Spontaneous abortion/miscarriage is best defined as abortion due to natural causes such as birth defect or injury.

• A. Abortion due to natural causes such as birth defect or injury
• B. The ending of a pregnancy
• C. The intentional termination of pregnancy via drugs or surgery
• D. The detection of fetal movement

Answer: (A)

Spontaneous abortion means the natural loss of a pregnancy, not something done on purpose. It is defined as abortion due to natural causes such as birth defects or other medical issues that lead to pregnancy loss, occurring without deliberate intervention. This distinguishes it from induced abortion, which is the intentional termination of a pregnancy through medications or surgery. The broader idea of “the ending of a pregnancy” is too general and could include induced abortion, while detecting fetal movement has no direct bearing on whether a pregnancy ends spontaneously.