What is the difference between a miscarriage and an abortion?
Lawful, licensed, confidential. Termination of pregnancy at Pai Hospital is carried out lawfully under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (as amended), at a licensed facility, by registered medical practitioners, within the limits and the certification that the Act requires. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind, at any stage, for any reason. Your identity and your treatment are confidential.
A miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends on its own, without anyone choosing it, and it is almost never caused by anything the woman did. An abortion is a decision to end a pregnancy, made with a doctor; in India it is lawful care under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, at a government-licensed hospital.
Why do the two words get confused?
If you have recently lost a pregnancy, or you are facing a decision about one, you may have come across both words and felt unsure what each really means. Some women are deeply upset to see the word abortion written on their hospital papers after a miscarriage, and quietly wonder whether they are being blamed for something. They are not. In medical language, a miscarriage is sometimes recorded as a spontaneous abortion, which simply means that the pregnancy ended on its own. It is a technical term, not a judgement, and it says nothing about anything you did or did not do.
Below, we explain the two situations gently and clearly, so that you understand what has happened in your body, what care may be needed, and where to find support. This guide is by Dr Mayur Pai, MBBS, MS in Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
What is a miscarriage?
A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy that happens by itself. Nobody chooses it. It is far more common than most people realise, and because it is rarely talked about openly, many women feel very alone when it happens to them. Very often, the pregnancy was simply not developing in a way that could continue, frequently because of a chance problem in its earliest development, and the body recognises this by itself.
It is almost never caused by anything the woman did. Everyday life, such as working, walking, climbing stairs, travelling, or eating a particular food, does not cause a miscarriage. One miscarriage also does not usually mean that there is anything wrong with you, and many women go on to have healthy pregnancies afterwards. If you have had more than one, it is worth talking to a doctor, because sometimes a cause can be found and treated; our guide on how to become pregnant is a gentle place to start.
What is an abortion?
An abortion is different. It is a decision, made by a woman together with her doctor, to end a pregnancy. In India this is lawful care under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, provided at a government-licensed hospital by a qualified doctor. A woman may make this choice for many personal reasons, and she does not have to justify herself to be cared for well. If you are not married, you are just as welcome: this is lawful care, and every woman is treated the same, with privacy and respect.
Safe abortion care always begins with an assessment and an ultrasound scan, done in person. We do not send any medicine by post or courier, and no abortion is ever carried out by phone. A call, a message or an online consultation can tell you whether treatment is feasible and guide your next step, but any abortion service is received in person at the hospital in Goa.
What are the signs of a miscarriage?
The most common signs are bleeding from the vagina, which may be light or heavy and may include clots or tissue, together with cramping pain in the lower tummy or lower back. Some women notice that pregnancy symptoms such as nausea or breast tenderness fade away, although this alone is not a reliable sign. Sometimes there are no signs at all, and a miscarriage is only discovered on a scan, when the pregnancy is found to have stopped developing.
It is equally important to know that bleeding in early pregnancy does not always mean a miscarriage. Some women have spotting and go on to have a healthy pregnancy, and the only way to know what is happening is to be examined and scanned. Please seek care the same day if the bleeding is heavy, if the pain is severe or mainly on one side, if you feel faint or dizzy, or if you have a fever or a bad-smelling discharge. Severe one-sided pain can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy growing outside the womb, which is an emergency.
When is a D and C needed after a miscarriage?
Often the body completes a miscarriage on its own, and a follow-up scan simply confirms that the womb is empty. Sometimes medicine is used to help the process along. But sometimes a short procedure is the safer choice: when some pregnancy tissue remains in the womb, when bleeding is heavy or will not settle, when there are signs of infection, or when a woman would simply prefer it to be completed with care. The procedure is either suction or a D and C (dilatation and curettage), both of which gently clear the womb. Your doctor will explain which option suits you after examining you and looking at your scan.
How do we keep the procedure safe and gentle?
When a procedure is needed, two safeguards make a real difference. First, every instrument is single-use and disposable, opened fresh from its sealed pack for you and never used on anyone else. Nothing that has touched another patient ever touches you, so the procedure stays clean, with no cross-contamination between patients.
Second, every suction or D and C is done under real-time ultrasound guidance. The doctor watches your womb on a screen throughout the procedure. This lowers the risk of complications such as perforation, a small tear in the wall of the womb. It also shows the exact moment the womb is empty, so the procedure stops right there, with no unnecessary scraping (over-curettage). Avoiding unnecessary scraping helps protect the lining of the womb, which matters for your future pregnancies. The procedure is done in a proper operating theatre under anaesthesia, so that you are comfortable, and because of the anaesthesia we ask you to come with a responsible adult who can take you home afterwards.
How can you look after your feelings?
Whatever you have been through, your feelings deserve care too. After a miscarriage, many women grieve deeply, even when the pregnancy was very early, and partners may grieve in their own quiet way. After an abortion, some women feel relief, some feel sadness, and many feel a mixture of both. All of these feelings are normal, and none of them is a weakness. It can help to rest, to talk to someone you trust, and to give yourself time. If low feelings linger or grow heavier, please tell us; you do not have to carry them alone. Our article on the emotions of an abortion may also help.
Getting started
If you are bleeding, worried about a possible miscarriage, or facing a decision about a pregnancy, call or message us. A first conversation can be online, and it can tell you whether treatment is feasible and guide your next step, but any treatment is given in person at the hospital in Goa. Free patient transport is available from across Goa and nearby areas. Everything you share with us stays private. This article is for education only and is not personal medical advice; please consult your doctor about your own situation.
Is a miscarriage the same as an abortion?
No. A miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends on its own, without anyone choosing it. An abortion is a decision to end a pregnancy, made with a doctor. Reports sometimes call a miscarriage a spontaneous abortion, which simply means it happened naturally.
Did I do something to cause my miscarriage?
Almost certainly not. A miscarriage is very rarely caused by anything a woman did. Everyday activities such as working, walking, travelling or eating a particular food do not cause it. Very often the pregnancy was not developing in a way that could continue.
Will I need a D and C after a miscarriage?
Not always. Often the body completes a miscarriage by itself. A procedure may be advised if tissue remains, bleeding is heavy or there are signs of infection. We do it under real-time ultrasound guidance, with single-use instruments opened fresh for you.
When should I see a doctor urgently?
Please seek care the same day if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain or pain mainly on one side, if you feel faint or dizzy, or if you have a fever or a bad-smelling discharge.
Or call +91 75582 52088 · 0832 251 3641
This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.