Miscarriage and Abortion: Understanding the Differences and Support Options
To clarify the difference between miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and abortion, it's important to understand the definitions of each. Both miscarriage and an abortion refer to the end of a pregnancy.
What is a Miscarriage?
Miscarriage is the naturally occurring and spontaneous death of a fetus. The term miscarriage is used for a pregnancy that ends naturally before 20 weeks of gestation. For pregnancy loss that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the term stillbirth is used. Statistics regarding early miscarriage vary, but naturally occurring miscarriage occurs in approximately 1 in 5 (or about 20%) of all early pregnancies.
For some women who experience a miscarriage early on in pregnancy, doctors provide care limited to ‘expectant management’ – allowing the miscarriage to occur without intervention. Because this can be emotionally difficult and can sometimes take several days to a few weeks, many women choose closer medical management which might include taking medications or undergoing a surgical procedure. A D&C is a surgical procedure during which a doctor dilates the cervix and removes the fetal tissue from the uterus. A D&C, when performed due to a miscarriage, is not abortion care.
Emotional Support After Miscarriage
Depression and anxiety are experienced by many women and men who lose a baby to miscarriage. We encourage women dealing with the mental and emotional side effects that often occur after miscarriage to consider finding a trusted counselor.
Understanding Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus – usually in a fallopian tube. Because a fertilized egg that would become a fetus, or baby, cannot live or develop outside the uterus, treatment for ectopic pregnancy is not called an abortion, or abortion care. Ectopic pregnancies can be dangerous and do require medical care to preserve the health of the woman. This situation occurs in about 1 in 50 pregnancies.
For many women, the loss of an ectopic pregnancy can be scary because of the physical concerns, but can also bring feelings of sadness that are experienced after a pregnancy loss. Much like women who lose a baby in a miscarriage that is not an ectopic pregnancy, women who experience ectopic pregnancy may need mental health care to deal with feelings of sadness, or anxiety and depression.
What is Abortion?
Abortion is a medical procedure chosen to terminate a viable pregnancy. Abortions can be induced either through chemical or surgical options. In some states, abortions are offered through late term pregnancy, but for more states, abortion access is limited to early pregnancy, and is most often during the first trimester. Choosing an abortion is not always an easy decision. This is a medical procedure that can carry risks, and we would encourage women to consider all pregnancy options before making a decision.
For some women, post abortion care might include counseling or therapy to deal with common emotions such as sadness, guilt, anger or regret.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Condition | Description | Intervention (if any) | Associated Terminology | Prevalence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscarriage | Naturally occurring and spontaneous death of a fetus before 20 weeks. | Expectant management, medications, or surgical procedure (D&C). | Stillbirth (after 20 weeks) | ~20% of early pregnancies |
| Ectopic Pregnancy | Fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. | Medical care required to preserve the health of the woman. | Not abortion care | ~1 in 50 pregnancies |
| Abortion | Medical procedure chosen to terminate a viable pregnancy. | Chemical or surgical options. | Abortion care | Varies by state and trimester |
How Parkridge Can Help
Parkridge offers professional counseling services. We provide pregnancy testing, ultrasound confirmation and STD testing & treatment. We provide medically accurate information regarding all pregnancy options, and can provide information about the abortion pill, as well as information regarding carrying to term and parenting, or adoption. Parkridge does not provide abortions. We have licensed mental health care providers on staff to provide professional counseling, including post-abortion support. All of our services are always free of charge, confidential and delivered by licensed professionals. We are here to help women and their partners make informed and thoughtful decisions.
Please reach out to us and let us know if we can help! Call 806.794.8555 or make an appointment online. We hope the information included here is helpful and is received in conjunction with other medical information. This blog post is not intended to replace information directly received from a medical provider. Although Parkridge Medical Clinic specializes in women’s health related issues, we do not provide annual well woman exams, mammograms, terminations or treatments for infertility, nor do we dispense birth control or HRT. The information provided on this website is not intended to diagnose any condition or pregnancy and should not take the place of your medical practitioner.