Abortion and Miscarriage: What’s the Difference?

There is currently a lot of hype around reproductive medicine and the laws that surround a woman’s access to certain types of medical intervention, including both abortion and miscarriage management. Unfortunately, with all this hype comes a large amount of misinformation about state law restrictions regarding women’s health. We’re here today to hopefully set the record straight, put your mind at ease,  and clarify what the difference is between an abortion and a miscarriage.

We’ll start with some definitions.  

Abortion
The biggest takeaway here is that abortion is an elective procedure, meaning a pregnant woman willingly chooses to end the life of a baby in her womb. This can be through prescription medication (mifepristone and misoprostol) or by means of a surgical procedure. The timing of elective abortions is restricted in most states, meaning they can only be done up until a certain week of pregnancy.

Miscarriage
A miscarriage, on the other hand, also results in the end of the life of a baby, but it is not an intentional or elective choice by the mother. Miscarriages affect 10-20% of known pregnancies ₍₁₎. Miscarriages are a naturally occurring phenomenon. They can happen at any point in pregnancy, however the vast majority of them happen early on, before 20 weeks gestation, and for often unidentified or unpreventable causes. They are most often caused by a defect in a baby’s genetic code that does not give the right “instructions” to the baby’s cells to continue to properly grow and develop ₍₁₎.

Signs and symptoms of a miscarriage include vaginal bleeding, pelvic cramping, and passing of fluid or tissue from the vagina. If you are pregnant and experiencing any of these symptoms, seek care from an OB/GYN or ER as soon as possible for further evaluation.

Miscarriages usually will result in the fetal remains being passed naturally from the uterus through the vagina, accompanied by bleeding and cramping. However, there are times when the fetal remains are not naturally expelled by the mother’s body and must be removed to prevent infection and other complications.  In this case, miscarriages may be treated with the same medications or procedures used in elective abortions.

The difference here is the intent and the status of the baby in the womb.

Miscarriage management involves using medical intervention to remove a baby who has died from natural causes (and no longer has a heartbeat) from the uterus. Elective abortion on the other hand involves using medical intervention to end the life of a baby who is currently alive and then remove it from the uterus.

Where does the confusion come in?
A medical term that is often used to describe a miscarriage is “spontaneous abortion.” A miscarriage is spontaneous, happening naturally, rather than being elective or chosen. This can cause confusion when talking about current laws and treatment practices.

To clarify:
Miscarriage = “Spontaneous Abortion”
Abortion = “Elective Abortion”

Now to talk about laws surrounding these two things.
 
Current abortion laws in Georgia do not apply to miscarriage management. The Georgia Department of Public Health’s most up-to-date A Woman’s Right to Know resource clearly states:

“The law does not prohibit the removal of a dead, unborn child caused by a spontaneous abortion or the removal of an ectopic pregnancy.” ₍₂₎

In this text, “spontaneous abortion” refers to miscarriage. Because neither a miscarriage nor an ectopic pregnancy are viable pregnancies (the baby in the womb has passed away or cannot survive), the abortion restriction and law does not apply to these scenarios.

You do not need to fear being denied access to proper medical care for a miscarriage due to Georgia abortion laws. Physicians in Georgia are not currently restricted in their ability to perform procedures or prescribe medication that may be needed to treat a miscarriage.

Restrictions are only placed on elective abortions. For more on the most recent laws regarding elective abortions in Georgia, you can view the A Woman’s Right to Know resource here.

The Emotional Toll

Both miscarriages and abortions result in the loss of the life of a baby in the womb, and it is normal to grieve this loss. The effects of miscarriages and abortions are not solely physical. It is important to note as well that you may experience a wide array of emotions in regards to either of these scenarios, and you may benefit from talking through these emotions.

If you have experienced a miscarriage or been through an abortion and are experiencing negative emotions or symptoms, there is hope and help for you. Reach out to us at Paulding Pregnancy Services for further resources on how to navigate the emotional aspect of these life events.

*The information contained in this blog is for educational and informative purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice and care of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.*

Sources
(1) Mayo Clinic - Miscarriage
(2) Georgia Department of Public Health - A Woman’s Right to Know Brochure