Publication:

Medical termination of pregnancy beyond 24 weeks: preliminary observations from a tertiary care institute in Northern India

Background Despite increase in legally prescribed limit of gestational age to 24 weeks for medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) in India, a reasonable number of women request for MTP beyond 24 weeks of gestation. We present preliminary observations on women who underwent MTP beyond 24 weeks of gestation at our institute.

Methods Current study included 32 women who underwent MTP beyond 24 weeks of gestation (after obtaining permission from permanent medical board) at our tertiary care institute in Northern India. Gestational age was calculated by menstrual history as well as ultrasonographic findings.

Results Mean age was 28±4.8 years. Mean gestational age at time of MTP was 28 weeks and 2 days. Eight (25%) women were primigravida while 24 (75%) were multigravida. Nine (28.1%) women had past history of abortion. The most common indications for MTP were neurological defects (28.1%) followed by cardiac (21.9%), renal (18.8%) and musculoskeletal (15.6%) defects. Two women underwent surgical intervention while pregnancy was terminated medically in 30 (87.5%) women. All women were healthy at discharge.

Conclusions MTP beyond 24 weeks of gestational age is safe. Future studies on reasons for delayed presentation may help us in further streamlining of MTP services.