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| "'''Miscarriage'''" is the lay term for the natural or accidental termination of a ] at a stage where the fetus is incapable of surviving. The medical term for it is "]"; when the abortion is not deliberately induced, it is termed a "spontaneous abortion," so that is a synonym for "miscarriage." Miscarriages can occur for many reasons, not all of which can be identified. |
"'''Miscarriage'''" is the lay term for the natural or accidental termination of a ] at a stage where the fetus is incapable of surviving. The medical term for it is "]"; when the abortion is not deliberately induced, it is termed a "spontaneous abortion," so that is a synonym for "miscarriage." Miscarriages can occur for many reasons, not all of which can be identified. While miscarriage can result from physical trauma, like exposure to certain chemicals, diseases, or physical blows, they are rarely the cause. A miscarriage usually results from biological defects in the mother or genetic defects in the developing fetus. | ||
| Most such terminations occur very early in pregnancy, during the ], and many people restrict the term "miscarriage" to terminations during the ]. Miscarriages frequently occur so early that the woman is not even aware that she is pregnant. Some women are prone to miscarry; the term "habitual abortion" describes the condition where three consecutive pregnancies have terminated before 20 weeks gestation. | Most such terminations occur very early in pregnancy, during the ], and many people restrict the term "miscarriage" to terminations during the ]. Miscarriages frequently occur so early that the woman is not even aware that she is pregnant. Some women are prone to miscarry; the term "habitual abortion" describes the condition where three consecutive pregnancies have terminated before 20 weeks gestation. | ||
Revision as of 01:25, 14 April 2004
"Miscarriage" is the lay term for the natural or accidental termination of a pregnancy at a stage where the fetus is incapable of surviving. The medical term for it is "abortion"; when the abortion is not deliberately induced, it is termed a "spontaneous abortion," so that is a synonym for "miscarriage." Miscarriages can occur for many reasons, not all of which can be identified. While miscarriage can result from physical trauma, like exposure to certain chemicals, diseases, or physical blows, they are rarely the cause. A miscarriage usually results from biological defects in the mother or genetic defects in the developing fetus.
Most such terminations occur very early in pregnancy, during the first trimester, and many people restrict the term "miscarriage" to terminations during the second trimester. Miscarriages frequently occur so early that the woman is not even aware that she is pregnant. Some women are prone to miscarry; the term "habitual abortion" describes the condition where three consecutive pregnancies have terminated before 20 weeks gestation.
See also: birth, stillbirth, premature birth