New Ultrasound Method Predicts Risk of Preterm Birth

The innovative technique, effective as early as 23 weeks into a pregnancy, measures microstructural changes in the cervix, providing a more accurate assessment than previous methods.

• Researchers have developed a new ultrasound method that can predict the risk of premature birth as early as 23 weeks into a pregnancy.
• The method uses quantitative ultrasound to measure microstructural changes in the cervix.
• The current method for assessing a woman's risk of preterm birth is based solely on whether she has previously given birth prematurely, making it difficult to assess risk in first-time pregnancies.
• In a study of 429 women, the new method was effective at predicting the risk of preterm births during first-time pregnancies.
• For women who were having a subsequent pregnancy, combining the data from quantitative ultrasound with the woman's delivery history was more effective at assessing risk than just using her history.

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