Question

MTP is considered safe upto how many weeks of pregnancy?
A) Six
B) Eight
C) Twelve
D) Eighteen

Answer 1

The full form of MTP is Medical Termination of Preganancy which is also known as medical abortion. It is a procedure by which the pregnancy is terminated.

Complete answer:
Before we find the correct answer, let us know a little about what pregnancy is. When a sperm and egg fuse, pregnancy occurs. The normal duration of pregnancy is 40 weeks and it is divided into three parts,
First trimester - The first three months
Second trimester - Fourth to sixth month
Third trimester - Sixth to ninth month

Option A: MTP is considered safe upto the first trimester. Therefore, it is safe to abort the baby upto six weeks. By the sixth week, the baby will develop the brain and also the spinal cord/

Option B: By the eight week, the baby will develop tiny fingers and toes. MTP is considered safe upto the first trimester. Therefore, it is safe to abort the baby up to eight weeks.

Option C: MTP is considered safe upto the first trimester. Therefore, it is safe to abort the baby upto twelve weeks. Therefore, this is the correct option.

Option D: MTP is considered safe upto the first trimester, but eighteen weeks comes under the second trimester, and thus considering a MTP at eighteen weeks can be a huge risk to the mother, and thus must be avoided.

Thus, the correct option is (C) 12 weeks.

Note: Under the MTP act of 1971, MTP is legal only under the following reasons,
i) If the birth of the baby can cause a risk of life to the mother.
ii) If the baby has some genetic disorder or has a disease which can make the survival of the baby after being born a challenge.