Biology · Reproductive Health · NEET
MTP is relatively safe in the FIRST trimester, meaning up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Second trimester abortions (after 12 weeks) are much riskier for the mother. NCERT states this directly, and NEET often tests the single line: 'MTPs are considered relatively safe during the first trimester, i.e., up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.' Remember 12 weeks = safe window.
Under the MTP (Amendment) Act, a pregnancy can be terminated within the first 12 weeks on the opinion of ONE registered medical practitioner. If the pregnancy is more than 12 weeks but fewer than 24 weeks, TWO registered medical practitioners must agree. So the upper legal limit is 24 weeks. For NEET, link 12 weeks to one doctor and 24 weeks to two doctors.
MTP is used to get rid of unwanted pregnancies caused by casual unprotected intercourse, failure of the contraceptive used during coitus, or rapes. MTP is also essential when continuing the pregnancy could be harmful or even fatal to the mother, the foetus, or both. These are the exact NCERT reasons NEET asks about.
The Government of India legalised MTP in 1971 with strict conditions to avoid its misuse. The strict rules are especially important to check indiscriminate and illegal female foeticides, which are reported to be high in India. So the year to remember is 1971.
MTP is a LEGAL, medically supervised termination done for valid reasons (unwanted pregnancy, health risk). Female foeticide is the ILLEGAL abortion of a foetus only because it is female, usually detected by misuse of amniocentesis for sex determination. MTP is legal; female foeticide is a misuse and is against the law. This misuse is covered in the next concept, female-foeticide-and-amniocentesis-misuse.
A disturbing trend is that a majority of MTPs are performed illegally by unqualified quacks. These are not only unsafe but could be fatal too. This is why MTP must be done only by registered medical practitioners within the legal time limit. NEET may test the word 'quacks' as the cause of unsafe abortions.
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
MTP stands for Medical Termination of Pregnancy. It is also called induced abortion — the intentional or voluntary termination of pregnancy before full term.
MTP is considered relatively safe during the first trimester, that is up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. After 12 weeks (second trimester), it becomes much riskier.
MTP was legalised in India in 1971, with strict conditions to prevent its misuse, especially illegal female foeticide.
Nearly 45 to 50 million MTPs are performed in a year all over the world, which is about one-fifth (1/5th) of the total number of conceived pregnancies in a year.
Yes. MTP can be misused, for example when amniocentesis is used to find the sex of the foetus, followed by MTP if the foetus is female. Strict legal conditions and a ban on sex determination help prevent this misuse.
