summary of features of different types of abortion

Last reviewed 08/2022

The table below summarises the characteristics of different types of abortion.

Types of Abortion:

• threatened abortion - minimal pain; bleeding <K; cervix closed; uterine size = dates; ultrasound = FH visualised

• inevitable - pain+; bleeding >K; cervix = open; uterine size = dates; ultrasound FH may/may not be visualised

• complete - no pain; bleeding < K; cervix = closing; uterine size = dates; ultrasound = empty uterus

• incomplete - pain +/-; bleeding >>K; cervix = open; uterine size = or < dates; ultrasound = retained products/no fetal heart

• missed - no pain; bleeding = minimal brown; cervix = closed; uterine size = small; ultrasound = no fetal heart

Key: K = bleeding equivalent to menstruation; FH = fetal heart