Abstract
Objective
We sought to evaluate the accuracy of assessing gestational age (GA) prior to first
trimester medication abortion using last menstrual period (LMP) compared to ultrasound
(U/S).
Study Design
We searched Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases through October 2013 for peer-reviewed
articles comparing LMP to U/S for GA dating in abortion care. Two teams of investigators
independently evaluated data using standard abstraction forms. The US Preventive Services
Task Force and Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies guidelines were used
to assess quality.
Results
Of 318 articles identified, 5 met inclusion criteria. Three studies reported that
2.5–11.8% of women were eligible for medication abortion by LMP and ineligible by
U/S. The number of women who underestimated GA using LMP compared to U/S ranged from
1.8 to 14.8%, with lower rates found when the sample was limited to a GA <63 days. Most women (90.5–99.1%) knew their LMP, 70.8–90.5% with certainty.
Conclusion
Our results support that LMP can be used to assess GA prior to medication abortion
at GA <63 days. Further research looking at patient outcomes and identifying women eligible
for medication abortion by LMP but ineligible by U/S is needed to confirm the safety
and effectiveness of providing medication abortion using LMP alone to determine GA.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 18, 2014
Accepted:
July 12,
2014
Received in revised form:
July 11,
2014
Received:
September 20,
2013
Footnotes
☆Funding: Society of Family Planning
☆☆The authors have no financial or other conflicts of interest to declare.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
