title: Effect of cervical traction with a tenaculum on the uterocervical angle.
abstract: The effect of cervical traction on the uterocervical angle was measured radiographically in 24 women undergoing diagnostic curettage. A radio-opaque guidewire was inserted through the cervical canal into the uterine cavity and a lateral pelvic X-ray taken before and after traction. The traction force was measured with a spring-balance attached to the tenaculum. Cervical traction in a caudal direction (force 2 N) reduced the median uterocervical angle, from 75 degrees to 10 degrees (P = 0.001). Moderate cervical traction straightens the uterus and the routine use of a tenaculum theoretically makes insertion of an intrauterine device safer and the passage of an embryo transfer catheter less traumatic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, England.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bromham
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D014143:Traction / Q000295:instrumentation*