missed abortion

A missed abortion occurs when a fetus dies in the uterus but is not expelled. This condition is typically diagnosed when a pregnancy is found to have ended, but the uterine contents have not been naturally expelled for eight weeks or longer.1

Miscarriage, in general, is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. While the exact prevalence is unknown due to early losses occurring before a pregnancy is recognized, it's estimated that 10-25% of recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage. The most common cause of miscarriage is a chromosomal abnormality in the fetus, accounting for over 60% of cases. Other factors can include infections, uterine abnormalities, or hormonal imbalances. Symptoms of an impending miscarriage often include vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain.2