Pregnancy loss
Pregnancy loss
Pregnancy loss (pronunciation: /ˈprɛɡnənsi lɔːs/), also known as miscarriage, is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy before the fetus can survive outside the womb.
Etymology
The term "pregnancy loss" is derived from the Latin words 'praegnans' meaning 'before birth' and 'loss' from the Old English 'los' meaning 'destruction'.
Definition
Pregnancy loss is defined as the loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week of gestation. The majority of pregnancy losses occur in the first trimester.
Causes
There are several causes of pregnancy loss, including genetic abnormalities, uterine abnormalities, hormonal imbalances, and infections. Other risk factors include advanced maternal age, smoking, alcohol use, and drug use.
Symptoms
Symptoms of pregnancy loss may include abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and the passing of tissue or clot-like material from the vagina.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of pregnancy loss is typically confirmed through a combination of physical examination, ultrasound, and blood tests to measure levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
Treatment
Treatment for pregnancy loss depends on the cause and may include medical management, surgical management, or expectant management.
Related Terms
- Stillbirth: The death of a fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- Ectopic pregnancy: A pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.
- Molar pregnancy: A rare condition in which abnormal tissue grows in the uterus instead of a baby.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pregnancy loss
- Wikipedia's article - Pregnancy loss
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski