The Patterns of Uterine Contractility in Normal Menstruating Women: From Physiology to Pathology

Carlo Bulletti, Dominique de Ziegler, Paolo Levi Setti, Paolo Emanuele Levi-Setti, Ettore Cicinelli, Valeria Polli, V. Polli, C Flamigni, Carlo Flamigni
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 2004 · vol. 1034(1) , pp. 64–83 · doi:10.1196/annals.1335.007 · PMID:15731300 · W1987618161
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-06 ⓘ

This study characterized the wavelike patterns of nonpregnant uterine contractility throughout the menstrual cycle, finding them to be hormone-controlled and crucial for reproduction, with deviations potentially linked to various pathologies.

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Abstract

The nonpregnant uterus shows uterine activity throughout the menstrual cycle. This uterine activity was detected both by single strep tissue and by using intrauterine pressure recordings in vitro and in vivo. Today, ultrasound has made it possible to study this activity with a noninvasive approach and to assess uterine contractions (UCs) in real-time movements of the uterus. Throughout the menstrual cycle, wavelike activity patterns of the reproductive organ were established. These patterns are under control of steroid hormones. Adequate UCs may provide for gamete/embryo transportation throughout the uterotubal cavities and successful embryo implantation in spontaneous and/or assisted reproduction. Inadequate UCs may produce ectopic pregnancy, miscarriages, retrograde bleeding with dysmenorrhea, and endometriosis.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004716mesh:D004412endometriosisdysmenorrhea

MeSH descriptors

Dysmenorrhea Endometritis Menstruation Uterine Contraction Uterus Dysmenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Endometritis Endometritis Female Humans Menstruation Uterine Contraction Uterus Uterus

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References (34)

Cited by (21)

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