For all women, married or single, unplanned pregnancy or failure of contraception can be admitted as lawful reasons for abortion.
- The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act currently allows a woman to get an abortion within 20 weeks, provided a registered medical practitioner diagnoses grave danger to the pregnant woman’s physical and mental health.
- The Act also allows abortion if the foetus manifests severe abnormalities.
- In the absence of law on their side, in case of unwanted pregnancies single women look towards unsafe methods of abortion such as taking pills or visiting quacks. The Health Ministry in an amendment to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act has recommended that women, irrespective of their marital status, be permitted to seek abortion. The Union Health Ministry has proposed to allow single women to opt for abortion in cases of unplanned pregnancies, a move aimed to increase their access to safe abortion and allow them to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights.
Abortion - Types, Causes, Treatment & Complications
Abortion is the safest medical process to end or terminate a pregnancy. It can be done either through a medical or surgical procedure.
Abortion is the safest medical process to end or terminate a pregnancy. It can be done either through a medical or surgical procedure.
‘The Amendment to the Medical Termination Pregnancy Act will also extend the time frame for the termination of pregnancy to 24 weeks, while setting no time limit for the termination of a fetus with serious genetic defects.’
The law allows abortion only in cases of married women and the Government’s approval will broaden the purview of legal abortion.
The new proposal will stand in support of not just victims of rape and incest, but will also cover single women and ensure equal rights to women. At present, over 7 million abortions are conducted a year in the country. Experts say the move is progressive and will give women safe and legal abortion options and the proposal is likely to be taken up by the Union Cabinet after the current Parliament session ends.
The proposed amendments also include extending the gestation period from 20 weeks to 24 weeks for “special categories”, which is also likely to include single women with unwanted pregnancy, apart from disabled and other vulnerable women.
Methods of Abortion - Trimester, Complications, Health Tips
Abortion is the termination of pregnancy. It is done either by removal (surgically) or expulsion of the fetus or embryo (with medicines) before the completion of the gestation period.
Abortion is the termination of pregnancy. It is done either by removal (surgically) or expulsion of the fetus or embryo (with medicines) before the completion of the gestation period.
Various researches reveal that in India, 8 percent of the total maternal deaths are caused by unsafe abortions. These deaths can be averted with simple community intervention and minimal resource utilisation.
Advertisement
Stress and Miscarriage
New research indicates that too much stress could lead to miscarriage. What are the risk factors to avoid? Read on to know more!
New research indicates that too much stress could lead to miscarriage. What are the risk factors to avoid? Read on to know more!
Experts say that in the absence of law on their side, in case of unwanted pregnancies single women look towards unsafe methods of abortion such as taking pills or visiting quacks.
Advertisement
Miscarriage - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
A miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) is the spontaneous loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy.
A miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) is the spontaneous loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy.
“The common causes of death from unsafe abortion are hemorrhage, infection, sepsis, genital trauma, and necrotic bowel. As per estimated figures it account for 12 percent of all maternal deaths,” she added.
Source-Medindia
