Abortion

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The following medical terms are used to define an abortion: Spontaneous abortion (miscarriage): An abortion due to accidental trauma or natural causes, such as a chromosomal number discrepancy, early disease, or environmental factors. Induced abortion: An abortion deliberately caused. Induced abortions are further subcategorized into therapeutic abortions and elective abortions: Therapeutic abortion: [1] To save the life of the pregnant woman. To preserve the woman's physical or mental health. To terminate a pregnancy that would result in a child born with a congenital disorder which would be fatal or associated with significant morbidity. To selectively reduce the number of fetuses to lessen health risks associated with multiple pregnancy. Elective abortion: An abortion performed for any other reason. A pregnancy that ends earlier than 37 complete weeks of gestation, and where an infant is born and survives, is termed a premature birth. A pregnancy that ends with an infant dead upon birth at any gestational stage, due to causes including spontaneous abortion or complications during delivery, is termed a stillbirth. In common parlance, the term "abortion" is synonymous with induced abortion of a human fetus. However, in medical texts, the word 'abortion' can also refer to spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). The distinctions between spontaneous abortion, therapeutic abortion and induced delivery may be blurred. For example, in cases of pre-eclampsia spontaneous abortion may occur, but if it does not, doctors may opt for immediate delivery regardless of the potential viability of the fetus.