Miscarriage: What are the different types of miscarriage?

Table 12.1 indicates the various terms most frequently associated with miscarriage.

Table 12.1

Type of miscarriage	Description	Question Number
Spontaneous	This is when the miscarriage occurs naturally as opposed to being induced.	12.6
Induced	The pregnancy is terminated artificially.	19.1
Threatened	There is bleeding and sometimes pelvic pain but the cervix is closed and ultrasound indicates an ongoing pregnancy within the uterus.	12.1
Inevitable.	The pregnancy is not continuing.	12.1
Complete	An inevitable abortion and the uterus has completely emptied itself.	12.1
Incomplete	An inevitable abortion with products of the pregnancy still present in the uterus.	12.1
Missed.	There are no reasons to have suspected that the pregnancy is not going to continue but the embryo has died.
Septic.	The miscarriage has been complicated by infection.	12.8
Recurrent or habitual	Most authorities recommend that these terms should be used only for three or more consecutive miscarriages although there is a tendency towards two.	12.9
Early	Miscarriage in the first few weeks of the pregnancy.
Late	Miscarriage after the first few weeks.
First trimester	Miscarriage before thirteen weeks of pregnancy.
Second trimester	Miscarriage after thirteen weeks and before twenty four weeks.

Women's Health

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