Miscarriage

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Introduction

Miscarriage, or spontaneous abortion, is the noninduced death of an embryo or fetus before 20 weeks of pregnancy, after which stillbirth is used to describe fetal demise.

Its incidence is 10-15% of all confirmed pregnancies, though the actual rate is likely higher due to those mistaken for late periods.

Threatened abortions show vaginal bleeding but no cervical dilation or passage of products of conception.

Inevitable abortions show cervical dilation as well as vaginal bleeding, but no POC.

Inomplete and complete vary only in the amount of POC that are expelled.

The Case of...

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Causes and Risk Factors

Some abortions are caused by chromosomal or other mutations, while others are caused by infectionw ith viruses such as CMV, herpesvirus, parvovirus, or rubella.

Thrombophilia can cause abortion after age 10 weeks.

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