What term is used to describe the loss of a pregnancy prior to 20 weeks gestation?

The term that describes the loss of a pregnancy prior to 20 weeks gestation is referred to as spontaneous abortion. This is a natural process that occurs without medical intervention, often due to chromosomal abnormalities, hormonal issues, or uterine abnormalities. It is a common occurrence, with many pregnancies ending in spontaneous abortion, especially in the first trimester.

Stillbirth is defined as the loss of a baby after 20 weeks of gestation, making it distinct from the term used for earlier pregnancy loss. Therapeutic abortion refers to a medically induced termination of pregnancy, typically performed for specific medical reasons, and it is not classified as a natural loss. Missed abortion also pertains to a specific type of pregnancy loss but is used to describe a situation in which the fetus has died but has not been expelled from the uterus, which could occur at any gestational age, including after 20 weeks. Thus, spontaneous abortion is the accurate and specific term for pregnancy loss prior to 20 weeks.