What signifies a complete abortion?

A complete abortion is characterized by the evacuation of all products of conception from the uterus, resulting in the closure of the cervical os. When the products of conception have been fully expelled and the cervical os is closed, it indicates that the pregnancy has ended completely and that there is no remaining tissue in the uterus. This is significant because it means the risk of complications, such as severe bleeding or infection, is greatly diminished.

In contrast, when the cervical os is open, it may indicate a potential incomplete abortion where some tissue remains in the uterus. Vaginal bleeding with products of conception seen suggests that there are still remnants of the pregnancy present, thus indicating an incomplete abortion rather than a complete one. The presence of uterine contractions alone does not provide a definitive indication of whether an abortion is complete; contractions can be present during both complete and incomplete abortions. Therefore, only the closure of the cervical os following the expulsion of all products of conception marks the completion of the abortion process.