Medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) and amniocentesis
MTP is the intentional ending of a pregnancy before full term, relatively safe in the first trimester. Amniocentesis detects foetal disorders but is banned for sex determination.
Why MTP is done
- To end an unwanted pregnancy caused by casual unprotected intercourse, failure of a contraceptive, or rape.
- When continuing the pregnancy could be harmful or even fatal to the mother, the foetus, or both.
- MTP is a medical decision; it is not meant to be a regular method of birth control.
- Whether to allow MTP is debated on emotional, ethical, religious and social grounds. India legalised it in 1971 with strict conditions to avoid misuse. These conditions also help check illegal female foeticide.
The MTP (Amendment) Act, as described in your textbook
Your textbook describes the MTP (Amendment) Act, 2017. It aims to reduce illegal abortions and the deaths and illness of mothers that follow them. A pregnancy may be ended within the first 12 weeks on the opinion of one registered medical practitioner. Between 12 and 24 weeks, two registered medical practitioners must agree that a valid ground exists. There are two grounds. One is a risk to the woman's life, or of grave injury to her physical or mental health. The other is a substantial risk that the child would be born seriously handicapped. The law has since been amended (by the MTP Amendment Act, 2021), so today's limits differ. For the board exam and NEET, write the version in your textbook.
Safer MTP vs dangerous MTP
Counselling to avoid unprotected coitus, and more health care facilities, can reverse these unhealthy trends.
Amniocentesis: its use and its misuse
- 1A small sample of amniotic fluid, the fluid around the foetus, is taken (doctors use a fine needle).
- 2The foetal cells and the dissolved substances in the fluid are analysed.
- 3Proper use: to test for certain genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome, haemophilia and sickle-cell anaemia, and to judge whether the foetus can survive.
- 4Misuse: the chromosomes also show the sex of the foetus. Some families used the test to find girls and abort them: female foeticide.
- 5★India has placed a statutory (legal) ban on amniocentesis for sex determination.
★ key step
Notices in Indian hospitals and scan centres saying that finding the sex of a foetus is illegal come from this ban. They aim to stop female foeticide and protect the girl child.
2 marks: “Give two situations in which MTP may be advised. Up to when is it considered relatively safe?” Unwanted pregnancy from unprotected sex, contraceptive failure or rape; when continuing the pregnancy would harm or endanger the mother or foetus. Relatively safe in the first trimester, up to 12 weeks.
3 marks: “What is amniocentesis? Why has its use for sex determination been banned in India?” Testing amniotic fluid for the chromosomal pattern of the foetus, to detect genetic disorders. It also reveals sex and was misused for female foeticide, so a statutory ban stops its use for sex determination.
3 marks: “Why does MTP need strict legal control? Mention two dangerous trends linked to it.” To avoid misuse. Trends: illegal MTPs by unqualified quacks, which can be fatal; misuse of amniocentesis to find a female foetus and abort it.
Textbook MTP rule 1-12, 2-24: 1 doctor up to 12 weeks; 2 doctors from 12 to 24 weeks.