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Miscarriage

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Definition

A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. (Pregnancy losses after the 20th week are called preterm deliveries.)

A miscarriage may also be called a "spontaneous abortion." This refers to naturally occurring events, not medical abortions or surgical abortions.

Other terms for the early loss of pregnancy include:

  • Complete abortion: All of the products of conception exit the body
  • Incomplete abortion: Only some of the products of conception exit the body
  • Inevitable abortion: The symptoms cannot be stopped, and a miscarriage will happen
  • Infected abortion: The lining of the womb, or uterus, and any remaining products of conception become infected
  • Missed abortion: The pregnancy is lost and the products of conception do not exit the body

See also: Threatened miscarriage

Symptoms

Possible symptoms include:

  • Low back pain or abdominal pain that is dull, sharp, or cramping
  • Tissue or clot-like material that passes from the vagina
  • Vaginal bleeding, with or without abdominal cramps
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