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http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/259269-overview#a30
Evaluation of Gestation
Author: Max Mongelli, MBBS, DM, FRCOG; Chief Editor: David Chelmow, MD more... Updated: Apr 19, 2010
Overview
The estimation of pregnancy dates is important for the mother, who wants to know when to expect the birth of her baby, and for her health care providers, so they may choose the times at which to perform various screening tests and assessments[1] , such as serum screening, assessment of maturity, and induction of labor for postdate pregnancies. The 3 basic methods used to help estimate gestational age (GA) are menstrual history, clinical examination, and ultrasonography. The first 2 are subject to considerable error and should only be used when ultrasonography facilities are not available. The date of feeling the first fetal movements (quickening) is far too unreliable to be useful. In rare cases, the date of coitus is known, and this may be useful in calculating the length of pregnancy. For related information, see Medscape's Pregnancy Resource Center.
Terminology
Gestational age (GA) refers to the length of pregnancy after the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) and is usually expressed in weeks and days. This is also known as menstrual age. Conceptional age (CA) is the true fetal age and refers to the length of pregnancy from the time of conception. This terminology does vary geographically and over time, and it may need clarification if not explicitly defined in relevant articles.
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insemination. In patients who have had ovulation induction, calculate GA from the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration.
Clinical examination
The size of the uterus can be assessed by pelvic examination or by abdominal palpation. Size can be misleading in the presence of multiple pregnancy, uterine fibroids, or a full bladder. Tape measurement of the symphysis-fundus height may be useful up to 28-30 weeks' gestation, beyond which it becomes too inaccurate for dating.
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method is to add 30 to the sac size in millimeters, to give GA in days. By the time the embryo becomes visible on ultrasound the sac diameter is no longer accurate in estimating gestational age. If cardiac activity can be detected but the embryo is not measurable, the GA is about 5.5-6.0 weeks. GA in the first trimester is usually calculated from the fetal crown-rump length (CRL). This is the longest demonstrable length of the embryo or fetus, excluding the limbs and the yolk sac.
The correlation between CRL and GA is excellent until approximately 12 weeks' amenorrhea. No sex or race differences are appreciable, but maternal characteristics, such as age and smoking, may have a significant effect beyond 10 week' gestation. The GA estimate has a 95% confidence interval of plus or minus 6 days, and it is most accurate between 7 and 10 weeks' amenorrhea. The following formula[6] allows the estimation of GA (weeks) from the CRL (mm): GA = 0.0007 (CRL)2 + 0.1584 (CRL) + 5.2876 Transabdominal ultrasonography may underestimate gestational age by an average of 1.6 days compared with transvaginal ultrasonography.[7]
The femur length (FL) can also be used and is nearly as accurate as head measurements.[10]
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Racial differences in FL are significant, but differences in HC are not. GA estimates by the BPD or HC have a 95% confidence interval of plus or minus 8 days. The following formula[11] allows estimation of GA (days) from the BPD (mm): GA = 39.1 + 2.1 (BPD) Combinations of multiple variables to date a pregnancy have also been described; however, the improvement in accuracy from these algorithms is clinically negligible.
Estimate of gestational age (weeks) from the biparietal diameter in the third trimester with 95% confidence intervals. Adapted from Hadlock et al (1984).
Confirmation of fetal maturity may also be obtained by examining the ossification centers.[14] The distal femoral epiphysis appears at a mean age of 32-33 weeks' gestation, but may be seen as early as 29 weeks' gestation[15] ; its size increases linearly with gestational age. A distal femoral epiphysis diameter greater than 7 mm indicates a gestational age greater than 37 weeks. Visualization of the proximal tibial epiphysis indicates a gestational age of at least 35 weeks. The sonographic detection of the proximal humeral epiphysis has been correlated with a mature amniocentesis lung profile.
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common in cases with a BMI >30, in whom the estimated due date is often postponed.[17] In a large trial on ultrasonography, the risk of cesarean section increased from 10% when the ultrasonographic-based GA exceeded the LMP-based estimate by 4 days to 60% when the discrepancy increased to 21 days in nulliparous women. Also, for each day the ultrasonographic-based estimate exceeded the LMP-based estimate, birth weight was higher by 9.6 g.[18] A discrepancy of greater than +7 days can also arise from a prolonged interval between last menstruation and conception. These women, especially multiparae, are at an increased risk of preterm labor, with an OR of 1.9.[19] A smaller than expected CRL in the first trimester may rarely be due to chromosomal anomalies.
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Frederick B Gaupp, MD Consulting Staff, Department of Family Practice, Hancock Medical Center Frederick B Gaupp, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Chief Editor David Chelmow, MD Leo J Dunn Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center David Chelmow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Massachusetts Medical Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Society for Gynecologic Investigation, and Society for Medical Decision Making Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
References
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16. Mongelli M, Wilcox M, Gardosi J. Estimating the date of confinement: ultrasonographic biometry versus certain menstrual dates. Am J Obstet Gynecol. Jan 1996;174(1 Pt 1):278-81. [Medline]. 17. Simic M, Wahlin IA, Marsal K, Kallen K. Maternal obesity is a potential source of error in mid-trimester ultrasound estimation of gestational age. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. Jan 2010;35(1):48-53. [Medline]. 18. Grewal J, Zhang J, Mikolajczyk RT, Ford J. Risk of Cesarean Delivery When Second-Trimester Ultrasound Dating Disagrees with Definite Last Menstrual Period. Am J Perinatol. Mar 15 2010;[Medline]. 19. Gardosi J, Francis A. Early pregnancy predictors of preterm birth: the role of a prolonged menstruationconception interval. BJOG. Feb 2000;107(2):228-37. [Medline]. Medscape Reference 2011 WebMD, LLC
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