MTP Kit Safety, Effectiveness, Uses, Symptoms, and When to Ask a Health Expert

In early pregnancy termination, abortion pills like MTP Kit are often preferred by women for privacy and convenience. While this medication pack is highly effective, you must know how it works, its safety, when it should be used, or when medical help is necessary to reduce the incidents of misuse and misconceptions. In this blog, we will guide you through MTP Kit, its uses, possible side effects, safety precautions, and when to consult a health expert.

Understanding What is the MTP Kit

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Kit (MTP Kit), contains Mifepristone and Misoprostol pills. Both these medicines are used to end an early pregnancy non-invasively i.e. no need for a surgery. These pills are valid through the first trimester of pregnancy until 9 weeks or 63 days, calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period.

How Does MTP Kit Work?

Learn about the action mechanism of MTP Kit abortion:

• Step 1: Mifepristone Pill 
  This progesterone blocker is taken on the day 1:
• The Mifepristone tablet (200mg) discontinues pregnancy by stimulating the endometrial lining shedding.
• As a result, the pregnancy does not develop further but separates from the uterine wall.
• Also, the cervix starts to ripen to facilitate the abortion.

Step 2: Misoprostol Pills

The Misoprostol tablets (4 x 200mcg pills) are taken 24 to 48 hours after Mifepristone:

• They open the cervix by causing dilation. The pills also trigger uterine contractions for easy expulsion of pregnancy tissues (the fetus, the sac, placenta, etc.) from the uterus.
• The contractions cause side effects – abdominal cramping and pain, temporarily.
• The pregnancy contents exit via heavy bleeding from the vagina. The bleeding is like a heavy menstrual period or miscarriage bleeding.

The MTP Kit Effectiveness

Remember that MTP Kit is available easily over internet pharmacies. However, medical consultation is necessary, and self-medication without professional guidance is not recommended:

• A doctor must confirm if the pregnancy is in the uterus, within the gestational limit, and if any medical conditions could make abortion pills unsafe.
• The typical MTP Kit use makes the pills 95-98% effective for early pregnancy termination.
• In rare instances of an incomplete abortion, the doctor may advise a repeat medication dose or a surgical procedure to remove the leftover pregnancy from the uterus.

When is the MTP Kit Taken?

A physician may recommend MTP Kit for many reasons, but the end decision depends on the pregnancy duration and location, person’s health profile and medical history. Here are the instances when MTP Kit is majorly used:

• For the termination of an unwanted early pregnancy where the female wants to discontinue the pregnancy (within 9-10 weeks of first trimester).
• When the pregnancy occurs due to the contraceptive failure such as broken condoms, missed birth control pills doses, or defective function of intrauterine device, etc.
• If serious fetal abnormalities are detected early in diagnostic pregnancy tests.
• If there are serious health risks to the mother, especially if the pregnant individual has severe anemia or heart disease, medical conditions related to kidney or liver, or suffering from a chronic illness.
• If the pregnancy results from sexual assault, medical termination is often permitted by the country / regional law.

NOTE: Before seeking abortion pills, do not miss out on medical evaluation, ultrasound scan, blood tests, and pregnancy confirmation test. After 9 weeks (63 days) of a pregnancy, surgical termination is preferred over medical abortion as the conception is beyond the gestational limit for MTP Kit safe use.

MTP Kit Safety Precautions

Here are the precautions to adhere to for MTP Kit to avoid complications:

• Confirm the Pregnancy Duration: The medicine is only for early pregnancies. Using the pills beyond 9-10 weeks may lead to incomplete termination or hemorrhaging. Always confirm the gestational age through an ultrasound.
• Is There an Ectopic Pregnancy: The ultrasound reveals the pregnancy location. If the embryo is implanted outside the uterus, such as in the fallopian tube, it is an ectopic pregnancy. The MTP Kit does not work for ectopic pregnancies but only for conception inside the uterus.
• Adhere to Dosage Instructions: Take Mifepristone on day 1 and Misoprostol pills after 24 to 48 hours in the correct administration format. It is vital to follow the exact dosage and timing provided by your healthcare provider for medical abortion. Taking an incorrect number of pills, or using the MTP Kit wrongly can lead to infection, incomplete termination, or excessive bleeding.
• Heavy Bleeding: It is normal to bleed heavily when the uterus is getting emptied of the pregnancy contents. It may take a few hours after the Misoprostol dosage to start expelling the pregnancy tissues. The bleeding becomes lighter after the initial week. It may continue for 7-14 days, or up to 4 weeks.
• Avoid Interactions: Some medicines may disrupt the MTP Kit effectiveness and lead to health complications. So, avoid simultaneous consumption of alcohol, steroids, blood thinners, smoking, and certain anti-inflammatory medicines. Discuss with the doctor beforehand if there is any ongoing medication and treatment to check for contraindications.
• Medical Support and Essential Supplies: Before you start with medical pregnancy termination, make sure to arrange essential supplies like hydration liquids, light snacks, large sanitary pads for the bleeding, over-the-counter pain meds, heating pads or hot bottles, etc. to take care of yourself. Stay at home and keep emergency contact numbers with you. If needed, you may have a reliable support person to accompany you through the abortion process.
• Follow-Up Appointment: After completing the MTP Kit course, follow-up visits must be initiated 1-2 weeks later to understand the abortion results. The pregnancy termination was successful or not can be confirmed via a pregnancy test through ultrasound and physical examination. Do not skip the follow-up or if there are any complications, they would go undetected.

Common / Serious Side Effects of MTP Kit

Here are some of the MTP Kit abortion pill experiences:

• The expected and common side effects are abdominal cramps, heavy vaginal bleeding, nausea, vomiting, mild fever for a short time, diarrhea, fatigue, and chills. These symptoms disappear in a few hours to a couple of days later, while the bleeding reduces and lingers for a few weeks.
• Some of the moderate side effects are headache, dizziness, general weakness, and breast tenderness. These usually resolve after 24-48 hours of taking Misoprostol tablets.
• The serious but rare side effects requiring medical attention are high fever over a few hours, excessive bleeding, infection, severe abdominal pain, allergic reactions, or incomplete abortion.

When Should You Consult a Health Experts

A medical professional can determine gestational age and pregnancy, analyze overall wellness, check for ectopic pregnancy, and provide dosage instructions. So, while it is common to encounter the mild to moderate side effects, keep a lookout for these warning signs, as these require medical care immediately:

• Excessive Bleeding: If the bleeding is heavy beyond tolerance for many hours. You may soak 2 or more large sanitary pads per hour for 2 consecutive hours. These are signs of incomplete abortion related severe bleeding.
• Severe Pain in the Abdomen: Moderate to intense cramps for the first day of Misoprostol use is normal as the pregnancy exists the body given the uterine contractions. But if the pain is intense for several hours with signs of complications, seek medical help.
• High Fever: The sign of infection is a high fever over 38°C (100.4°F), lasting for more than 24 hours.
• Foul-Smelling Discharge From Vagina: If the vagina has an odd-smelling discharge, apart from the regular stench of the bleeding, it can indicate uterine infection and needs immediate treatment.
• No Bleeding After Misoprostol: If you do not start bleeding in 24 hours of using Misoprostol, perhaps the pills are not working at all.
• Extreme Weakness or Dizziness: If you feel severely weak with bouts of fainting or losing consciousness, it may result from excessive blood loss. Seek emergency care at the earliest.
• Symptoms of a Continued Pregnancy: If the pregnancy still exists after taking MTP Kit pills, you may encounter fatigue, nausea, breast tenderness for weeks together.

Who Should Not Use MTP Kit

Medical professionals may ask to avoid MTP Kit for a woman who has:

• Bleeding disorders.
• An ectopic pregnancy.
• Severe anemia.
• Allergy to Mifepristone and Misoprostol.
• Been using steroids for a long-term.
• With certain medical conditions or chronic adrenal failure.
• In these instances, you may opt for surgical abortion instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get acquainted with the common FAQs about MTP Kit abortion:

1. Is it safe to use an MTP Kit?
   Yes, MTP Kit is safe when used as per the guidelines of a doctor in early pregnancy. It is safe and highly effective with a success rate of 95-98%.
2. How long will I bleed after the MTP Kit?
   The bleeding begins 4-6 hours after Misoprostol use. However, it may last for 7-14 days and sometimes lightly (spotting) up to 4 weeks.
3. Is medical abortion painful?
   Abdominal cramping and pain are possible, resembling intense or strong menstrual cramps. However, you may take pain relief medicine, apply a hot water bag or heating pad for comfort.
4. Is it possible for an MTP Kit to fail?
   In rare cases, the MTP Kit may not work as required. A follow-up appointment with a doctor can confirm the abortion success.
5. Should I undergo an ultrasound after the MTP Kit?
   A follow-up pregnancy test via ultrasound helps to know if the pregnancy tissues have fully exited the uterus or not. So, you must take the scan for pregnancy confirmation after the MTP Kit.
6. Can I get pregnant after using the MTP Kit?
   Fertility may return in 8-11 days or a few weeks. So, if you do not use birth control during sexual activity, a pregnancy may happen.
7. Does MTP Kit impact future fertility?
   The MTP Kit does not affect future fertility when used under medical guidance and taken as per the dosage instructions of a health expert.
    

Conclusion

Safe and effective, the MTP Kit pills are often recommended for early pregnancy termination by doctors. It combined Mifepristone and Misoprostol to remove pregnancy sections from the uterus. It is important to seek medical consultation, follow proper dosage, and attend the follow-up care for safety.

Knowing the common to rare/severe side effects, the warning signs to call for immediate medical attention – all are essential and not to be missed. So, if you want to end your early pregnancy at home without a surgery, opt for the MTP Kit. Medical abortion is safe, manageable, and effective when you take an informed decision and use the pills responsibly.