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Table 3 Operational definition of a pregnancy as derived from administrative billing data

From: Immediate vs. delayed insertion of intrauterine contraception after second trimester abortion: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Billing Type

Nominal weeks of gestation

Cut-off for operational definition

Abortion (medical)

< 7 weeks*

1 year + 4 weeks

Abortion (surgical)

< 14 weeks

1 year + 6 weeks

Abortion (surgical)

14-18 weeks

1 year + 13 weeks

Abortion (surgical)

≥ 18 weeks

1 year + 17 weeks

Miscarriage

< 20 weeks

1 year + 11 weeks

Still birth

≥ 20 weeks

1 year + 25 weeks

Live birth

Birth date - GA

1 year + XX*

  1. *In Canada, mifepristone is not available. Medication-induced abortions using methotrexate and misoprostol are offered in British Columbia up to a maximum of 49 days (7 weeks) from last menstrual period.
  2. ** Where XX = median conceptual age for live births in BC