Abortion vs. Miscarriage: What's the difference?
January 27, 2026
Abortion and miscarriage (also known as spontaneous abortion) are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they refer to very different experiences. In this blog, we’ll explain what abortion and miscarriage are, how they differ, and how their treatments differ.
What is abortion?
Spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, is when the loss of a pregnancy happens naturally before 20 weeks gestation. After 20 weeks, the loss of the baby is called a stillbirth. Spontaneous abortion was not by choice of the mother and can be caused by many different factors. Roughly 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage in their lifetime. This experience can look different for everyone. Common symptoms of miscarriage include:
• Bleeding or spotting
• Abdominal cramping
• Potential passing of tissue and blood clots
• Lower back pain
• Dizziness
It’s important to note that most causes of miscarriage are outside of your control. Don’t blame yourself and seek support if needed.
What is spontaneous abortion? (Miscarriage)
Spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, is when the loss of a pregnancy happens naturally before 20 weeks gestation. After 20 weeks, the loss of the baby is called a stillbirth. Spontaneous abortion was not by choice of the mother and can be caused by many different factors. Roughly 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage in their lifetime. This experience can look different for everyone. Common symptoms of miscarriage include:
• Bleeding or spotting
• Abdominal cramping
• Potential passing of tissue and blood clots
• Lower back pain
• Dizziness
It’s important to note that most causes of miscarriage are outside of your control. Don’t blame yourself and seek support if needed.
How is the treatment the same and how is it different?
The treatment for a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) and the abortion process can be very similar, which is often where confusion happens. Let’s break it down.
Treatment for a spontaneous abortion depends on the circumstances. If a pregnancy ends naturally, the pregnancy tissue will often be expelled naturally as well. However, if tissue remains in the uterus after the miscarriage, this is called an incomplete miscarriage, which can increase the risk of serious infection.
In cases of an incomplete miscarriage early in pregnancy, doctors may prescribe misoprostol to help expel the remaining tissue as an alternative to a surgical procedure called a D&C (dilation and curettage). Misoprostol is also one of the medications used in medication abortions, which contributes to the confusion.
If the miscarriage occurs later in pregnancy, treatment may look different. At this stage, there is a higher risk of a missed miscarriage, which occurs when the embryo stops developing but is not expelled by the body. This differs from an incomplete miscarriage, in which some tissue is expelled but not all of it. In cases of either a missed or incomplete miscarriage, a D&C procedure may be necessary to ensure that all pregnancy tissue is removed. Leaving tissue behind can lead to serious, potentially life-threatening infections such as sepsis. A D&C is also the same procedure used to perform an abortion after the FDA approved timeline of 10 weeks gestation.
Because the medical treatments can be identical, it is easy to see why confusion exists. The key distinction is that treatment for a spontaneous abortion occurs after the pregnancy has already ended naturally, whereas an abortion procedure is performed while the pregnancy is still viable and is a deliberate medical decision. Although the treatments may be the same, they are fundamentally different situations.
Are there laws prohibiting miscarriage care in the U.S.?
Currently, no U.S. laws explicitly ban miscarriage care, even in states where abortion is restricted. However, concern arises because miscarriage management and abortion procedures often rely on the same medications and medical methods.This overlap has led many women to worry that abortion bans could limit access to necessary miscarriage treatment.
That concern is understandable. Still, miscarriage care is generally at lower risk of restriction because it is provided after a pregnancy has already ended, rather than to intentionally terminate one. The goal of miscarriage treatment is to manage a medical event that has already occurred and to protect the women’s health.
How can we help?
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy in Nevada County, California, we are here to help you. We offer free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and education on all of your pregnancy options. Schedule an appointment with us today by calling (530) 272-6800 or by clicking here.
Sources
Altshuler, Anna, Goldsmith-Ojanen, Alison, et al. Going Through It Together: Being Accompanied by loved ones during birth and abortion. Science Direct. Sep. 2021
Cleveland Clinic. Miscarriage. July 2022.
Mayo Clinic. Miscarriage: Symptoms and Causes. 2023.
This blog has been reviewed for medical accuracy and approved by Liz Hutchins, RN.
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