# Acceptable Nomenclature for Pregnancy Loss Care: A Cross‐Sectional Observational Survey

## TL;DR

This study surveyed UK individuals who experienced pregnancy loss to determine which medical terms are considered acceptable or unacceptable for use in mass communication.

## Contribution

The study provides evidence-based recommendations for acceptable nomenclature in pregnancy loss communication based on patient feedback.

## Key findings

- Terms like 'spontaneous abortion' and 'incompetent cervix' were rated as unacceptable by over 80% of respondents.
- Terms like 'pregnancy loss' and 'ectopic pregnancy' were rated as acceptable by over 80% of respondents.
- Referring to a lost baby by name or as 'baby' was acceptable across all gestational age groups.

## Abstract

To conduct a pilot study evaluating the acceptability of pregnancy loss nomenclature among people with recent lived experience and make recommendations for UK mass communication.

Electronic internet‐based questionnaire.

UK.

Service users who accessed UK healthcare for > 1 experience(s) of pregnancy loss between 2021 and 2024 (n = 391).

Descriptive and inferential statistics.

Acceptability ratings for pregnancy loss nomenclature used diagnostically in UK healthcare settings.

Much nomenclature currently in use in UK pregnancy loss care was rated ‘unacceptable’ by a majority of study participants. Spontaneous abortion, incompetent cervix, and cervical incompetence were among the terminology rated as ‘unacceptable’ by > 80.0% of the respondents rating terms for the process of loss. In contrast, pregnancy loss and ectopic pregnancy were rated ‘acceptable’ by > 80.0% of respondents. As nomenclature for pregnancy loss outcomes, products, contents of the womb/uterus, and tissue were rated ‘unacceptable’ by > 80.0% of respondents. Baby and ‘their given name’ were rated ‘acceptable’ by > 80.0% of respondents across all gestational age brackets. Some terminology elicited mixed acceptability ratings.

Some pregnancy loss nomenclature attracted consensus acceptability or unacceptability ratings for respondents. The data inform evidence‐based recommended alternatives, which should be adopted for mass communications relating to pregnancy loss.