Uterorelaxing effects of vaginal progesterone: comparison of two methodologies for assessing uterine contraction frequency on ultrasound scans.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the changes in uterine contractility induced by increasing doses of P administered to estrogenized women and to compare two methodologies for assessing uterine contraction frequency from ultrasound scans.


METHODS
Prospective double-blind parallel study.


METHODS
Academic tertiary center.


METHODS
Infertile women aged 21-39 years with premature ovarian failure.


METHODS
P support set to duplicate the luteal phase was provided every 2 days by application of 1.125 g of Crinone 4% and 8% or 2.25 g of Crinone 8%, containing 45, 90, and 180 mg of P per application, respectively.


METHODS
Changes in uterine contraction frequency following exposure to three doses of vaginal P on ultrasound scans analyzed by visualizing accelerated image sequences and using a previously described three-dimensional (3D)-derived approach.


RESULTS
A decrease in uterine contraction frequency reached statistical significance on the third day of exposure to P without differences between the three dose groups. The two methods for measuring uterine contraction frequency on ultrasound scans were equivalent.


CONCLUSIONS
At all three doses studied, the vaginal P gel Crinone administered to estrogenized women induced a profound decrease in uterine contraction frequency that duplicated the changes in contractility described in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Analyzing uterine contraction frequency on accelerated image sequences is as effective as our more complex approach based on identifying contractions on time mode graphs electronically reconstructed using 3D-software.
Ayoubi
J M
JM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital A Beclere, Clamart, France.
Fanchin
R
R
Kaddouz
D
D
Frydman
R
R
de Ziegler
D
D
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
C400424:Crinone; D005782:Gels; D011374:Progesterone