Changes in endometrial wave-like movements in accordance with the phases of menstrual cycle.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether endometrial wave-like movements change with phases of the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Endometrial wave-like movements were observed by transvaginal sonographic tomography during 50 menstrual cycles of 20 regularly menstruating women.


RESULTS
Endometrial wave-like movements were not observed during the early follicular phase. These movements proceeded perpendicularly to the longitudinal uterine axis and appeared at the midfollicular phase. In the periovulatory phase, waves reached a peak and moved from cervix to fundus. In the postovulatory phase, endometrial wave-like movements became parallel to the longitudinal uterine axis. In the midluteal phase, most of these waves disappeared. Immediately before menstruation, the waves reappeared moving from fundus to cervix. These movements continued until day 1 of the subsequent menstrual phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Endometrial wave-like movements change with the passage of menstrual cycle. They appear to play an important role in the transport of sperm and cervical mucus and the excretion of menstrual flow.
Oki
Toshimichi
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Japan. oki@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Douchi
Tsutomu
T
Maruta
Kuninori
K
Nakamura
Sachiko
S
Nagata
Yukihiro
Y
D000328:Adult; D004717:Endometrium / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol