Abortion in India

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Advocates for safe abortion practices have made headway in India, with abortion laws allowing termination of pregnancy under a broad range of conditions for up to 12 weeks. Public facilities offer these services for free and most medical abortion pills can be found in pharmacies.

Is Abortion Legal in India?

In India, abortion is legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. The approvals of one Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) is required for pregnancies up to 12 weeks and of two RMPs for pregnancies exceeding 12 weeks, but less than 20 weeks. [1]

A pregnancy can be terminated by a Registered Medical Practitioner under the following conditions:

  • The continuation of pregnancy involves a risk to the life of the pregnant woman or causes grave injury to her physical or mental health.
  • The anguish caused by the unwanted pregnancy in the following situations is presumed to cause grave injury to the mental health of the pregnant woman: rape or incest failure of any device or method used by a married woman or her husband for the purpose of limiting the number of children.
  • There is a substantial risk that, if the child was born, s/he would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.

What Types of Abortion are Available in India?

  • Abortion with pills, available within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy
  • Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA)
  • Electric Vacuum Aspiration (EVA)
  • Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)

What is the abortion rate in India? How Many Women Have Abortions?

47 per 100 women have abortions in India [2]

In-Clinic Abortion

What are the Different Types of In-Clinic Abortion Procedures Available in India?

  • Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA)
  • Electric Vacuum Aspiration (EVA)
  • Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
  • Abortion with pills

Is Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) safe?

MVA is a very safe method of abortion for pregnancies in the first trimester, and/or early second trimester all the way up to 14 weeks of gestation. MVA is 99% effective. [3]

You can get more information on the MVA procedure here.

Where Can I get a Manual Vacum Aspiration (MVA) Abortion in India?

MVA is offered at government-approved public facilities as well as private clinics.

How Much Does Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) Cost in India?

The service is free in public health facilities in India. The cost at private facilities ranges from USD 25 to USD 390

Are There Any Side Effects of Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA)?

The most common side effect is cramping during the procedure. Often this cramping will improve quickly afterwards, but some women may experience cramping on and off for a few days or weeks. Most women will experience bleeding and cramping during and after MVA, these symptoms will gradually improve in the following days after the procedure. [3]

Abortion with Pills (Medical Abortion)

Are the Abortion Pills (Mifepristone and Misoprostol) Available in India?

Both Mifepristone and Misoprostol are available in India. [4]

How Late Into a Pregnancy Can the Abortion Pills Be Used?

The abortion pills can be used within the first 11 weeks of pregnancy.

You can get more information on the medical abortion protocol using Mifepristone and Misoprostol or using Misoprostol only.

Do I Need a Prescription for Mifepristone? Misoprostol?

A valid prescription is required to acquire these pills in India.

What Brands of Abortion Pill Are Popular in India?

Misoprostol only: Miso-Kare, Misoprost

Combipack: Mifeprin Kit [4]

mifegest kit uses in India
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Safe abort revised pack in India
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unwanted kit for abortions in India

How Much Do the Abortion Pills Cost in India?

They cost between USD 7 – USD 10.

Who Can I Contact for More Information on Abortion in India?

Janani India.

Tele-Helpline Centre: 1800 200 3006 (Toll free)

Hidden pockets India

Whatsapp Careline number: 8861713567

Email: hiddenpocketsinfo@gmail.com

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/hiddenpockets

Family Planning Association of India (FPA India)

(91) – 22 – 4086 3101 / 2202 9080 / 22025174

http://fpaindia.org/

https://www.facebook.com/FPAIndia.Official

You can get in touch with safe2choose’s counselors by email at info@safe2choose.org or by livechat.

LEARN ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY

Authors:

by the safe2choose team and supporting experts at carafem, based on the 2019 recommendations by Ipas, and the 2012 recommendations by the WHO.

safe2choose is an online counseling and informational plateform that supports women who want a safe abortion, and when needed, refers them to trusted, trained and pro-choice healthcare providers.

carafem provides convenient and professional abortion care and family planning so people can control the number and spacing of their children.

Ipas is the only international organization solely focused on expanding access to safe abortion and contraceptive care.

WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.

[1] RF. India’s new abortion law is progressive and has a human face. Retrieved from: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-new-abortion-law-progressive-human-face-62023/

[2] Guttamacher Institute. India. Retrieved from: https://www.guttmacher.org/geography/asia/india

[3] Ipas. Clinical Updates in Reproductive Health. 2019. Retrieved from: https://ipas.azureedge.net/files/CURHE19-april-ClinicalUpdatesInReproductiveHealth.pdf

[4] IPPF. Medical Abortion Commodities Database. Retrieved from: https://www.medab.org/advanced-search-multiple-results?country=423&commodity=all&brand=all#multiple-search-result