Toward clarity: why we need to standardize the term 'recurrent pregnancy loss'.

Abstract

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a complex reproductive condition that remains difficult to manage. Despite advances in identifying risk factors and treating cases with known causes, about half of the cases are still idiopathic, making effective treatment and prognosis challenging. In addition to clinical hurdles, a major issue in both the literature and medical community is the lack of standardization in terminology and precise definition for RPL. Here, we review the main discrepancies in current definitions and support adopting the term 'recurrent pregnancy loss' as the most appropriate and inclusive. We recommend recognizing RPL as a specific subtype of secondary infertility, characterized by two or more pregnancy losses. Standardizing this terminology is crucial for improving diagnosis, research comparison, and patient care in reproductive medicine.