[Are Hegar's rods omissible? (author's transl)].

The widening effect of Sulproston 500 microgram IM on the cervix uteri was investigated in a double-blind study conducted in 50 non-pregnant volunteers. In women in the postmenopausal stage who had been given Sulproston, resistance-free widening of the cervix with Hegar's rods was H 8.33 +/- 0.87. Easy passage of the cervix uteri and of the internal os uteri was achieved with Hegar 8.22 +/- 0.66 in the first half of the cycle and with Hegar 8.35 +/- 3.06 in the second half of the cycle. In all three groups, the size of the rods was significantly smaller following intramuscular application of physiological saline solution. The widening effect of PGE2 or PGE2 derivatives on the cervix, which has been known for quite some time in patients with pregnant uterus, applies in equal measure to the non-pregnant cyclic uterus and to the postmenopausal uterus.