Final answer:
Spontaneous abortion (SAB or miscarriage) refers to the unplanned loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks, caused by natural factors without intentional medical intervention, distinguishing it from induced abortion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Spontaneous abortion (SAB or miscarriage) refers to the unplanned loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation. Unlike induced abortion, which is the intentional termination of a pregnancy, spontaneous abortion occurs without intentional medical intervention. Miscarriages are typically the result of natural causes such as genetic abnormalities or developmental issues with the fetus, leading to a natural termination of the pregnancy.
Political and legal debates surrounding abortion focus largely on the induced kind, with laws and public opinion varying widely. Medical necessity may sometimes require induced abortion, such as when the life of the pregnant individual is at risk (therapeutic abortion). Despite the biological differences, the political, legal, and moral aspects of both spontaneous and voluntary termination of pregnancy continue to be deeply intertwined in social discourse.