Menstrual dates: sonographic re-appraisal of its value in gestational age determination

ABSTRACT

In this study, 585 pregnant women with gestational age less than 26 weeks were evaluated both clinically and sonographically for the accuracy of their menstrual dates in Assiut University Hospitals [1990-1991]. Forty one percent of women were not aware of their dates. Dates unreliability were most common in women with high parity [5 or more] and in women presenting in the second trimester of pregnancy. In 25 percent of women who were not sure of their dates, there was no reason for dates unreliability. When women with apparently sure menstrual dates [59 percent] were evaluated with ultrasound, it appeared that 19.4 percent of this group had also inaccurate dates, and this finding was not significantly related to parity or trimester of pregnancy. These findings suggest that menstrual dates in regularly menstruating women are of limited value in gestational age determination even when apparently sure. Sonographic estimations of gestational age seems of basic value in obstetric decisions