Medical termination of Pregnancy (MTP) is also called an abortion. Women are increasingly resorting to abortions due to easy availability of medicines and gynaecologists. After an abortion, a woman may suffer from health problems including a bad pain in tummy, recurrent infections in female organs, problems in menstrual periods, sadness, hearing voices, not able to become pregnant again and even death. Mental health of associated family members and health professionals may also be affected. Therefore, women should be provided with other alternatives to an abortion.

Listed below are some of the alternatives:

Choose to continue the pregnancy and become a parent. Please be assured that the required support will become available from society as there are many good people around that can help in upbringing of the child.

Place the baby for adoption. Adoption is a legal process where the biological parents transfer their parental rights and responsibilities to an adoptive family.

Explore support available in society such as counselling, mental health support, financial assistance, free food, clothes, shelter homes or cheap rental homes.

Use contraceptive measures if you are not planning for pregnancy. There are safe contraceptive measures available like intrauterine device and hormonal contraceptives. Option of tubectomy and vasectomy can be availed to prevent pregnancy in future forever.

Abortion should always be an option of last resort. Health professionals, friends and family members should come forward to provide support to the pregnant woman. 24 hours online doctor is available here to provide support for abortion related queries.

Written by Dr Vaishalee Punj