Which symptom most clearly indicates an incomplete abortion?

The symptom that most clearly indicates an incomplete abortion is the presence of products of conception palpated in the cervical canal. This finding suggests that there are still remnants of the pregnancy within the uterus or cervix, which can lead to ongoing bleeding and complications if not addressed.

When a woman experiences an incomplete abortion, it means that some tissues remain after the miscarriage has begun. The detection of these products of conception (such as fetal tissue or placental tissue) within the cervical canal highlights that the spontaneous abortion has not been completed effectively. This condition may require further medical intervention, such as a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure, to ensure the uterus is cleared of all remaining tissue.

The other options do relate to pregnancy status and complications but do not represent definitive evidence of an incomplete abortion. For instance, a closed cervical os indicates that there is no active passage of tissue out of the uterus, and while heavy vaginal bleeding can occur during a miscarriage, it is not specific to the diagnosis of being incomplete. Normalization of hCG levels usually suggests that the body is returning to a non-pregnant state, which would not correlate with ongoing incomplete abortion. Thus, palpation of retained products directly correlates to the status of the abortion being