Pregnancy loss explained

Pregnancy loss is the loss of an embryo or fetus. The terms early pregnancy loss and late pregnancy loss are often used but there is no consensus over their definitions.

Unintentional pregnancy loss

• Miscarriage
  • Toxic abortion, caused by pollution or chemical exposures
• Implantation failure
• Molar pregnancy
• Embryo loss
• Fetal resorption
• Blighted ovum
• Vanishing twin
• Stillbirth

Pregnancy loss through termination

• Foeticide
  • Abortion
    • Selective reduction to reduce the number of fetuses in a multiple pregnancy
    • Hysterotomy abortion, a surgical abortion of a non-viable fetus performed similar to a cesarean section
    • Late-term abortion
    • Self-induced abortion
    • Sex-selective abortion
    • Forced abortion
  • Child destruction

See also

• Pregnancy with abortive outcome
• Perinatal mortality
• Murder of pregnant women
• Death of a child