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Background: To assess if ultrasonic measurement of the cervical canal has carries, at term of pregnancy, a relationship with the onset of labour. To assess if cervical length identifies women at risk to deliver beyond 42 completed weeks of gestation (287 days)., Methods: Prospective case-control study, carried out between 37 and 40 weeks of gestation in uncomplicated, singleton, cephalic presentation, pregnant women., Setting: outpatient ultrasound Department of a tertiary referral centre, serving > 1000 pregnancies. Weekly measurements of the cervical canal by transvaginal ultrasound probe., Results: Inverse relationship between sonographic measurements and advancing gestational age. At 38 weeks of gestation, significant difference in the ultrasonic recordings between patients delivered before and beyond 41 completed weeks., Conclusions: It is possible to identify as early as 38 weeks of gestation those women that will deliver beyond 41 weeks. There is a subgroup of nulliparous patients that will probably be candidates to induction of labour.