Updated September 03, 2013.

Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.

Definition:

A medical term used to identify any tissues that develop from a pregnancy. It is commonly used by doctors because it includes not only the fetus but also the placenta and any other tissues that may result from a fertilized egg.

In a very early miscarriage it may be impossible to determine what is placenta, and what is fetus without analysis by a pathologist. The farther along a pregnancy gets, the more distinct all types of tissue become, but the term "products of conception" can still be applied to all of them.

Some women may be familiar with the term if they have had a D&C (dilation and curettage) after an incomplete miscarriage. A D&C is used to remove any "products of conception" that remain after a spontaneous miscarriage. The doctor may be unable to tell exactly what has been left behind in the uterus by ultrasound, so "products of conception" is the most accurate description available.