What is Pregnancy Loss?

About pregnancy loss.

While the definitions of pregnancy loss, miscarriage, and recurrent pregnancy loss vary across national and international organizations, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) uses the definitions below:

  • Pregnancy loss is the death of a fetus before birth, regardless of the duration of the pregnancy. A pregnancy loss can include induced terminations, also known as abortions. Pregnancy loss during the first trimester (less than 10 weeks gestation) occurs in approximately 1 in 7 known pregnancies.
  • Clinically recognized miscarriages, defined as an early pregnancy loss, are common, occurring in approximately 15–25% of pregnancies. Miscarriages can occur for many different reasons.
  • Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined by two or more failed clinical pregnancies. Up to 50% of cases of RPL will not have a clearly defined cause.

The terms of fetal death and stillbirth are often used interchangeably. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses the definitions below:

  • A fetal death is the death of a fetus before birth, regardless of the duration of the pregnancy. Fetal deaths do not include abortions.
  • A stillbirth is the death of a fetus after 20-week gestation and before birth.

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