Understanding the Language of Pregnancy Loss

Doctors may use the term abortion to refer to a miscarriage, because the medical term is spontaneous abortion. The medical term for intentional termination of pregnancy is called induced abortion or voluntary interruption of pregnancy.

Terms for abortion include the following:

• Miscarriage (spontaneous abortion): Pregnancy loss before 20 weeks of pregnancy

• Early miscarriage: Pregnancy loss before 12 weeks of pregnancy

• Late miscarriage: Pregnancy loss between 12 and 20 weeks of pregnancy

• Threatened abortion: Bleeding or cramping during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy but without opening (dilation) of the cervix

• Missed abortion: Fetal demise detected with ultrasonography before 20 weeks of pregnancy, without symptoms (bleeding or pain) that suggested a problem with the pregnancy

• Recurrent miscarriage: A history of at least 3 miscarriages

• Septic abortion: Infection of the contents of the uterus before, during, or after a miscarriage or an induced abortion

• Stillbirth: Fetal death and delivery at 20 or more weeks of pregnancy