Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP), also known as abortion, can be performed through medication or surgical intervention, depending on the gestational age and health of the woman. Here is an overview of the process:
- 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
- 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 & 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The health care provider takes a detailed medical history and conducts a physical examination. They may do an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy and its duration.
- 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: The woman receives information about the procedure, its risks, alternatives and post-abortion care.
- 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
- 𝗚𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗴𝗲: A medical abortion is usually provided between 9-10 weeks of pregnancy.
- 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Women with certain health conditions (eg, severe anemia, ectopic pregnancy) may not be eligible for a medical abortion and may require a surgical procedure.
- 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻) 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲 (𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 9-10 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀)
- 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗠𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲): The woman is given mifepristone, which blocks the progesterone hormone needed to continue the pregnancy. It can be administered in the clinic.
- 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹): After 24 to 48 hours, misoprostol is inserted orally or vaginally. This causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy.
- 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀: Cramping, heavy bleeding, and passage of pregnancy tissue occur within hours of taking misoprostol.
- 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘂𝗽: After 1-2 weeks, a follow-up visit is necessary to confirm that the abortion is complete and to check for complications.
- 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 (𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟬 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀)
- 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝘂𝘂𝗺 𝗔𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗦𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻): This procedure is used between 7 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. It uses suction to dilate the cervix and remove the pregnancy from the uterus.
- 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗&𝗘): For pregnancies over 14 weeks, D&E involves dilating the cervix and removing the pregnancy with surgical instruments and suction.
- 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗔𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲
- 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: The woman is monitored for complications such as heavy bleeding or infection.
- 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲: Contraception is advised to prevent future unplanned pregnancies.
- 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: Psychological support can also be provided if needed.
𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
In most countries, abortion laws regulate the conditions under which MTP can be carried out. In India, under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP Act), abortion is permitted up to 24 weeks under certain conditions, including risk to the woman’s life, fetal anomalies or pregnancy resulting from rape.
To ensure safety and compliance with the law, it is essential that women receive services from certified medical practitioners.