| abortion | 1. <obstetrics> The premature expulsion from the uterus of the products of conception of the embryo or of a nonviable foetus. The four classic symptoms, usually present in each type of abortion, are uterine contractions, uterine haemorrhage, softening and dilatation of the cervix and presentation or expulsion of all or part of the products of conception. The expulsion or removal of an embryo or foetus from the mother prematurely, this can be done as an artificial procedure, but it often happens naturally when the mother's body expels the foetus because it has died, has genetic or developmental defects, or because of infection or illness in the mother. Natural abortions are typically called miscarriages. Medically-induced abortions, which can be completed with surgery or with hormone drugs, are performed because the foetus is unwanted, deformed, not likely to live, or endangers the mother's life or health. 2. The premature stoppage of a natural or a pathological process. Origin: L. Abortio (18 Nov 1997) |
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| abortion applicants | Individuals requesting induced abortions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion, criminal | Illegal termination of pregnancy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion, eugenic | Abortion performed because of possible foetal defects. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion, habitual | The miscarriage of 3 or more consecutive pregnancies. Recurrent abortion can be identically defined as 3 or more miscarriages (spontaneous abortions) with no intervening pregnancies. Habitual or recurrent abortion is a form of infertility. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion, incomplete | Abortion in which not all the products of conception have been expelled. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion, induced | Intentional removal of a foetus from the uterus by any of a number of techniques. (popline, 1978) (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion, legal | Termination of pregnancy under conditions allowed under local laws. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion, missed | The retention in the uterus of a dead foetus two months or more after its death. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion, multiple | Couples who have had 2 or more miscarriages (spontaneous abortions) have about a 5% chance that one member of the couple is carrying a chromsome translocation responsible for the miscarriages. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion rate | The number of abortions per 1000 terminated pregnancies during a given period of time. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abortion, recurrent | See Abortion, habitual. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion, septic | Infected abortion in which there is dissemination of microorganisms and their products into the maternal systemic circulation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion, therapeutic | Abortion induced to save the life or health of a pregnant woman. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abortion, threatened | Condition of vaginal bleeding with or without pain in early pregnancy which may presage an abortion. (12 Dec 1998) |