Which statement correctly distinguishes gravidity from parity?

Which statement correctly distinguishes gravidity from parity?

• A. Gravidity counts pregnancies regardless of outcome; parity counts pregnancies that resulted in a birth.
• B. Gravidity counts only miscarriages.
• C. Gravidity equals parity.
• D. Gravidity counts live births.

Answer: (A)

Gravidity measures the total number of pregnancies a person has had, regardless of outcome, including the current pregnancy. Parity counts those pregnancies that have progressed to a birth (often meaning a delivery at viability). The statement that gravidity counts pregnancies regardless of outcome and parity counts pregnancies that resulted in a birth captures this distinction clearly. It aligns with how clinicians summarize obstetric history (GTPAL: Gravida, Term, Preterm, Abortions, Living). The other options don’t fit because they either misstate gravidity as counting only miscarriages, equate gravidity with parity, or count only live births.

Gravidity measures the total number of pregnancies a person has had, regardless of outcome, including the current pregnancy. Parity counts those pregnancies that have progressed to a birth (often meaning a delivery at viability). The statement that gravidity counts pregnancies regardless of outcome and parity counts pregnancies that resulted in a birth captures this distinction clearly. It aligns with how clinicians summarize obstetric history (GTPAL: Gravida, Term, Preterm, Abortions, Living).

The other options don’t fit because they either misstate gravidity as counting only miscarriages, equate gravidity with parity, or count only live births.