A woman gave birth last week to a fetus at 18 weeks' gestation after her first pregnancy. She is in the clinic for follow-up, and notices that her chart states she has had one abortion. The patient is upset over the use of this word. How can the nurse best explain this terminology to the patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Abortion is the medical term for any pregnancy that ends before 20 weeks, whether it is spontaneous (miscarriage) or induced (termination of pregnancy). It does not necessarily mean that the woman underwent a voluntary termination of pregnancy. It is important to use accurate medical terminology to avoid confusion or misunderstandings.

A Woman Gave Birth Last Week to a Fetus at 18