Abstract
Intrauterine fluid movements, which are responsible for embryo transport to a successful implantation site at the fundus, may be induced by myometrial contractions. Myometrial contractions in nonpregnant uteri were studied from in vivo measurements of intrauterine pressures with fluid-filled catheters and by visual observations of high-speed replaying of ultrasound images of the uterus. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) images of sagittal cross sections of the nonpregnant uterus were scanned with an intravaginal ultrasound probe. Images at consecutive times (2 s apart) were digitized and processed by employing modern techniques of image processing. The sets of images were compared to evaluate time variation of the fluid–wall interface with respect to amplitude, frequencies, and wavelength of myometrial contractions. Analysis of TVUS images from 11 volunteers during the proliferative phase revealed that myometrial contractions are fairly symmetric and are propagated from the cervix towards the fundus at a frequency of about 0.01-0.09 Hz. The wavelength, amplitude, and velocity of the fluid–wall interface during a typical contractile wave were found to be 10-30 mm, 0.05-0.2 mm, and 0.5-1.9 mm/s, respectively. Additional data acquisition from a large number of normal subjects is needed to build a data base to predict normal characteristics of myometrial contractions in a nonpregnant uterus, in order to better understand their role in the preimplantation process. © 1999 Biomedical Engineering Society.
PAC99: 8717Jj, 8719St, 4380Qf, 8763Df
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Abramowicz, J. S., and D. F. Archer. Uterine endometrial peristalsis: A transvaginal ultrasound study. Fertil. Steril. 54:451–454, 1990.
Ahlberg, J. H., E. N. Nilson, and J. L. Walsh. The Theory of Splines and their Applications. New York: Academic, 1967.
Baggott, L. M. Human Reproduction. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1997.
Birnholz, J. C., Ultrasonic visualization of endometrial movements. Fertil. Steril. 41:157–158, 1984.
Chalubinski, K., J. Deutinger, and G. Bernaschek. Vaginosonography for recording of cycle-related myometrial contractions. Fertil. Steril. 59:225–228, 1993.
Cibils, L. A. Contractility of the nonpregnant human uterus. Obstet. Gynecol. 30:441–461, 1967.
Coutinho, E. M., L. Nascimento, H. D. S. Maia, and M. T. R. Goncalves. Motility of human myometrium in vivo: Intramural versus transcervical recording. Am. J Obstet. Gynecol. 134:801–812, 1979.
Csapo, A. I., and C. R. Pinto-Dantas. The cyclic activity of the nonpregnant human uterus. A new method for recording intrauterine pressure. Fertil. Steril. 17:34–38, 1966.
Demopoulos, R. I., and K. R. Mittal. Anatomy, histology and physiology. In: The Uterus Pathology, Diagnosis and Management, edited by A. Altchek and L. Deligdisch. New York: Springer, 1991.
DeVries, K., E. A. Lyons, J. Ballard, C. S. Levi, and D. J. Lindsay. Contractions of the inner third of the myometrium. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 162:679–682, 1990.
Eytan, O., and D. Elad. Analysis of intra-uterine fluid motion induced by uterine contractions. Bull. Math. Biol. 61:221–238, 1999.
Fahy, U. M., D. J. Cahill, P. G. Wardle, and M. G. Hull. In vitro fertilization in completely natural cycles. Hum. Reprod. 10:572–575, 1995.
Fisher, R., S. Perkins, A. Walker, and E. Wolfart. Hypermedia Image Processing Reference. Chichester, UK: Wiley, 1996.
Garfield, R. E., Structural studies of innervation on nonpregnant rat uterus. Am. J. Physiol. 251:C41-C54, 1986.
Guyton, A. C., and J. E. Hall. Textbook of Medical Physiology, 9th ed., Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 1996, p. 1033.
Hafez, E. S. E. Human Reproduction Conception and Contraception. New York: Harper and Row, 1980.
Hasson, H. M., Uterine geometry and IUCD design. Br. J. Obstet. Gynecol. (Suppl). 89:1–10, 1982.
Hendricks, C. H., Inherent motility patterns and response characteristics of the non-pregnant human uterus. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 96:824–843, 1966.
IJland, M. M., L. H. Evers, G. A. J. Dunselman, C. van Katwijk, C. R. Lo, and H. J. Hoogland. Endometrial wavelike movements during the menstrual cycle. Fertil. Steril. 65:746–749, 1996.
IJland, M. M., L. H. Evers, G. A. J. Dunselman, L. Volovics, and H. J. Hoogland. Relation between endometrial wavelike activity and fecundability in spontaneous cycles. Fertil. Steril. 67:492–496, 1997.
IJland, M. M., L. H. Evers, and H. J. Hoogland. Velocity of endometrial wavelike activity in spontaneous cycles. Fertil. Steril. 68:72–75, 1997.
Knutzen, V., C. J. Stratton, G. Sher, P. I. McNamee, T. T. Huang, and C. Soto-Albors. Mock embryo transport in early luteal phase, the cycle before in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: A descriptive study. Fertil. Steril. 57:156–162, 1992.
Knuz, G., D. Beil, H. Deininger, L. Wildt, and G. Leyendecker. Endocrine control of rapid sperm transport through the female genital tract as documented by hysterosalpingos-cintigraphy: Physiological and pathophysiological aspects. Hum. Reprod. 10:149–150, 1995.
Knuz, G., D. Beil, H. Deininger, L. Wildt, and G. Leyendecker. The dynamics of rapid sperm transport through the female genital tract: Evidence from vaginal sonography of uterine peristaltic and hysterosalpingoscintigraphy. Hum. Reprod. 3:627–632, 1996.
Kuriyama, H., K. Kitamura, T. Itoh, and R. Inoue. Physiological features of visceral smooth muscle cells, with special reference to receptors and ion channels. Physiol. Rev. 78:811–920, 1998.
Lyons, E. A., P. J. Taylor, and X. H. Zheng. Characterization of subendometrial myometrial contractions throughout the menstrual cycle in normal fertile women. Fertil. Steril. 55:771–774, 1991.
Marshall, J. M. The physiology of the myometrium. In: The Uterus, edited by H. J. Norris. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins, 1973, pp. 89–109.
Marshall, J. M., Effects of ovarian steroids and pregnancy on adrenergic nerves of uterus and oviduct. Am. J. Physiol. 240:C165-C174, 1981.
Martinez-Gaudio, M., T. Yoshida, and L. P. Bengtsson. Propagated and non-propagated myometrial contractions in a normal menstrual cycle. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 115:107–111, 1973.
Odeblad, E., Undulations of macromolecules in cervical mucus. Int. J. Fertil. 7:313–319, 1962.
Oike, K., K. Ishihara, and S. K. Kuchi. A study on the endometrial movements and serum hormonal level in connection with uterine contraction. Acta Obstet. Gynecol. Jpn. 42:86–92, 1990.
Seibel, M. M. Infertility: A Comprehensive Text, 2nd ed. Stanford, CT: Appleton and Lange, 1997, p. 462.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Eytan, O., Jaffa, A.J., Har-Toov, J. et al. Dynamics of the Intrauterine Fluid–Wall Interface. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 27, 372–379 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1114/1.181
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1114/1.181