The uterine contractility index: a research and diagnostic tool in dysmenorrhea

H Schulman, Harold Schulman, Robbert Duvivier, Roger Duvivier, R Duvivier, Peggy Blattner, P Blattner
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology · 1983 · vol. 145(8) , pp. 1049–1055 · doi:10.1016/0002-9378(83)90865-7 · PMID:6340510 · W1829516191
Non-randomised trial OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 13 in-corpus citations
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This paper introduces the uterine contractility index as a novel tool for both research and diagnostic applications in the study and management of dysmenorrhea.

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Abstract

Women who experienced severe primary dysmenorrhea had 90 to 120 minutes of continuous uterine pressure monitoring during their peak period of discomfort. During the initial screening cycle, they were given 40 mg of piroxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug which inhibits prostaglandin synthesis. The pressure tracings were analyzed by a newly proposed ratio, the contractility index. During the painful period, the contractility index averaged approximately 3. When relief was experienced, the contractility index fell to approximately 1.5. Women who experienced uncertain or slight relief had a contractility index of approximately 2. Relief was experienced by 69% of the women screened. A small double-blind, crossover study was carried out on seven of the women. This revealed different responses to the drug in consecutive cycles and suggests that increased prostaglandins are an expression of an underlying process, not consistent with a primary cause of dysmenorrhea.

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Condition tags

dysmenorrhea

MeSH descriptors

Dysmenorrhea Uterine Contraction Adolescent Adult Catheterization Clinical Trials as Topic Double-Blind Method Dysmenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Female Humans Monitoring, Physiologic Piroxicam Pressure Thiazines Thiazines Thiazines Uterine Contraction

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References (21)

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