary abortion; spontaneous abortion is natural and is not called MTP.
The Government of India legalised MTP in 1971, with some strict conditions to avoid its misuse. Remember this exact year for NEET. The conditions exist mainly to check indiscriminate and illegal female foeticide, which is reported to be high in India.
No. Contraception prevents pregnancy from happening. MTP ends a pregnancy that has already started. NEET often confuses students here: MTP is NOT listed as a contraceptive method. It is a separate topic under Reproductive Health used to remove an unwanted pregnancy.
NCERT gives three reasons: (1) to get rid of unwanted pregnancy due to casual unprotected intercourse or failure of a contraceptive during coitus, (2) in cases of rape, and (3) when continuation of the pregnancy could be harmful or even fatal to the mother, the foetus, or both.
NCERT states that nearly 45 to 50 million MTPs are performed every year all over the world. This accounts for about one-fifth (1/5th) of the total number of conceived pregnancies in a year. This exact figure is a favourite NEET fact.
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy), or induced abortion, is the intentional or voluntary termination of a pregnancy before full term.
MTP was legalised by the Government of India in 1971, with strict conditions to avoid misuse.
Yes. MTP is legalised in our country. It is allowed under strict conditions, mainly to prevent misuse like illegal female foeticide.
Nearly 45 to 50 million MTPs are performed per year worldwide, which is about one-fifth of all conceived pregnancies in a year.
Yes. Abortion can also happen spontaneously (miscarriage), which is natural and unintentional. MTP is only the intentional, medically induced abortion.
